Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-13
on THE TRAP.


ohdation into the empire. My role was p0pu-
ar because everybody likes to laugh. and likes
one who puts them in a laughing mood. My
makeup was considered a marvel OF perfection.
My songs always took, and my gestures and
grimaces never failed to elicit the mJst raptu-
TOus applause. 1t used 90 be said that my face
must be made of India-rubbeT, it could be twist
ed and distorted into such strange expressions.
But hated the life, and my success made it
more and more distAsteful.
One night went home completely worn ont
in body and mind. My little sister Ada, fifteen
years old, and light and graceful as sylph, who
was engaged as a danSeuse at the same theatre,
also seemed diSpirited and worn. The play had
been running forty nights, and the whole com
pany was heartily sick OF it. But it was not this
alone which eXerted a depressing influence on
my 81 irits that evening. For many weeks b adj
been losing my lRart to FTAulein Dora, the
principal danseuse OF the theatre, who was no
less lovely IN mind and heart than in her per-
SON She was the most beautiful woman h al
ever seen; tall, well-fOrmed. graceful; with a
step like fairy 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 betTiend and assist in
her profession. This was the more surprising,
because Ada promised TO become dangerous
rival; and, IN the theatrical profession, jealousy
rs the rule, aud generosity the exception. So
leaned Z ike Dora, and then to love her But
20 did everybody else. All the gentry of the
place fell in love with her, and rsved about her
beauty and her dancing, in the way that nearly
drove me wild with Jealousy. was in love in
the Old-fashiOned way we read OF in novels
am not ashamed TO confess it-eager to kiss the
ground on which she troi, and would not be-
lieye that any one else could love and worship
her with the same devotion. / mustjnOt omit to
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 thea
tire, by her mother; and always returned the
rich presents which were shOwered upon her.
Among all who paid court TO Dora, feared
only one, the young, rich, handsome, and ac-
cOmplished Count Ernest Won Walters, who
pressed his suit with uuTemitting ardOr. What
chance had the poor clown against that man?
Yet fanCied; If he were only out of the way |
need not despair of winning her. DID she not
love my sister, and praised my acting and sing
ing? But this day had learned the worst
that her kindness TO me sprang only from a gem
tie and friendly feeling for the brother OF the
girl she had learned 10 love like a sister, and
That she had promised to become the wife of
Count Won Walters. What wonder that | went
to my lodgings with despair in my heart
My little sister exsrted herself 10 make things
cheerful IN our quiet sitting room. sShe sus-
pected nothing OF the real cause OF my down
EeaTtedUeSs, for she, my cOnHiant in every
thing else, had never been intrusted with the
secret Of nv moody silence, prattled on about
"A DumteT OF unpleasant matters. She was in
teTrUpted by knock at the door, followed by
the entrance OF our landlady. The good soul
apOlogized tor coming IN at SO late an hour, but
the pOstman had brought a letter for me just
after We had left for the theatre, and as il bore
a foreign post mark, she thought il might be i'm
portant / should getit thai evening. I thanked
her mechanically, but glance at the pOstmark
caused me 70 tear the letter open with eager
And trembling fingers; for / had often hea
my father speak OF an only brother who had
settled in England in early youth, and from
whom vague reports came, from time to time,
OF successful mercantile career. The letter was
pOstmarked London, and the heavy black Dor
der lines told the story before the seal was bro
ken. Ny uncle was dead. He had never MAJ
RED, and on his death be al, rememb cred his
only brother, he had LETT all his wealth to Iim
or TO his children. For moment felt stunned
and faint; and Ada, throwing her arms about
nv neck, begged me TO tell her what bad news
was IN my letter TO make me look 81 strange
i no
We were rich, and would have no more neei to
act in the theatre. We would leave this miser-
able little town and 90 % Berlin.
To my surprise Ada again put her arms about
nv neck and whispered softly, % Need we leave
the theatre Immediately, dear brother Pr
" No, child said wondering what she could
mean, &c but tell m why YOU should want u
stay another day. when YOU can leave at once
and be free from this slavery
- Because, dear brother she answered, hest
tating and blUsling, " FEaulein Dora told me |
was a great deal Vrettier than she was, and
better dancer; and that / shOnid have the irst
place IN the new dance they are to pat on the
stage next week. Oh, / would like u have such
a triumph once! 1t would be such pleasant
way TO say good by to the stage"
l could deny her nothing, my little sister, and
though for me il was like going into the torture
room OF the In IuisitlOn 10 enter the theatre an
see Count Ernest on such familiar terms with
Dora, consented Tor the present 70 conceal my
good fortune from our friends, and 20 on lust
the same as il nothing had happened
The eyentful evening came at length. The
was TO end with grand transformation scene
in which Ada ami Dora were to rise as sea
nymphs, in shell-likc car, from the waters OF
a mimic lake. ItsO happened that, just before
the last scene, went into the room underneath
the stage, where the machinery for raising the
car was placed, impelled by strange foreood
ing of impending misfortune, to assure myself
that everything was in order; and that no PEE
caution against accident had been neglected.
There l found the master machinist, a dark
and gloomy ylsaged man, standing by the car,
muttering TO himself in an undertOne. Better
she should die than marry the Count He has
bewitched her, as he does all women. a little
What are YOU mattering to yourseIf?' /
asked him, suddenlyi - and what do YOU mean
by these mysterious words -
he faced me, a. II struck BY an unexpected
blow.
- was onIv examining the MACH merry to see
that twas all right be answered sulenly, aud
turned away.
carefully examined the cords by which the
car was raised. Everything appeared % be IN
good order; and L went back to my place, try
ing to laugh myself out Of my apprehensions
But though 1t was easy to argue that all was
right, that my fears arose merely from some
eSpHcable disorder OF the brain, | could not
feel secure. was positive that some frghtIul
mssadventure would occur before the play was
over; and every nerve was strained in the effort
to MAINTAIN a calm exterior.
The play progressed. The curtain rose upon
the magnificent transformation scene; and the
plaudrtrVftke audience GREW tumultuous as the
sIlendors unroiled before them. At length the
Gar Degan 10 Use slowly aitu m4lc-licdIiy, 10
low, swee. strains of music. | watched, with
scarcely beating heart and bated breath, the
first appearance Of the beautiful vision-for
vision 1t looked, rising and still rising, the
car resplendesswfeh all the tinseI, which shone
like gold, silver, and diamonds A sound a. of
many tnkling fountains mingled with the
strains of delicious music; fairly-land seemed
opening upon the sight, with arching bowers
and far-reaching yistas, and myriads of elm
forms disporting on the ground aud in the air.
For a moment was fss ;inated, when Ada AMI
Dora, in all their beauty, rose above the lake,
their stately car seemingly lifted by invisible
hands. 4 forgot my apprehensions, and once
mole breathed freely.
Suddenly there was a dreadful crash. and q
wild cry tlled the house. The car had fallen.
For an Instant, felt rooted to the spot where
I was standing, and then recovering my senses
rushed forward TO learn the worst. As 1 made
my way through the narrow pass under the
stage, heard some one say in a pittying tone:
Poor thing, she will never dance again.
Which was IL? Ada? Dora? L fought my way
through the crowd OF actors and attendants,
AND saw my little Ada lying senseless in Doras
arms. throwing myself on my knees, took
In hofh Of