The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-09-12

begged me to tell her what bad news
was 10 my letter to make me look so
strange andspale. l took her on my
knee, and told her we were rich, and
would have no moro need to act in the
theatre. We would leave this miser-
able little town and go to Berlin.
To my surprise, Ada again put her
arms about my neck, and whispered
softly, "Need we leave the theatre i'm
mediately, dear brother ?"
"No, child" said wondering what
she could mean; "but tell me why
you should want to stay another day,
when you can leave at once and be
free from this slavery ?"
Because, dear brother,n she an
swered, hesitating and blusing, "Frau.
lein Dora told me / was a great deal
prettier than she was, and better
dancer; and that / should have the
first place In the new dance they are
to put on the stage next week. Oh,
! would like to have such triumph
once 1t would be such a pleasant
way to say good-by to the stage"
could deny her nothing, my little
sister; and though for me it was like
going into the torture-room of the In
QUESTION to enter the theatre and see
Count Ernest on such familiar terms
with Dora, l consented for the pres
ent to conceal my good fortune from
our friends, and go on just the same
as if nothing had happened.
The eventful evening came at
length. The play was interspersed
with ballet-dancing, and was to end
with grand transformation scene in
which Ada and Dora were to rise as
sea-nymphs, IN shell-like car, from
the waters of a mimic lake. 1t so
happened that, just before the last
scene. went into the room under
meath the stage, where the machinery
for raising the car was placed, impelled
by strange foreboding of impending
misfortune, to assure myself that every
thing was in order; and that no pre-
caution against accident had been
neglected, There | found the master
machinist, dark and gloomy visaged
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 slit would"
"What are you muttering to your
SELF" ] asked him, suddenly; "and
what do you mean by these mysteri-
Gus words ?" .
He faced me, as if struck by an un.
expected blow.
al was only examining the machine
ry to see that everything was right
he answered, sullenly, and turned
away.
carefully examined the cords by
whioh the car was raised. Everything
appeared to be secure and in good
order; and | went back to my place,
trying TO laugh myself out of my
apprehensions. But though it was
easy to argue that all was right, and
that my fears arose merely from some
explicabie disorder of the brain, /
could not feel secure. / was positive
that some frightful misadventure
would occur before the play was over
and every nerve was strained in the
effort to maintain calm exterior
The play progressed. The curtain
rose upon the magnificent transtorma-
tion scene; and the plaudits of the
audience grew tumultuous as the
splendors unrolled before them. At
length the car began to rise slowly
and majestically, to low, sweet strains
of music. l watched, with scarcely
beating heart and abated breath, the
first appearance of the beautiful vision
for like a vision it looked, rising and
still rising the car resplendent with
all the tinsel which shone like gold,
and silver and diamonds. Asound as
of many tinkling fountains mingled
with the sound of delicious music
tairy-land seemed opening upon the
sight, with arching bowers and far
reaching vstas, and myriads of elfn
forms disporting on the ground and
in the air. For moment l was fas-
cinated, when Ada and Dora, in all
their beauty, rose above the lake, their
stately car seemingly lifted by invis;
ible hands, forgot my apprehensions,
and once more breathed freely,
Suddenly there was dreadful crash,
and wild cry filled the house. The
car had fallen. For an instant, felt
rooted to the spot where | was stand
ing, and then recovering my senses,
rushed forward to learn the worst.
As ! made my way through the mar
row passage under the stage, | heard
some one sayi apityiDg tone: "Poor
thing, she will never dance again ~
Which was it ? Ada ? Dora? / fought
my way through the crowd of actors
and saw my little Ada lying senseless
in Dora's arms. Throwing myself on
my knees took her cold hands in
both of mine. "My dear friend" said
Dora, who was weeping silently
"she is not dead, though dreadfully
hurt. The surgeon will be here di-
rectly, Compose yourself She is
reviving! r
My little darling opened her eyes,
with deep sigh, and looked about
her with bewildered gaze. \
"Hush, little one, said Dora, softly,
as she saw Ada was about to speak.
"Lie still and be patient till the sur
geon comes"
The gentle sufferer closed her eyes,
and her little hand pressed mine with
a tender grasp. The surgeon was
soon on the spot. He assured me
that Ada had sustained no fatal in
jury, but it was doubtful whether she
would be able to walk again. With
a piteous cry she tell back in Dora's
arms, and tainted dead away.
| had noticed no one but Ada, but
at this moment / was conscious that