The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-06-22


one could say at what time or in what
direction he had gone. He was last
seen by Mile Florence, walking slowly up
Church street, about dusk, and as this
was the direct route to the cemetery we
all concluded he had gone there-some
said to pray, but knew better than
that.
On entering his room at the Shaks-
peare house, his trunks were found pack
ed, locked, and strapped, Oh the table
letter directed to myself, which read as
follows:
DEAR NED-Please send my trunks
to the following address lucille
Holmes, Memphis, Tenn Answer the
inquiry with a truthful ST don't know"
and come to no conclusion yourself con-
corning your friend. Elmer"
complied with the request in every
particular, and, knowing the futility OF
groundless speculation, waited on "dlla-
tory time to unravel the mystery of
,the doings of my bereaved friend. A
month passed, and nothing was heard of
him, and the excitement incident to the
sad occurrences, of which this is the
record, had died away, and the names of
the ill-starred Tbespians, though not for
gotten, were scarcely ever mentioned,
and [ had just settled down in the belief
that 1 should never see or hear from my
poor friend, again, when one morning
after rehearse', the manager handed me a
letter with the precautionary Mum. .
[ retired from the stage and opened it,
and must leave you to imagine my sur
prise on reading the following:
"DEAR GALBRETH-Announce me for
''The Stranger and michael Darle, !"
on the night of the 14th. Yours,
ELMER
Flaming posters, bearing the name of
Elmer Percy, in four-foot caps, soon APP
peared all over the city, and great was
the excitement arising therefrom.
The night of the 18th came, and with
it Elmer. At o'clock met the mana
ger on the stage, and asked: lis Elmer
here? Eyes" he replied, eyes, Ned,
and, entire nous. I-I-well rather wish
he wasn't" Why? $50 to the green
room and see for yourself IF he doesn' t
do something desperate tonight, I'll
admit that I N no judge of mailman. +"
[ went to the green-room, and there [
found Elmer, looking more the ghost of
Hamlet than in the flesh. He was idly
picking a guitar when [ entervd, but on
seeing me, he laid down the instrument,
end extended his hand, which [ took in
my own, and could not suppress shud-
der as [ felt his cold clammy fingers clos
ing around my own.
1 sat down by his side and conversed
with him awhile, now imbibing the
fears as to what the night
might bring forth. There was wild
and unnatural bril,is ncy in
his eyes, nervous, spasmodic movement
of the fingers that betrayed partial in
sanity, and, knowing that boisterous
reception" awaited him. / trembled for
the result Taking his hand | said:
''Eimer my dear friend, you are not
well, and are very imprudent to contin-
ne to play while such is the case Don't
you think it were better that you aban-
doned the stage-at least for time ?"
Looking me steedily in the eye, while
the cunning twinkle in the maniac's was
in his own, he firmly answered: "No."
l went on to state that [ thought the
present state of his mind required re-
pose; when taking my hand-I had
released his--he said, in low, solemn
voice:
''Ned, an thou lowest me-" ne'er
say-quit-to me again. My heart needs
quiet and repose, and it will find it ere
long; but until then, ask me not to quit
the courts of Thespius Next to Nelly,
I loved my profession above all things,
and now, all I ask to die as she died.
before the footlights and a crowded
house" Then bending close to me, he
whispered: SIS there, Ned, is there
any-trace of-of-her blood-(a fright
full spasm convulsed his frame as the
word-blood-came from his lips), is
there any trace of her blood on the stage
yet? Oh how my heart trembles when
| think of the horrible scene that shall
meet my gaze when | go on. Ned even
now methinks | hear her calling on my
name as she did that light! Even now,
[ see her weltering in her pTexlns blood.
Oh horror horror | see the crimson
torrent gushing from her sweet lips, and
deluging that bosom of immaculate
whiteness-her dying throbs now rend
my heart-Ohl [ see the horror-stricken
faces of the multitude-and there is an
other little episode in store for them.
Seel took this from her chestnut hair
oh, heaven hawthorn blossom never
decke6 fairer brow-but go you, Ned,
to the front, you re off," to-night-go
to the front-there goes the first music
go Ned, my good friend, and note how
well, how fearfully well, do my part
for the stage still reeks with Nellly's
blood, and there is Inspiration in the
thought. Hush! there goes the call
boy-I shall soon have the word. Now,
CO."
I left him, and, ascending the stage,
cautioned all I met to keep sharp eye
upon him, as there was no telling
what desperate thing he might do: then,
Al