The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-05-24
ACTED TO THE LIFE.
CONTINUED.


CONTINUED.
I have almost forgotten the plot of
the piece, but it was the final act, if
I recollect rightly, that the lovely
girl was to become the vampires vic
tim. When the curtain rose, she was
discovered alone. After n short So
hloquy, she reclined on couch, and
the plot of the piece required the
entrance of her father after n short
pause.
He came, and never to my dying
day shall l forget the fearful impress
sion caused by his, appearance. My
professional studies had mado me
acquainted with all the fearful forms
which death assumes; but the hue of
the face which was before me, I had
never met with. had not dreamed
that it was i'll the actors art to pro-
duce SO awful an appearance, which
seemed the result rather of the abso-
Lutte toiuid'n,odl Of all color-I hardly
know how TO express my meaning
than the production Of any external
application. No words of mino could
describe the terror of his deeply
sunken, heavy eyes, and his stealthy,
noiseless tread. A habit of obserya-
tlon, which had become q second ma
ture to me, compelled me for On in
slant to withdraw my gaze from the
ghnstiy figure stealing along the stage,
and to glance around the theatre.
The effect of the apparition was
appalling. Children, wild with ter
ror, clung to their mothers, scarcely
less terrified than they; while strong
men hid their faces in their hands.
1 looked at Potts, the cool man of the
world. His self-possession prevented
him from betraying what the firmly
set mouth told me he could not
wholly suppress. Every sound in the
theatre was hushed, and it was amid
silence'as that of death, in which 1
could hear the rapid beating of my
own heart, that the vampire stole to
the couch of the recumbent girl.
What vague foreboding deepened the
terror with which watched his ap-
proach to the girl, I know not; but I
felt that to turn my head for an in
stant, or to open my lips, would be
utterly impossible.
1 would have given worlds for the
power to cry out; but every muscle
was powerless, as if under the domi-
MON of n spell, and my gaze was
fixed uncomfortable on the actor, as
he bent his head toward the neck
OF the seemingly sleeping girl. An
instant later, and with a cry like
that of death stricken creature,
she spraDg from The couch, tottered
towards the foot-lights, and fell hud-
died together on the stage. Had
she, too, b ONE suddenly endowed
with some wondrous faculty, which
gave to the, acting of novice
power beyond that of the highest
attainments of art? The reality of
her fearful cry, the manner of her
fall, and dark pool under her head,
told n different tale. Released /
knew not how, from the fascination
which had held me moment before,
leapec from my seat, clambered
over the foot-lights, and raised the
girls head on my knee. A cash in
her small, delicate throat, showed
that all WAS too real. Potts had fol-
lowed me; with his aid I carried the
girl into dressing-room, where l
gave her all the assistance in my
power.
"Her father,' said to an actor,
who followed us; where is he? he
must not escape"
The man rushed ont of the room,
but returned few minutes later to
tell me that he had found the girls
father lying utterly unconscious on
the floor of his dressing-room. His
manner terrified me.
"Whnt do you menn?" ] said.
sit was not he," he whispered in
q hoarse voice; che had not finished
dressing for the part"
shut the stngc-door," L said.
is there any WY besides Of leaving
the theatre fr' Inc stage?"
''None"
Bnt we were .oo late; before the
alarm was given, the other had gone
out, with handkerchief to his face.
-, have but little to add to nv story
me girls beauty, her gentleness and
Intelligence had awakened in mo O