OPERA DOROTHY.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 23 October 1901, Page 2

OPERA DOROTHY.

Ret 11. A dance is being given by Squire Bantam and while the festivities are going on merrily, a servant announces the arrival of a stranger—none other than Lurcher disguised as the Secretary to the Duke of Berkshire who has come to crave hospitality as his Grace’s carriage has broken down. The Squire is all smites at this unlooked for pleasure, and Mr Wilder (Mr North) accompanied by Sherwood, (Mr Staples) is ushered in. Those two do not recognise the ladies in their court attire, and Wilder makes an express stipulation that ho is not to be bothered with his cousin Dorothy. As the evening goes on, the charms of Lydia have a serious effect on Wilder, and Sherwood is soon at Dorothy’s feet. The girls soon find an opportunity of recovering the ringr, which goes to show what a “base and faithless thing is man.’’ At night when the guests retire, Wilder, Sherwood, and Lurcher proceed to carry out the scheme for Wilder to obtain the money. Cloaked and masked they rouse the Squire and pinion him. At the same time Sherwood binds Wilder. The cries arouse the house who are surprised to learn the robbers have not touched the Squire’s money, but the Duke, less fortunate, has been plundered. To allow a guest to be robbed is too much for the Squire, who cfLrcs to repay, and his Grace accepts after a very little hesitation the sum stated by Lurcher to be missing, which exactly corresponds with the amount claimed for Geoffrey Wilder by the Sheriff The early dawn sets the men afoot with the hounds—for tho Squire starts his late autumn day now and then with a gallop after a cub—and while the ladies retire to their broken slumber, the gentlemen get ready for a morning’s exorcise.