Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-06-29
throughout the play, and many who,

throughout the play, and many who,
like myself, could not overlook the
semblance of reality, were heartily glad
when the awful scene was over His
warming to Mary Woodward was
powerfully rendered. His attitude, his
pale face, and the deep, measured tone
of his voice, all conspired to lend a
magnetic subtlety to his acting, and
render the scene oppressively impress
sive and the young actress who per
sonated Mary trembled violently
during its delivery. Laying his hand
upon her shoulder, and bending down
until MS lips were close to her ear, he
gave utterance to one of those blood
freezing stage whispers which never
fail to thrill an audience, saying
GA man of title and power saw and
loved her. Loved No; he did not
love her-'twere vile profanity to say
80. He admired her beauty and pre-
tended to love her Offered marriage
Dazzled her young mind with a coro-
net Stole her away from her home
dressed his servant as a priest-mark
that! Dressed his servant as priest
ruined her, and cast her Off"
A passive reading of these words can
not convey to the mind OF the reader
anything like proper idea of the
scene. When the curtain rose for the
last scene, I found myself worked up
to an unwonted degree of excitement.
l could not shake off the presentment
that something terrible was about to
occur, and would have hailed, as a pro
vidential interposition, the alarm OF
fire. Having played the part myself,
/ knew the cues, and as the scene pro-
crossed, my uneasiness increased. AT
last the prosecuted Mary walled forth
the cue.
Michael Erie, where art thou "
The next moment he rushed on, his
long locks falling, in wild confusion
about his shoulders, his eyes flaming,
and the dagger firmly grasped in his
right hand. He paused in tragic at
titude as Mary sank at his feet, and
stretching his hand toward "D'Arville, y
exclaimed, in voice of thunder:
"Thou dark monster at sight of
whom all nature sickens, and the trem-
bling king of hell turns pale to see his
deeds most damnable surpassed. Re
member Ellen Mortimer and her sad
fate-then look at me, whom thou
hast made reckless wanderer DER Gre
atoms face--look on this PROSTATE
girl, and then tell me Say, art thou
fit to live2"
D'Arville turns, in mock serenity,
and assumed establishment, to ask:
"Who is this mailman 2" Michael
answered for himself:
Il am Michael Erie, he whom men
call the maniac lover! lam he whom
you so basely robbed of Ellen Morti-
mer--he whom your villainy deprived
of reason, and whom, two nights ago,
you would have murdered, ay! and
with this very dagger But now-my
time has come-revenge revenge "
and rushing upon the unsuspecting
acter, he gave him a wound which near
ly proved fatal, then turning to the au-
dince with outstretched arms and up
turned eyes, as if invoking benedi-
cate, he exclaimed:
f. Farewell, oh, well beloved world,
farewell At last, sweet Nell thy
death bed shall be mine Then,
stabbing himself in the breast, he ut
tered low moan, and fell weltering in
his blood, upon the same spot where
Nelly had died
Of course the little drama of the
Maniac Lover" was completely lost in
'the midst of so much tragedy. The
players stord aghast, or, at least, some
of them, while Others bent over the
PROSTATE forms of the wounded.
l don't know howl got there, but /
found myself at Elmer's side with his
cold, bloody hand in mine. Having
assured myself that Elmer 'was
wounded past all surgery. Il looked up
to the manager who stood close by,
and, without one thought of the play,
said:
"The poor maniac is dying" That
was his cue for his last speech. The
diving actor heard his cue, and, like a
true disciple of Thespins, responded,
even though the pangs of death were
ending him. Raising himself upon his
right elbow, and looking toward the
first right entrance, he went on, in a
broken voice, with the language of the
text, substituting the name OF his wife
for Ellen.
"'Tis very cold-very. Bring me a
cloak ! How now, slave, why do we not
obey? All Who is this? "Iis she
my own Nelly! What would you 2 Alb
she Indispensable beckons-she calls
me away Yes, yes, Nelly, Tn coming
IT'S very cold--very-" and, falling
back, expired.
We laid him beside Nelly. Life's
itful fever DER, he sleeps we'll
I1.t- II,lan., O. 70 TOLLS . Starx Of n