Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-09-19
Gelrttc0 MlisfrIIallD.
From the Aldine for September.
ON THE TRAP.

"tS my "Sio"HJ Z" painful, grim
ming clown, attached, on a small salary
to theatre in the capital of ono of the
little'duchies into which Germany was
divided before the genius and ambition
of Bismarck had effected its consolda.
ton into the empire. My role was pop
ular because everybody likes to laugh,
and likes one who puts them in laugh
ing mood. My makeup was considered
marvel of perfection. My songs always
took, and my gestures and grimaces new
er failed to elicit the most rapturous APP
plausc. 1t used to be said that my face
must be made of India-rubber, it could
be twisted and distorted into such strange
expressions. But hated the life, aud
my success made it more and more dis
tasteful.
One night I went homo completely
worn out in body and mind My little
sister Ada, fifteen years old, and light
and graceful as sylph, who was enga-
ged as danseuse at the same theatre,
also seemed dispirited and worn. The
play had been. running forty nights, and
the whole company was heartily sick OF
it. But it was not this alone which ex-
ertcd depressing influence on my spir-
its that evening. For many weeks | had
been losing my heart to Fraulcin Dora,
the principal danscuse of the theatre, who
was no less lovely in mind and heart than
in her person. She was the most beau
tiful woman | had ever seen tall, we'll
formed, graceful with step like fai-
ry queen large, thoughtful eyes and a
sweet, winning smile. What first drew
me to her was her kindness to my sister,
whom she took every opportunity to be-
friend and assist in her profession. This
was the more surprising, because Ada
promised to become dangerous rival ;
and, in the theatrical profession, jealousy
is the rulc, and generosity the exception.
SO learned to like Dora, and then to
love her. But so did everybody else 49,
All the gentry in the place fell in love
with her, and raved about her beauty
and her dancing, in way that nearly
drove me wild with jealousy. was in
love in the old-fashioncd way we read of
in novels am not ashamed to confess
it--cager to kiss the ground on which
she trod, aud would not believe that any
one else could love and worship her with
the same devotion. must not omit to
say that Dora, in the midst Of all this
adulation, displayed the most discreet
and modest behaviour She was always
attended, to and from the theatre, by her
mother; and always returned the rich
presents which were showered upon her
Among all who paid court to Dora, l
feared only one, the young, rich, hand
some and accomplished Count Ernest Won
Walters, who pressed his suit with un-
renting ardor. What chance bad the
poor clown against this man ? Yet
fancied if he we're only out of the way ]
need not despair Of winning her. Did
she not love my sister, and had she not
often spoken kindly to me, and praised
my acting and singing? But this day ]
bad learned the worst that her kindness
to me sprang only from a gentle ant
friendly feeling for the brother of the
girl she had learned to love like sister
and that she had promised to become tho
wife Of Count Won Walters. What won
der that l went to my lodgings with dc
spair in my heart
Ny little sister exerted hersolfto max,
things cheerful in our quiet sitting
room. She suspected nothing of the rea
cause Of my down-heartedness, for she
my conidant in everything else, ha'
never been intrustcd with the secret 0
my love for Dora and, in the hope 0
drawing me out of my moody silence
prattled on about number of unimpor
taut matters. She was interrupted by
knock at the door, followed by the en-
trance Of our landlady. The good sou
apologized for coming in at so late al
hour, but the postman had brought let
ter for me just after we had left the thea
tire, and as it bore foreign postmark
she thought it might be important
should get it that, evening. | Thanked
her mechanically, but a glance at tn
F! postmark caused me to tear the lette
open with eager and trembling fingers
for bad often heard my father speak 0
an only brother who had settled in Eng