River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-10-10
ON THE TRAMP.

was only clown, u painted, efinninr
| clown, attached, on small salary. to n
theater in the capital of one or the little
| duchics into which Germany was deyided
! before the genius and ambition of Bismarck
had effected its consolidation into the EN-
pire. My role was popular because every
body liked to laugh and likes one who puts
them in laughing mood Ny maxi -up
was considered marvel of perfection.
My songs always took, and my gestures and
grlmaces never failed to elicit the most
rapturous applause II used TO be said that
my lace must be made of inda-rnbber. II
could be twisted and distorted into such
strange expressions But hated the life
an1 my success made il more and more
listasteful
One night went home completely worn
out IN body and mind My little sister Ada
fifteen years old, and light and graceful as
a sylph, who was engaged as danseuse at
the same theater, also seemed dispirited
aud worn The play had been running
forty nights, and the whole company was
heartily sick of il. But 1t was not this
alone which exerted depressing influence
on my spirits that evening. For many
weeks had been losing my heart to Frau
lein Dora, the principal danseuse of the
theater, who was no less lovely in mi a
and heart than in h,r person. She was the
most beautiful woman / had ever seen
TALL well formed, graceful with a sfep
like fairy queen large, thoughtful eyes.
and sweet, winning smile. What first
drew me to her was her kindness to my
sister, whom she took every opportunity To
beiriend 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
rule and generosity the exception. So /
learned to like Dora and then to love her
but 50 did everybody else All the gentry
OF the place fell in love with her aud rayed
| about her beauty and her dancing in a way
that nearly drove me wild with jealousy. |
was in love in the old-fashioncd way we
read 81 IN novels am not ashamed 10
confess it-eager 10 kiss the ground on
which she trOd, and would not believe that
any one else could love and Worship her
with the Same devotion. | must not omit
10 say that Dora. in the midst of all this
adulation displayed the most discreet and
modest behavior. She was always attended
to and from the theater, by her mother
and always returned the rich presents which
were showercd upon her.
Among all who paid court to Dora. |
feared only one, the young, rich. hand
some and accomplished Count Ernest Won
Walters, who pressed his suit with unre
hitting ardor What chance had the poor
clown against this man Yet fancIed if
he were only out of the way need not
despair OF winning her. Did she not love
my sister, and had she not often spoken
kindly 10 me and praised my acting and
singing But this day had learned the
worst-that her kindness to me sprang only
from gentle and friendly feeling for the
brother of the girl she had learned to love
like sister, and that she had promise Il 10
become the wife of Count Won Walters.
What wonder that | went TO my lodgings
with despair in my heart
My little sister eXerted herself 10 make
things cheerful in our quiet sitting room.
She suspected nothing of the real cause of
my downheartedneSs, for she, confident in
everything else, had never been intrusted
with secret of my love for Dora; and. in
the hope OF drawing me out of my moody
silence, prattled on about number of un-
important matters She was interrupted
by knock al the door, followed bv the
entrance of our landlady. The good soul
apologized for coming i'm at so late an hour,
but the postman had brought a letter for
ule just after we had left for the thcater, and
as il bore foreign postmark. she thought
It might be important | should get il that
evening. thanked her mechanically, hut
\ y glance at the postmark caused me 10 tear
the letter open with eager and trembling
fingers for ! had often heard my father
speak of an only brother who had settled
I In aYA -
| vague report came, from time to time. of
a successful mercantile career. The letter
was pustmafkCd London, and the heavy
black border lines told the story before the
seal was broken. My uncle Is dead lie
had never married, and on his deaih.bed.
remembering his only brother. he LEFT ali
his wealth 10 him or his children. For a
moment felt stunned aud faint and Ada
throwing her arms about my neck. begged
me 10 tell her what bad news was in my
letter 10 make me look so strange and pale
81 took her ON my knee, and told her we
were rich and would have no more need
10 act IN the thcater. We would leave this
, miserable little town and 20 tn Berlin
10 my surprise, Ada again put her arms
about my neck, and whispered softly /.
Need we leave the thcater Immediately.
dear brother n
Z No, child,' said I. wondering what
she could mean =" hut tell mo MI, yon
, should want 60 stay another day. when yo1
/ can leave at once and be free from this
slavery
Because, dear BROTHER she answered
hesliating and hlushing, "Fmulein Dora
told me ! was great deal prrtlier than she
was and u better dancer; and that should
have the first place in the new dance they
Te 70 put on the stage next week on. /
Would like 70 have such triumph once !
~ would be such pleasant way 10 saw
T. goodbye TO the stage
q could deny her nothing. my little sic
q yer ami though for me IL was like roiny
4 mo the torture room of the inouiStiop M
4 enter the theairr aud see Coun, Ernest an
such familiar terms with Dora. CONSUMED
for the present to conceal my good fortune
from our friends, and 20 on lust m, amr
az \ nothing had happened
! Inc eventual evening came at length.