The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-08-29

artists who have grown rusty amid such
pleasant surroundings and have permitted
themselves to slumber in comfortable ease
1t is only in the struggle with destiny that
we learn our own strength and the scope OF
our talents"
81 must confess that you are right, con
tinued my friend. Through the discipline
Of sorrow | have attained what the world
calls excellence in my art. You shall hear
how all this came about. Our director, al
ways bent upon She improvement OF his
stage, engaged new actress, whose fame
long preceded her arrival at our theatre, |
saw her for She first time at rehearsal, and
the impression she made upon me decided
my whole life. To the greatest beauty, Au-
gusta D., with whose name you must
certainly be fanliliar,) united perfect grace
of person and the rarest mental gifts. She
! belonged to those who are artiStes by tine
grace of God; to those darlings of Nature
to whom is lent all that can enrapture AMI
enchant. The first evening Of her appear
ance was an event for our theatre. The
public admired and applauded, but | Looed
the genial, beautiful woman, in whom |
found my ideal realized. | had many OPP
portunities of being near her. for we often
played in the same piece. She received my
homage kindly, and permitted me to accom-
pany her home from the theatre soon be.
came frequent visitor to her house, and
our relations became more intimate Some
weeks after our first meeting, | considered
myself the happiest of men, for from her
own sweet lips | had received the first kiss
of betrothal, and the assurance of her love.
To complete my happiness only the blessing
Of the church was wanting but under va
rious pretexts, Augusta delayed the longed-
for day that was to unite my fate with hers
forever
sour engagement was no secret recelv-
ed the congratulations of my colleagues, who
almost enved me this splendid conquest
The director also expressed his best wishes
for my happiness, and renewed my contract
upon the most favorable terms. But my
noble old friend the manager, was, | soon
learned, not pleased with my choice, although
he showed me the same kindness as before.
An arrangement had come between us. as
| now passed every leisure moment with
Augusta, and seldom visited his family. To |
ruy great sorrow, there seemed mutual
antipathy between Augusta and the mana
I ger, which all my efforts were powerless to
daily felt myself more and more
drawn to my betrothed. With every fibre
of my heart, every link of my soul, was
bound to her. | loved her with passion
ate ardor, with an entire self-abuegation, an .
unlimited trust, To doubt her purity would
have appeared tome crime and my belief
in her innocence was as mistaken as my be-
lief in my God and my eternal destiny In
fact, Augustus reputation was unsullied, and
even the usual prattling gossip of the thea
tire ventured not to breathe word against
her. She was by the unanimous Judgment
Of the world, a pattern of maidenly modes
ty and reserve, and her gentle, dove-iike
eyes, her childlike laugh, only confirmed the
universal belief
Over the expressive face of the tragedian
fitted dark shadow, and he sighed audi
bly,. l could read from his speaking fea
lures how much, even after the lapse of
years, these sad "reminiscences affected him,
still | was in the highest degree interested
in his recital and eagerly awaited its con-
tinuation. ~1 esta
After melancholy pause, he said-"At
my most urgent solicitation, Augusta at
length fixed our wedding-day, and | found
my highest happiness in arranging the
household hearth for her and me Every
article of furniture l purchased brought me
childish joy, and with rapture | thought
of the moment when | should bring my
wife to our mutual home While conduct
ing these simple arrangements, did not
neglect my art, but daily surprised both the
public and the director by my progress |
must thank love, or rather the beloved one,
for the higher inspiration, the deeper feeling,
which were manifested in my roles at this
time. For this reason it was that more i'm
portant parts were given me. One day
when our leading tragedian suddenly fell
sick, the chief role in Shakspeare's 'Othello"
was assigned to me. My betrotbed was to
play Desdemona.
although felt myself highly honored
by such distinction, yet | undertook the
part with a certain repugnance, and only
to relieve the embarrassment of the director.
The character of tie Moor at that time lay
far removed from me- and agreed neither
with my inclination nor my individuality, |
for had never known the demon of jeal- |
ousy, nor experienced the tortures of betray
ed love. In fact at the rehearsal | was as
little pleased with my performance as was
our sensible manager, and feared an en-
tire failure in the evening.
''The more enchantingly Augusta played
her role Of Desdemona, the more dull and
passionless I became, During the course of
the rehearsal, she tried several times to en-
liven me, and recommended more fire and
passion, especially in the celebrated death
scene. She laughingIy advised me even to
believe her false, so that l could fully sym
pathize with Othello. Her manner, and the
thought that she could say this even in
sport, only Disconnected me the more.
Upon the evening of the representation,
filled with gloomy foreboding played my
part in the first scene with visible embar-
rassment, and without receiving the slight |
est applause. / stepped upon the stage with
the greatest reluctance keeping myself as
much as possible behind the scenes, and |
marking without interest the progress of |
the play, whose end foresaw. The fourth |
act proceeded too slowly for my impotence,
and, at its close, Augusta came to whisper |
few encouraging words to me. While she |
was speaking SO sweetly and kindly, she
laid her written role near mine upon table |
standing before us. When the signal was
given, she left me quickly to dress for the
death scene, and in her haste, exchanged the
roles. | noticed the mistake, and was hur-
rying after her, when paper, falling from
her role, detained me. picked it up from
the floor and threw hasty glance at the
strange handwriting. A terrible suspicion
seized me. read the open letter and could
no longer doubt the faithlessness of my be
trothed .=a
'She had betrayed me in the most shame
full manner, and, after the play, was to
await q cavalier of rank, but of VIGOROUSLY
proaigate character, in her dwelling which,
it seemed, was their usual rendezvous"
ono5 anu what ula you po' asheg iLlg s
ed, rigid glance.
had nrIv nnn 4hnr,rht To nn rnuer ctaG