ah!" said she, laughing, and making a little saucy courtesy towards curtain, "you choose, sir, to interfere with the ballet-dancers, do you!" In the next act there was a change of costume among the ballet-girls. Marie hastened to complete her toilet, which she did by fastening a little hat with flowers coquettishly on the left side of her head. Her thick masses of hair looked very luxuriant, and as she saw herself in the glass she privately thought she looked very tolerable. And there she was right, for she was a pretty little engaging creature from head to foot. Well satisfied with herself, she tripped down stairs, and as she came on the stage she cast a searching look | all round, perhaps to find Therese-perhaps not. Indeed, the latter appears to us most probable, for Therese was standing close to her, leaning on a side-scene, and talking to one of the actors. But Marie went toward that part of the stage where the machinery is regulated. Richard, the young carpenter, who was Marie's lover, was occupied at the farthest end in throwing a rope | over a rock; and if he did so very awkwardly he had some excuse, for his eyes were not regarding either rope or rock, but tenderly fixed on Marie, who in her turn remarked Richard, but affected only to be crossing the stage. Richard let go the rope in his hand, which fell to the ground with a considerable clatter; consequently the dancer started at the noise, and looked round to see what had caused it. "Oh, Marie, forgive me," said the young carpenter; "I could not help it. When I saw you coming, the rope slipped out of my hand." 66 Oh, it is you, Richard," said the girl; "I really thought something was falling on my head. It is quite dangerous to walk here for fear of an accident. The director says they happen constantly." "It is long since any accident has happened during the ballet," said Richard. "We are particularly careful then, believe me." "And why are you so particularly careful, Richard, during the ballet? I suppose an accident at that time would not distress you more than at any other?" "Perhaps not some of us; but I have a peculiar interest in the ballet, Marie. And when you are in a flying car," said he, smiling, "I examine the ropes and wires minutely myself, and have my eyes on every thing." "I am very grateful to you," said Marie. "It is very pleasant to know that there is some one who feels a little interest in you when you are on the stage." "Don't say a little interest," said the carpenter; "say a very great interest. You know it is so Marie, and not only when you are on the stage, but every where -in the street, at home, wherever I see you or don't see you." Now we must mention that this declaration was not quite as sudden in Marie's eyes as a flash of lightning which darts through the pure sky. The young carpenter had already given her various proofs of his interest, always watching her ascents and descents through trapdoors as a fairy, or a good spirit, and always trying the ropes with his own weight first for greater security. He was the only son of a man who was well off in the world, very handsome, and so clever in his trade that the mechanism of the theatre was intrusted chiefly to his care, and he was sure of employment there. What joy Marie felt when Richard told her plainly he loved her! What an escape from the schemes of her unprincipled aunt, to become the wife of so excellent a young man! While these thoughts were passing through her mind, we suppose she had not remarked that Richard had seized both her hands, and was trying to look into her downcast eyes. But the sound of applause in the theatre startled her out of her reverie, and Richard said: "Now, Marie, do you like me or not? Will you be my wife, or have you grand love affairs in your head, like the others? Do you prefer a short, gay life of luxury, to the love of an humble, but honest man!" "Oh, no, no!" said Marie, "indeed I do not, Richard!" "And I believe you," said he, kindly. "I believe you to be true and honest, and it is indeed a miracle you should be so, living with such an aunt. But if you give me your consent the affair is settled, and I will come to-morrow to your aunt, to speak a few serious words to the old dragon. But, Marie, if you promise to be mine, be careful that no one shall be able to say an evil word of you. Now, what do you say?" "Yes, yes," said Marie. "I do like you, Richard; and have no fears about my conduct. You know how truly I dislike the levity of many of my companions." "Amen!" said he. "If it were not so contrary to the rules of the theatre, you should give me a kiss; but I will get one afterward. Adieu, Marie." He then returned to his rope, and Marie flew across the stage, and sank down in a distant corner on a turf bank under a group of painted palm-trees. Why she folded her hands and wept we know not. CHAPTER II. It was opera night again. Therese was standing before a mirror-a young fairy-and very handsome she looked; and she seemed very much satisfied with herself, if you could judge by the well-pleased glances she cast at herself in the glass. One of her colleagues, a pale, delicate-looking girl, in the dress of a court-lady, sat near "Why, I declare, Richard, you are making me a her, fanning herself, and looking occasionally at the regular declaration." "Call it what you choose, Marie, but the fact you know well, though I have not spoken so plainly hitherto, for you dancers are a strange race-full of caprice and coquetry. But I will not believe, Marie, that you will act thus to me." handsome Therese with an expression not quite free from envy. Elsie and Marie were in their usual corner, and the former was evidently, with her sweet voice, saying consoling words to her companion. Marie was the picture of grief and despair, and the hardest heart could not "Well," said the other, "you, my poor child, did your best to repulse him." "I did, indeed; but help came that will prove my have resisted asking the cause of her sorrow. Her dark "It is time, dear Marie," said Elsie, quietly, "to arrange your hair. Do cease weeping. My heart aches for you. At least, speak to me. Have you no longer any confidence in my friendship?" "Oh, yes! yes!" sobbed Marie, with difficulty; "but you cannot comprehend my misery. Till now, I never had a secret from you, but this I cannot tell you." "Speak to Therese, then. Here she comes. She will arrange your hair, and I will go into the next room." Marie made no answer, but she raised her head languidly, and on seeing Therese, she pressed her hands to her face with a fresh burst of tears. "Marie, dear Marie !" said Therese, "what on earth has happened? But I am not surprised." Marie looked round, and when she saw that Elsie was gone, she sprang up, and grasping her companion's hand convulsively, she said, "Therese, I am lost!" "Richard came in ?" "No, Delton. He was sent to announce to-day's opera.' 'But you were saved from the person of this man." "But to what purpose? I am equally lost in Richard's eyes. The wretch rushed off instantly, turning aside his head so that Delton could not recognize him." "Wretch indeed!" "Delton remained standing at the door, stammered out his message, and then said, sorrowfully, 'Oh, Mademoiselle Marie, I never could have believed such a thing of you!'" "Does he know your engagement to Richard?" asked Therese, anxiously. "Certainly not; but-forgive me, Therese, for saying so-you know Delton has always said he preferred Elsie and me to all the others, because we were both wellconducted and had no lovers. He said we were sure to do well." "You must explain this affair to him, and that as soon as possible." "Come, it can't be so bad as that," answered the other; do compose yourself: don't let all the world know what has passed. That fool, Fritz, and one of "He won't even look at me," answered the weeping the dressers have already looked in; so do sit down girl; "he shrugs his shoulders and gets out of my way. and let me dress your hair, for you will be wanted soon The others will soon perceive that; they will lay their on the stage. And now tell me what has hap-heads together, and mock me. Richard will hear it, and pened without preface. I think I can guess what it alas! he has a thousand times said to me, 'Marie, so long as you conduct yourself virtuously, and that no man can say a word against you, so long you are mine and I am yours in body and soul, but be doubly careful.'" "It is a pity you did not confide the affair to him," said Therese, shaking her head. "I fear it is a bad business." is." 66 Yes, you know it," said Marie; "the same persecution I told you of before.” "That hypocrite we saw in the fourth box?" "The same. My aunt spoke of him incessantly to me. I told her of Richard and our love, but she was frantic, and said she had not taken me as a helpless child, and educated me so well, to become the wife of a carpenter; it was abominable ingratitude on my part, and if she were obliged to force me to a more brilliant | lot she would not hesitate to do so. The man came, too, once or twice, stealing to the house in twilight, and my aunt forced me to sit quiet to listen to his fine speeches. Once my aunt left the room for a time, but he saw so plainly my abhorrence that he did not venture to approach me. This happened more than once. He wished to make me a present on Christmas-eve, but I refused to see him; still he persisted in sending me gloves." "Make haste," said Therese; "there is no time to placed a scarlet pomegranate flower on each side. lose." "Oh, how often I thought of doing so, but I was afraid both of my aunt and of Richard himself, he is so jealous a disposition. Help me, Therese, and advise me." "Yesterday afternoon," continued Marie, in a low voice, "my aunt went out, as she often does. I was quite alone in the room-indeed, almost alone in that large house, for you know that the people who live there go out to work during the day, and only return at night. Then he came. Oh, Heavens! Therese." Marie now burst into a fresh flood of tears, and was so violently agitated that Therese was obliged to drop the long plaits of hair which she was trying to wind round her head. "I will do both gladly, but first of all I must speak to Delton. But I know him well; when anything vexes him he hides during the whole evening. When we are going home in the carriage at night, however, he can't get out of my way, and I will then tell him the truth." In the meantime, Elsie had returned into the room to remind the others that it was time to finish dressing. Therese had fastened up Marie's long glossy hair, and Marie was now dressed, and when the bell sounded, Therese walked, in her usual stately fashion, first, and the others followed her. The overture begun, and Therese crossed the half-dark stage toward the background, where her place was in the first scene of the opera. She looked round on very side for Delton, but he was nowhere to be seen. After the overture and the first scene were at an end, during which the sky shone in indescribable splendor, the group of dancers looked most captivating, but un ture. fortunately the brilliant sky-blue light being rather too | door being open, a bright light came through the aperdark, made the cherubim look in a state of collapse, and the thunder lasted rather too long. Then the scene changed. As this was to remain during the whole act, the usual rendezvous under the stage was soon thickly peopled. Richard was standing with his rope, and Delton, who had nothing to do at that moment, was seated near him on the steps. The closing scene approached, and six men set in motion the flying car. A bright light was "Is the fairy car at the end of the piece in good order, | to blaze in the whole sky, and as a finale, the fairy Richard?" asked one. "I will answer for that," was the answer. "I tried it thoroughly this afternoon; it goes as if oiled." "And who is to hold the large rope which steadies the whole machine? Everything depends on that, for if it is allowed to give way an inch, the whole affair will tumble down, and then good night to this world for any one standing on it." Amorosa, the protectress of true love, was to emerge from the centre of its radiance on a cloud twenty feet higher than the car. There were first two long scenes; and when, as an introduction to them, the orchestra played soft aerial music, Delton took out his snuff-box and offered Richard a pinch, who accepted it laughing, and said, "I can still make use of one hand; but afterward, when I must support my fairy securely in the sky, I shall require both hands, and to put forth all my strength. Looking upward from this gloomy spot," continued he, after a pause, "I must say the fairies are very bewitching. How handsome Therese looks to-night!” "Oh! I have seen that kind of thing times without number," said Delton, crossly. "There is no delusion for me. I fetch them from their homes, and shove them "Oh! they are accustomed to it," said Richard, "and into the carriage afterward, too often, to be taken in by don't think at all about it." their stage attractions." "Don't be afraid," answered the young carpenter. "I am to hold the rope myself, and when once I have grasped it, the whole ballet may stand on it safely." "The poor dancers must have a good share of courage, too," said a second; "it is no joke to be on a machine suspended by a couple of wires, or one rope, and to see down two stories under the stage." During the second and third acts this place was cleared of every one, for there were to be many changes on the stage. Much thunder and lightning, waterfalls which were obliged to be unremittingly turned, and troubled seas with heavy waves, when all who could be mustered together crept under the large sheet of canvas painted to represent water, and were obliged to jump up and down under it like frogs, to keep the waves in constant motion. Therese, whether by chance or intention on the part of Delton, had not yet been able to speak to him, for each time she saw him he seemed too busy with the carpenters to look round. Marie had only seen Richard for an instant the whole evening, when at the end of the first act he had helped her out of her fairy car, and pressed her hand tenderly, saying, "Dear Marie, how lovely you look this evening. When we are married, you must dress your hair just so, and I will find the scarlet flowers for you." The last act came. The first scenes were played in a narrow space, so as to give plenty of room for the grand flying car. The large space under the stage was opened for this purpose, and we beg our kind reader to look down into it. It is dimly lighted, and full of ropes, wires, ladders, steps, apparatus for raising and sinking machines through the trap-door. This is an important place for all melodramas and fairy pieces, for hence issue underground and spirits' voices; the winds howl from its deep recesses. From here tongues of flame issue out of the depths of the earth, when an evil spirit rises to the surface; and angels and demons ascend from this spot. It is usually very dark, and only lighted by two dim lamps; but in this evening's opera, where all the brightness of the celestial regions, and all the terrors of Lucifer are to be displayed, there was sufficient light to distinguish the objects around, and the largest trap "You ought to consider yourself very fortunate, I think.” "Oh! they are all indifferent to me, and always will be so," answered the old man, gravely. "It vexes me to be obliged to see all their levity and follies, poor things! They come here at first with the best resolutions to remain good and honest; they do resist for a time, but the temptations are too great. I pity the young creatures from my heart! Here in velvet and silk, in pomp and splendor-at home in poverty and misery. Then come proposals and promises of a brilliant future, and then-body and soul are purchased! It is heart-breaking." Richard looked upward again, and the dazzling light, the silk, the gold, the false jewels, the rosy cheeks, and the sparkling eyes seemed to him less brilliant.". "I do think it is most sad," said he. "But there are some among them who are well conducted. For instance, your two favorites, Elsie and Marie," continued he, laughing; "I know you would go through fire and water for either of them." "Richard!" called out a voice through the speakingtrumpet, "the highest car in the clouds will move immediately. Lay hold of the rope. When I call out to you, seize it firm and hold it fast. Don't let it give way a hair's-breadth." "No fear!" cried Richard, gayly. "Now come here, Delton. Just look how pretty your favorite, Marie, looks!" "I never want to see her again," said the other, turning away his head. "What's that you are saying?" said Richard, starting and turning his head round. "That you never wished to see Marie again?" "Yes, I said so," answered he. "But what's that to you? What need you care for the follies of these girls at home?" In the anxious hope of hearing more, Richard affected indifference, and said, "To be sure it is nothing to me, and I only asked because no one has ever yet said one word against Marie-not a syllable! You must admit that?" "Till now, I have always been the first to say so." These words "till now" struck like a dagger into the heart of the young carpenter. He trembled violently, and everything seemed to become black before his eyes. Breathing with difficulty, he said: "Till now,' Delton? What do you mean?" "I don't choose to explain." "Heaven willed that-not I," muttered Richard, in a tone of desperation. He staggered back, and would have fallen if he had not supported himself by clinging to the iron pillars. All those belonging to the theatre came rushing down steps and ladders-in short, all who were on the stage-to ascertain the extent of the misfortune. Therese was among the first. She shuddered at sight of the death-like aspect of the poor girl, lately so blooming; then she seized Richard's arm, and said; "You did that on purpose; you are her murderer!" She had seen Delton, and guessed the conversation that "Come, come," said Richard, "don't excite my curi- had taken place. osity for nothing." แ Well, then, till yesterday," said Delton, out of all patience. And after looking up at the pretty Marie, he continued, "And how innocent the girl looks! Since yesterday, however, I have good proof—that of my own eyes-that she is as bad as any of them." At this moment the voice of the head machinist was heard calling out, "Steady below! and when I call again, hold fast the rope!" "No! no!" said Richard, in a hoarse whisper. "You are unjust. I don't know how the rope slipped out of my hands." แ "And did Delton tell you nothing?" "Yes, unfortunately I did," said the latter, who overheard her question. "Oh, dreadful! dreadful!" cried Therese, sobbing loudly, and throwing herself on her knees beside Marie. "Poor, poor creature! But perhaps it is best so!" She gently rubbed her forehead, and dried some drops of blood which oozed slowly from her pale lips. The Bengal lights blazed up in their red splendor, and threw a radiance even under the stage, streaming through all the joints of the planks and trap-doors, and In a few minutes a circle of horror-struck faces surdown below the whole theatre seemed to be on fire. rounded the unfortunate girl. Many voices called for a Then sounded flutes and harps, and soft music accom-surgeon, but it was long before one could be found. panied the gradual ascent of the protectress of true love. The circle opened as the doctor came down the steps, There was a general exclamation of delight from the and there was a death-like silence as he gently raised public. "Steady!" was again shouted through the the head of the insensible girl, felt her limbs, and lookspeaking-tube, and Richard seized the rope, and held it ed into her glassy eyes. There was not a sound, and with all his strength. But his thoughts were not there every eye was fixed on the surgeon. When he shook -not even with the fairy Amorosa-all his ideas were his head mournfully, and whispered some words to the concentrated in Delton, who now composedly related manager, who stood close to him, all saw that there was how he had yesterday gone to Marie's home to announce no hope. The dancers, who had withdrawn a little the opera, that he knocked, but received no answer. "I way from poor Marie, now hurried to her side, all then," continued he, opened the door, and found weeping, kissing her hands and the plaits of her long Marie alone, that is, without her aunt, for a well-dress-glossy hair, which had fallen down, and in which the ed gentleman was with her-" 66 pomegranate flowers were still blooming and fresh. "But how did this dreadful accident happen?" cried the manager, who was pressing his hands convulsively together; "whose duty was it to hold the rope?" At this question all withdrew from Richard's side, leaving him standing alone, his face livid, and his eyes distended. "Marie!" cried Richard, in a tone of agony. He threw up his hands, and uttered a dreadful cry, which was echoed by a terrific scream of agony from above. The music stopped, a hundred voices were heard exclaiming and shouting. There was a crash on the stage, as if the floor were giving way; and a heavy mass came tumbling down at the feet of Richard- -a mass of "It was I who did it!" said he, after a pause. Sudplanks and ropes, and among them the body of a poor denly his eyes wandered, his hands clutched the air as young girl, who a second before had shone forth in all if trying to seize something, his knees gave way, and if her youth and beauty, and now lay motionless and dead. some of the workmen had not caught him he would "Marie!" cried Delton, rushing to her, and lifting have fallen to the ground; but his companions let him her gently in his arms. And kneeling down, he sup-down gradually, and laid his head on one of the steps. ported her head against his shoulder. He never lifted it again. SUNSET. How like a dying hero sets yon sun, While stains the western skies a crimson flood- Faints in the sea of his own generous blood: |