The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-06-30
TIE JOURNAL.
A DOUBLE TRAGEDY.
A sroRY OF TIE STAGE.

eFrom here you get fine view OF
the stage, steady yoursen Dy the
rome and look down. I'll be with
you in a moment.
He ran into the dressing room
from whence the voice proceeded,
and ST. John stepped out upon a lit
tie platform, hastily built for the
launching of an erialcar in some
grand spectacle. Glad to ecape
meeting him, 1 was about to 90 on,
when, from an obscure corner, a dark
figure glided noiselessly to the door
and leaned in. I caught momen-
tary glimpse of a white extended
arm and the glitter of steel, then
came cry Of mortal fear, heavy
fall; and flying swiftly down the
gallery the figure disappeared.
With one leap 1 reached the door,
and looked in; the raft hung broken,
the platform was empty. At that
instant Keen. rushed out, demanding
what had happened, and scarcely
knowing what 1 said, I answered hur-
ridly.
sThe rope broke and he fell"
Keen gave me a strange look, and
dashed down stairs. followed, to
find myself in a horror stricken
crowd, gathered about a piteous OBJ
ject which a moment ago had been
living man.
There was no need to call a sur
geon, for that headlong fall had
dashed out life in the drawing of a
breath, and nothing remained to do
but to take the poor body tenderly
away to such friends as the newly
arrived stranger possessed. The
contrast between the gay crowd
rustling before the curtain and the
dreadful scene transpiring behind it
was terrible; but the house was fill
ing fast, there was no time for the
indulgence Of pity or curiosity, and
soon no trace of the accident re-
manned but the broken rope above,
and ominous damp spot on the newly
washed boards below. At word of
command from our energetic man
ager, actors and actresses were sent
away to retouch their pale faces with
carmine, to restoring their startled
nerves with any stimulant at hand,
and to forget, if possible the awe
some sight just witnessed.
1 returned to my dressIDg-room
hoping Cletilde had heard nothing
Of this sad, and yet for us most for
tunate accident, though all the while
a vague dread haunted me, and 1
feared to see her. Mechanically
completing nay costume, 1 looked
about me for the dagger with which
my poor Juliet was to stab herself,
and found that it was gone. Trying
to recollect where put it, I Iremem-
bered having it in my hand just be-
fore / went up to have my sword
belt altered; and fancying that 1
must have Inadvertently taken it
with me. reluctantly retraced my
steps. At the top Of the stairs lead
ing to that upper gallery, a little
white object caught my eye, and
taking . it up, I found it to
be a flower. If it had been
a burning coal I should not
have dropped it more hastily than 1
did when 1 recognized it was one
of cluster I had left in Clotilde's
room because she loved them. They
were a rare and delicate kind, no
one but herself was likely to pos
sess them in that place; hor was she
likely to have given one away, for
my gifts were kept with jealous care;
yet how came it there? And as l
asked myself the question, like an
answer returned the remembrance of
her face when she sad, 81 shall re-
member this." The darkly-shrouded
form was a female figure the white
arm a Woman's, and horrible as was
the act, who but that sorely tried
and tempted creature would have
committed it. For a moment my
heart stood still, then I Indignantly
rejected the black thought, and
thrusting the flower into my breast
went on my way, trying to convince
myself that the forebOding fear
which oppressed me was caused by
the agitating events Of the last half
hour. My weapon was not in the
wardrobe-room; and ( returned,
wondering what / had done with it,
I saw Keen standing in the little
doorway with candle in his hand.
He turned and asked what I was
looking for. I told him, and ex-
planned why I was searching for it
there.
eHere it is; found it at the foot
of these stairs. 1t is too sharp for
a stage-dagger, and will do mischief
unless you dull it." he said, adding
as he pointed to the broken rope,
Lamar, that was cut; 1 have ex-
amined it."
The light shone full in my face,
and knew that it changed, as did
my voice, for thought Of Clotilde,
and till that fear was at rest resolved
to be dumb concerning what ! had
seen, but 1 could not repress a sbud-
der as I said hastily.
'tDo'nt suspect me Of any deviltry
for heavens sake. I've got to go on
in fifteen minutes, and how can 1
play unless you let me forget this
horrible business"
Forget it then, if you can; I'll re-
mind you Of it tomorrow" And,
with a significant nod, he walked
away, leaving behind him a new tri-
al to distress'me. Iran to Clotilde's
room bent on relieving myself, if
possible, Of the suspicion that would
return with redoubled pertinacity
since the discovery of the dagger,
which l was sure had not dropped
were 1t was found. When 1 tapped
at her door, her voice, clear and
sweet as ever answered ''Comer' and
entering found her ready, but
alone. Before I could open my lips
she put up her hand as if to arrest
the utterance Of some dreadful intel
igence.
"Don't speak of it; have heard,
and cannot bear a repetition Of the
horror. 1 must forget it till tO-mor-
row, then, There she stopped
abruptly, for produced the flower,
asking as naturally as could
"Did you rive this to anv oneY'