New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-16


in that room; do have some.
He once more assured me that he was
well, and the curtain rising for the second
act, had to leave him to look after the
business of the scene.
There was not so much applause at the
beginning of the second act, for ylllainy
seemed to be having rather the best of it;
but propheticaliy foresaw the enthusiasm
which would accompany the downfall OF
Sir Jasper's evil designs and the triumph OF
virtue in scene three; and the scowls which
Lechford emitted from his well darkened
eyes, and the depths to which his voice
descended as he strobe about the stage,
proposing to murder most of the dranlatis
persona, and to immune the rest in deepest
dungeons beneath the mOat of his castle,
evidently thrilled the audience. Harley's
song went beautifully. I had introduced
some hits at local affairs, praised Shore
vile and its inhabitants, and represented
all other watering places within fifty miles
as hot-beds of fever and plague, populated
by robbers, and these sentiments, set to
popular air, were vigorously encored.
The audience appears very much
pleased" Mr.. Thomas remarked as l re-
Joined him. "DO you go on again soon "
"Yes, I'm on directly" | replied; " the
next is the great scene, which l hope Will
crown the success of my piece. The people
in the country have not grown tired OF
broadsword cOmbats, and letting off gun
or a pistol invariably brings down the
house; so we are going to give them plenty
OF steel and gunpOwder. My cue will be
given in few minutes You'll discover
that there's more behind, Sir Jasper when
| hear that | rush on with my smuggiers,
fire off two pistols, and fight furiOusly with
Sir Jasper, and kill him. 1t would be
better to finish the piece then, but Della
mere has scene which he wishes to show,
so we finish in front of the castle. Excuse
me, must listen"
shall never forget that moment, which
subsequent events have fixed so firmly to
my remembrance. l hea1 now the heavy
breathing in my ear, as | stood by Thomas
side. and can see his face-his cruel face
with lowered eyebrows and a drop of blood
which trickled from his lip, as | turned for
a second toward him. But had too much
to think about to wonder why he should
bite his lips; was listening for the cue
which prefaced my great scene.
At last it came:
"And I'm afraid you'll discover that
there's more behind, Sir Jasper"
We rushed on to the stage where were
Sir Jasper and his band. fired my pistol
in the air; there was a crash in the orches-
ira; firearms went off on all sides; them
felt burning pain in my left side, and
remember no more.
/ can not describe the whirl of tangled
ideas which rushed through my mind with
returning consciousness. | was lying in a
strange bed, in strange room, but by nv
bedside was the familiar face of Harding
Harding what's all this Where am II
What's happened! Why am l all tied up
How did /"
Hush dear old fellow. you musa't talk
The doctor will be here directly. I've got
a great deal to tell you when he says
may"
| need not prolong my story. l soon
pulled through-that process being materi-
ally assisted by the care and tenderness of
an attentive little nurse, who soon appeared
on the scene-and heard all that had hap
pened.
Thomas had visited ShOreville on a con-
cert giving tour, and, TO his establishment,
had seen me. He followed me to the thea
tire, as ne had informed me, and when there
had seen the third scene. The idea had
struck him, that if in the skirmish bullet
was fired, no one would know from whence
it came, and it would be attributed to acct
dent. Convinced that if were out of the
way Alice would look with a favorable eye
on him, he had procured revolver made
his way behind the scene, as | have de-
scribed, and put his plan into execution,
firing at me the moment left his side. In
making his way hurriedly from the stage,
IN the midst of the excitement which fol-
lowed the accident" he had fallen down
the chasm through which some scenery was
to have been raised for the last scene, and
had fractured his skull so badly that he had
since died, having previously given a resume
of his amiable intentions
My cousin had heard of my expedition,
and, wishing to save one of his family from
what he was pleased to term "a profession
of a lowering tendency" had called on
friend of mine. Harding informed him of
the reasons which had influenced my move
ments, and he had proposed to allow me
sufficient sum to crafty my wishes. Hard
ing had arrived at ShOreville on the eve
ming of the performance, and made up his
mind to see me play from the front. What
he saw the reader knows, and he superin-
tended my removal to the hotel, and took
care of me until my own little nurse arrived.
How pleasant convalescence was at a
little village in the neighborhood need not
say. We left Shoreville as soon as | could
be moved, for when the story was made
known l became an object of great curios-
ity to the visitors, which was hardly 70 be
wondered at, considering the reports of the
occurrence in the local papers. As had
not finished my drama on the stage, COM
pleted the remainder in real life by marry
ing, and trust the event may prove-liv-
ing very happily ever after, though | shall
never forget act two, scene three.
There ia a hnU in ElnriIa fnur+aaD