Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-12-05

/ her net, lost all conscience. lie eHueu IN
| having neither sight nor sensation except
what came through her, and by degrees reach
ed that point of madness in which his passion
| would stay at no crime. The moment for
tion had come.
Snow every evening Of representation, Mad
anne La Grange reapcd her harvest Of flowers
and wreaths, and among the boque:s which
| fell al her feet was one of small dilncntiors,
but composed Of moss roses, whose fragrance
wa: TO her an especial JOY. This faithful trib-
ute Was invariably rendered to her after the
andantc Of the grand cayatina Of NabGcco, an
opera which then set the crown, in all the alb
sorhing interest oi novelty, upon the growing
| fame of Verdi Ordinarily, Madame La Grange
fixed the boquet in her girde, after having
drawn frou, its perfume new inspiration OF
which 10 sweep away all opposing feelings.
'sOne night il happened the boquct moe
voluminoGs than usual. The moss roses, ar
ranged 4 circle, formed the ring round
not of green leaves which occupied he hears.
This unusual bulk rendering it difficult to
| place the flowers in their accustomed spot in
her girtlle, Madame la Grange held them for
an instant in her hand, bowed he aclilowl-
edgements and passed The boquet 10 one Of
the attendants, begging her TO carry it 70 her
dressiug ug- -room-tlls act ended.
s.At the fall of the curtain the triumphant
prima donna descended 10 her litte chamber,
and rather astonshed not to find her maid in
waiting behind the scene: She opens the door,
shA uttered cry Of terror. Stretched on the
floor lay the maid, to al! appearances corpse.
son hearing the cry of Madame La Grange.
twenty persons ran st once to the room, raised
up the poor girl, who exhibited any
sign OF life. and not knowing how to render
assistance, began 10 discuss the possible
of such accident. No one dreamed of at
tributing it TO the bOquet, which l-y almost
broken under foot in corner OF the room
where it had rolled withou. any one caring
about it.
s.They ali continued to hang for Eve or six
minu.e. round the unfortunate girl, already at
tackled by the inssnsibi.ity that proceeds
death, when a man rushed into the little cham
Der, his features stern, his voice commanding.
and his gestures irresistible. The boquet.
the boquet!' he cried, suIocated with emotion.
Those around XII ones made way for him, and
perceived Dr. Marrpzzi, the regular physician
OF tnc prima donna st is heaven which has
sent you here DoctoT.' she cried, 'see the
state'--. But without attending to ought
else, Marrozzi continued to call out, The
boquet the boquct!' The moment he saw
that Madame La Grange had Sustained in
jury beyond the terro. naturally created by
the condition of her Attendant. lie hastened to
give his attention to the dying girl, but still
repeating, The boquet! the boquet!' This
exclamation, SO nvsteriousy rerseycred in
and the meaning of which one present
could understand, at last attracted notice to
the boquet, which up to this time had been
forgotten. Some oae took il up and handed
it to him. He seized it with a strange eager
ness. What possible significance, Doctor
said Madame la Grange, can YOU attach to
this boquet7" 'Alas,' he answered, 1T is
poisoned!'
GA sensation of terror AT round,
and Madame La Grange. escaped by MIRA
cl. from death which had baen intended for
her, had scarcely time fully TO comprehend
the horrible truth when the signal for her ap-
pearance was sounded. The curtain rose and
she had to appear on the stage.
"Shc came ont. pale even under her coating
of rogue, her heart wounded by an incxpressi-
bio agony, and her mind haunted with the
thought that death, in passing by its intended
victim, had almost touched her with its wing.
She sang, nevertheless her voice full of a
brilliant tremuiousness. Her eyes shone with
unsccuStomed fire, her gestures almost
wild; while the public, aitributing these eff
ects TO the Inspiration of the part, aplilauded
with frenzy their fLvorite Abigail. The cur
tain fell on an ovation OF enthusiasm, and the
singer, who scarcely knew what she had been
singing, or comprehended her new success,
rushed distractedIy to her room, and there
learned in its fullness TIE horrid truth.
4 sDr. Marrozzi it seems, traversing one of
the iobbses in lie excitement proceeding, had
observed in Il isolated spot, this young Vene
tan. whose expression seemed tohim strange.
On sudden the yaninished rival of Madame
La Grange opened the door Of her box, and
the young man grasping her band in pceii
liar manner quickly uttered in passing, These
sinister words spoken in Italan sThe deed is
sccomplished-sil dies!' The boqnet'' asked
the Italian songstress., The young man Ar
swered by an Affirmative nod. and retired quick
". The doctor had a certain iiiuniination-
He understood all; rushed to the entrance be-
hind the scene, aud there found woman pois-
oned by boquet. But it was not Madame
La Grange.
'sThe deadly boquet was handed to the po-
lics the contents were analysed and found to