Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-04-10

up, and in horrible proximity to each other
the duelists prepare for their last encoun-
ter. The word is given, in another minute
all is over, and Mayburn, with a bullet
through his heart, falls to the ground, just
as the luckless heroine enters, as l have
described
1t was my fate to be cast for the part of
Houndsfoot, while, of course, Mr. Ruther-
stone played that of Mark We had never
met before, but soon understood each
other, and | willingly fell into his new
little caprices about the business of our
scenes together We went through the
duel over and over again, according to the
stage directions of the London theater,
carefully arranging our relative positions,
and SO disposing everything as to bring
out the points of the incidents and the
dialogue with the most dramatic effect I
need not 90 into these in detail; the final
one, to which everything gradually work
ed up, is sufficient. We started from the
opposite corners of the stage, SO as to give
the greatest appearance of space; thus the
fatal shot was fired in the most conspicu-
Gus part Of the boards.
AT the first rehearsals we, of course, only
snapped our pistols at each other, and our
seconds merely went through the motions
and time Of reloading the pair with which
we both were supplied; but as it was neces-
sary at last to carry out actually what was
to be done at night, we went through the
firing, and much powder was burned and
noise created ere Rutherstone expressed
himself cOntented with the way in which
the business went and the scene was acted.
At first, in firing at him, especially when
we came to close quarters, used to point
the pistol well over his head, according to
the usual practice in such cases, for the
sake of safety; but so determined was he
to carry out the reality Of the effect, that
he insisted on my aiming straight at him.
"Depress your muzzle little, so as to
clear my face said he, "and no wadding
or flame can hurt me- The effect is absurd
to see the pistol fired clean over me.'
This, therefore, | did, though somewhat
reluctantly, for it is a nasty feeling, that
of deliberately taking aim at a man, even
though you know that the charge is harm
less. However, over and over again we
repeated the scene-three shots each, the
intermediate business, then my fourth
the fatal One-Mark's fall, the girls en-
trance, and the tableau. Now, in this
same fall Rutherstone used to make in my
humble judgment, great mistake, and |
Il
shot in that way would assuredly fall for
ward, and not backward, as he did, and
that all those with whom I had ever con
versed who had seen a man killed by a
bullet told me that the dead on a battle
field were nearly all found face downward,
which fact had given rise to the express
sion, biting the dust" He disputed the
statement, and adhered to the one only lit
tie bit of conventionality in his perform
ance.
so he persisted in his Gown business "
as we technically called it. The moment
| had fired he took one step toward me,
raised his arms, and fell flat on his back
with a heavy thud. 1t is true that by the
disposition of the characters on the stage
this gave a capital opportunity for the
heroine to throw herself across his body,
and the arrangement was picturesque
enough, but to my mind it spoiled his
otherwise truthful Interpretation of his
part. He was not a conventional actor,
but this bit of acting was so in the ex-
treme.
For over a week the piece was IN re
hearsal, during which time | could not
fail to notice the close intimacy which
sprung up, or, more properly speaking,
was renewed between Julia Halworth and
Rutherstone. In thousand little ways
incidental to the actors art | saw that
something besides the merely inevitable
familiarity consequent upon playing to-
gether had arisen between them, and
likewise saw that this had started into life
all the latent fury with which | had cred
tied Caugar, in spite Of his bland manners,
smooth smile and soft voice. There was
a desperate struggle going on within him
at times it cost him his utmost strength to
control himself. Jcalousy-deep, revenge
full jealouSy-had taken possession Ofhim,
"a Jealousy which must have sprung from
a sincerer love for the girl than | had sup
posed him capable of but ii was only on
this item of his disposition that | had
wronged him; in all else he bore out, to
my keen eyes, my original idea of his ma
ture. In his capacity of stage manager
he was, of course, present at the rehear-
sails, and, in addition to this, he played
the part of one Of my seconds in the duel
thus being continually brought into con.
tact with every one concerned in the
scene.
1t was on these occasions that | noted
especially what was uppermost in his
mind. Once | chanced upon him talking
with Miss Halworth as I passed down the
wing to 90 on She had evidently just
given him her ultimatum.
This, then, is your answer | heard
him mutter between his teeth, and almost
losing, in his ill-suppressed rage, the soft
urbane tone of his usual voice. For this
| have been kept in miserable suspense
for two weeks. l little thought when
came to terms with Rutherstone that was
wrecking my chances of domestic happi
ness for the sake of professional renown
Confound him. he continued in still
lower voice, as he turned away; "he shall
not wear her. though he has won her, she
shall never be his wife; | shall put an end
TO this engagement first, by some means
Julia had followed him to the wing and
said hesitatingly, II must be candid;
told you l did not think l could ever like
YOU, and now that Bernal is here, I know
it our old feeling has
''Spare me that reference" interposed
Caugar This is no time for such a dis
cussion. You shall repent your conduct
be sure. You are called, Miss Halworth: :
and she had to go down to her entrance
and await her cue.
Did he threaten her?" | thought
What would his savage nature lead him
to do? Anything l said to myself, as
observed the diabolical expression which
had overspread his face.
Our last rehearsal has been gone through
to the satisfaction of everybody. / hat
made a final appeal to Rutherstone re
specting his fall, but with the creates
good temper he told me TO mind my OWL