Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-06-01
A Drama Of Real Life.

The old aphorism that "all the worlds q
stage, and men are only actors finds fire.
Quent confirmation amidst the varying
experiences of this mundane existence,
and it the dramatis persone should be
enlarged SO as to include the ''gentler
sex" it would find peculiar apo cation
to the occurrences of recent nigh ia this
usually peaceful village. Rarels do all
the elements of tragedy, comedy and farce
enter into the incidents of single nights
history as on the occasion to which allu-
sion is made, and as thereby hangs" not
only "a tale" but several tales, we will
briefly portray these events, l~4sing to
the imagination of the reader tho work of
supplying the scenic surroundings.
Scene first opens at the dead nour Of
night, when silence broods over the sleep
ing town. The moon has sunk to rest, but
the unclouded stars look Down in tran
quill beauty, and no sounds are heard but
the measured tread of the guardian of
the night as he PAGES his heightened beat
All are hushed in repose, save the f. ~ whose
devotion to public wants makes nightly
toll necessity.
Suddenly on the still night al pierre
ing, agonizing shrek is heard, once and
again; shrek that evidently CO res from
woman's lips and such a one 5 is only
wrung forth in the hour of helpl~ss terror
or mortal agony. 1t was sound to blanch
the cheek of the bravest, and send the
blood curdling to the stoutest heart. Wis
ions Of
"The groan, the strife,
The blow, the horrid cry,
The painting, sitting prayer for life,
The dying's heaving sigh,"
rose before the excited fancy OF the few
who listened. There was "m ustering"
in hot haste" rally upon the deserted
street, the shrill whistle summoning the
sturdy guardian of the public peace, and
the anxious question, whence did the
fearful sounds proceed ~ So sudden, so
startling had been those cries of alarm,
that while some were sure they proceeded |
from certain direction, others were
equally confident they originated in diff
ferent quarter. Guided by the best infor-
nation and the appearance of light at
the window of a rear room in the upper
part of row of business blocks, the res
cuing party fastened without standing
On the order of their going" to the open
yard in the rear. The figures of man
and woman standing in relief against the
lighted windows, and apparently watch
ing the movements of the party below, at
that hour of the night, showed that some
thing unusal, perhaps trsgical, was tran
spring in that little upper room. The
reply, too, that came from the window in
to the question whether there
was any trouble, being construed to be
defiant one, convinced the eager protec-
tors of feminine helples mes that the up
per chamber was the source from whence
proceeded those frantic appeals for help.
Thus far the events of that night have
the complexion of high tragedy. BIT at
this point the dark scene was enlivened by
CoMICAL EPISODE.
Fastening around TO gain the front en-
trance to that mysterious chamber, the
party came upon the street, the
name of which is suggestive of the pensive
shadows of the dropping willow. A sud-
len light at doorway and the appear
snce OF two loosely draped female figures,
the suspicion that possibly this
might have been the aonroa from which
The alarm arose. But on the hurried APP
proaeh and eager inquiry of the blue
coated official, who CALAMITY led the party,
,tber scresms awoke the stiffness of that
retired street, and two sffrighted maidens
not prepared to receive visi-
.ors-were almost overcome by the sud-
len appearance of so much manly protec-
ion. Words of explanation and apology
which soothed the alarm of the
ladies', who to their credit belt said, did not
.aint. As a faithful ehronicler the his
.orian of this nights adventures is obliged
% dispel that Pigment of the fancy which
las been in circulation, which makes an
sttache of a morning journal, lot thou
and miles from Rutland, appear in an
interesting tableau sustaining faintiug
emale form. This is purely the out
growth of fervid and highly artistic
But to proceed with the search for the
Gene of the supposed tragedy After at
irst mistaking the entrance to the eagerly
ought upper room, and expanding blows
md dreful denunciatioRs on an iron door
hat was supposed TO obstruct the wished
or passage, the proper staircase was
ound. Fastening up the steps, the fore
most of the party had nearly gained the
n once more :" that shrill scream that
pierced the stiffness of the night like the
blast of bugle. Rushing to the door of
he room from whence the cries proceeded,
entrance was at once granted, when, in
stead of gaping wounds and garments
oiled in blood" which are needed to COM !
'lete tragical plot, the scene is suddenly .
into {
A FARCE. |
A picture of domestic excitement, a !
'ortly lady in airy habiliments, almost ,
Frustrated by fright and excessive prac- ,
ice on the higher notes of the diatonic
Gale, man cody endeavoring to make I
himself "master of the situation" such !
we're some of the revelations of that upper s
DOM. With glad sense of relief at the
arcial ending of what promised to be
irst-class tragedy, the party set about ex-
'loring the roof for the owner of certain
air of feet that had been making mys.