Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1868-12-24
BEHIND THE SCENES.
A Detectives Story.
From the New Orleans Picayune.

From the New Orleans Picayune.
/ will tell you, said Mr.. F. Of
an incident that occurred here
many years ago. 1t possesses to
me now, as l Think of it, all the
vivid interest it had then. Itwas
among the first cases entrusted to
Mr.. L and myself, and we de-
voted to it an unwearying patience
and assiduity that fitted US for
their exercise many times after
ward. 1t was in mid-winter that
the circumstance | allude to oc-
Cured. The theatrical season was
at its height. The st. Charles
was nightly thronged with the
beauty and fashion of the city.
A new star had appeared on its
boards, exciting an interest prev
alent and absorbing. Her beauty,
grace, and accomplishments were
the topic OF every club.room-the
one subject that engaged the at
tention of all the youth in the city.
Her name was Adele Larondu.-
Very young-scarcely twenty
and very beautiful was this young
girl, around whom web of mys-
terry was woven that seemed to de-
fly human ingenuity to unravel.
say she was beautiful, but that
word does not convey an adequate
ideaof her exceeding grace of mind
and person. Petite in form, the
slender figure was exquisite in
symmetry. A wealth of bright
golden hair shaded a face rosy
with health and brilliant with ge-
MUS. The clear hazel eyes flashed
with intelligence, and the delicate
curve of the exquisite chiseled
lips expressed hatred or scorn, or
intensified emotion.
Night after night the theater
was filled with her admirers
Passion in every phase the very
well-springs and impulses Of our
nature--seemed to find in her an
interpreter that never erred. Her
ANALYSIS of character was perfect;
it was true to nature, and there
fore perfect.
The night of which | speak had
witnessed her greatest triumph.
She seemed inspired, and the
feelings and emotions of her au-
dience appeared as absolutely un.
der her control as if she welded
the wand of an enchsntress. Ihe
curtain fell on the last act OF the
tragedy and the audience dis-
persed. Some mesmeric power
held me to the spot and | fingered
around the entranceo the theater.
An hour must have passed by
and the last of the company crept
out of the narrow aisle leading to
the stage, and sought their homes.
Still the actress fingered; her car
riage at the door-the driver i'm.
patient. Suddenly from behind
the scenes-echoing along that
narrow aisle-came scream so
piercing, that it cut to, the heart
| like a dagger. 1t chilled my
blood. / stood rooted to the spot
anguish, horror, grief, were in its
tone. 80 J.:.
In moment more / dashed
open the door and rushed into
i the theater. Close at my back
came Mr.. L., the driver. and
the porter of the establishment
The light in the green room was
still burning. The large mirror
that hung from the wall reflected
from the opposite sofa the tinse,
and mock jewelry of a queen. !
noticed this as l dashed open the
Narrow door that led to the dress
ing room assigned the actress. =
soas empty. l called her by name
I,shouted until the walls OF the
!. vast building echoed back my
voice.. We searched everywhere
beneath and above the stage, ever
among the rolled curtains IN ths
Aoft, and the narrow apertnfe'
between the scenes-in vain:--
! The actress had disappeared. Ih'
loud screams that had SO startled
MS were not repeated. There wa
no avenue of escape still she wa
gone. q gse'sa1 ts .,Ia,sIess.T u
Il Mr.. visited her apart
ment at the hotel. She was nc no