Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1869-06-18

o. w ~ NpVh ~ ASI ulSuOuVE. i uC
only opinion ever heard Of her Was ono of tho
purest morality and m~odcsty, md hcr bcauti-
fully sad eyes and ohild.l like smilo holpcd to
increase tho trust in hor."
A deop heart sigh came from the actor a
deep shadow Of forcouoss swept over his noble
face; he paused awhile as if to regain COM
posture, and then continued:
"At last Augusto appointed our marriage
day. My feelings then cannot be expressed
now. l procured a house in readiness for us
both, and felt a childish joy as 1 watched
every article Of furniture brought in, and was
perfectly beside myself whom I pictured my
leading myown Augustc TO hor home and max
ing her the proud mistress of all. But in spite
of all these preparations for our marriage, l
did not neglect my own duties at the theatre.
On the contrary, I surprised both the public
and the director with extraordinary progress
that made. My love only seemed to increase
my inspiration, and I felt an intense delight
in evon the most difficult role. One day, one
Of our hero. players wns taken suddenly sick,
and l was surprised by rcooiving a note from
the manager, requesting mo to take the sick
actors part US tho chief role in "Othello," in
which Augusta played tho part of Dcsdemo.
no.
although folt highly honored by this
selection, yet | undertook the appointed part
with certain reluctance. The character of
the Moor was far from me then, and agreed
neither with my voice nor myself. 1 knew
no jealousy; I had never found the pangs of
deceived love. And, indeed, when I came
to the rehearsal of my part before the director,
l saw that no was not perfectly pleased, and
looked forward to only a modest reception on
the boards. Auguste played her part Of Dos.
demona cnohantingly; but my OWN part was
cold and lifeless in comparison. In tho
course of the rehearsal, she encouraged me
moro than once to give more FIRE aud passion,
and especially in the celebrated death scene,
while she laughingly told me that 1 then must
really believe her untrue. But the way in
which she said this put me quite out of tune,
and first awakened my discomfort.
III was filed with dark forcbodings as I
entered upon my task in tho evening. Tho
first sccno closed without the least applause.
| longcd for the conclusion, for I folt deeply
my W unsucocss. The fourth act came to.
diously along to my impatienoe, and at its
conclusion Auguste camo to me in order to
give mo an encouraging word. While sho
was speaking to mo, she laid down hor writ
ten role which she held in her hand, upon
the table, whore minc was also placed.
"When the signal was giyon, she loft mo
very quickly in order to attic herself properly
for the death soono, and in hor haste changed
both our roles. ! observed tho mistake, and
would reotify it, but a piece of paper which
foil out of her manuscript held me back. T
picked it off the floor, and throw a hasty
glance at the, to me, strange handwriting
A fearful suspicion pierced through my soul.
l read the opcn letter. Now I could no lon.
ger doubt the unfaithfulness Of my afianoed.
She had deceived ne in tho most ahameloss
manner, and was expecting . %well.known in.
famous fellow to meet her at an appointed
rendezvous after tho theatre was over.
~ can hardly describe my thoughts. Tho
Moor's nature seized me. Revenge was my
uppermost thought, and I felt that I could
act The Moor's part now, perfectly. Tho
thought came to take deep, certain revenge
upon tho shameless being, aud with this feel
ing I stepped upon tho stage for the final act.
I uttered tho fearful monologuo Of Othello's,
now, with truth; I felt a wild glow, and
hardly heard the rapturous applause that fell.
Indeed, | heard nothing; a bloody mist how
cred before my eyes; my brain was fired, and
] knew Mother what I would say or what I
would do. approached the bed,
III see that beautiful form still, an ombod.
led ideal Of all beauty and loneliness; she
rcolined comfortably upon q silk cushion. A
nature so glorious and enchanting it was, as
God could only once make so beautiful, I
thought. But my passion now swayod my
reason. / had no longer control over my
actions.
"Tho view Of tho unfaithful one inAamcd
mo anew, and unconsciously I olutohed my
dagger, which was no common theatrical one.
mechanically I closed tho curtains after mo,