Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-09-26
ON THE TRAMP.


I was only clown. q painted griuniue
clown, attached, on a small salary. to q
theatre in the cspital Of one of the little
duchies into which Germany was divided be
fore the genius and ambition Of Bismarck
had effected its consolidation into the .em
pire Ny role was popular because every
body likes to laugh. and likes one who puts
them in laughing mood. My makeup
was considered marvel of perfection. Ny
songs always took, and my gestures and
grimaces never failed to elicit the most rap
turous applause. 1t used to be said thai
my face must be made Of India rubber, it
could be twisted and distorted into such
strange expressions. But hated the life
and my success made it more and more dis
tasteful.
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 al
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 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
theatre. who was no less lovely in mind and
heart than in person. She was the most
beautiful woman had ever seen; tall. we'll
formed, graceful with s:eep. like fairy
queen; large, thoughtful eyes, and sweet,
winning smile Whit first drew me to her
was her kindness to my sister, whom she
took every opportunity to befriend and as
sist in her profession This was the more
surprising. because Ada promised to be-
come dangerous rival; and, in the theatre
cal profession, jealousy is the rule, and gen
crosby the exception. So | learned to like
Dora, and then to love her. But SO did
everybody else. All the gentry of the
place fell in love with her, and raved about
her beauty and her dancing in a way that
nearly drove me mad with Jealousy. was
in love the old fashioned way we read Of in
novels-I am not ashamed to confess it
eager to 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 to say that Dora,
in the midst Of all this adulatioD, displayed
the most discreet and modest behavior
She was always attended, to and from the
theatre, by her mother and always re-
turned the rich presents which we're show
cred upon her
Among all who paid court to Dora,
feared only one-the young rich, handsome,
and accomplished Count Ernest Won Wal
ters, who pressed his suit with unremitti G
ardor. What chance had the poor clown
against this man Yet fancied if be were
only GU. Of the way need not despair o.
winning her, Did she not love my sister
end had she not often spoken kindly to me,
and praised my acting and singing But
this day | learned the rst-that her kind
ness to me spraDg only from friendly
love for the brother OF the girl she hac
learned to love like sister, and that she
had promised to become the wife Of Count
Won Walters. What wonder that went te
my lodgings with despair 10 my heart
My little sister exersed herself to make
things cheerful in our quiet sitting-room. =
She suspected nothing of the real cause o
my down-heartedness, for she, my cou6dan
in every thing else. had never been entrust
ed with the Sc ret Of my love for Dora )
and in the hope Of drawing me out of my
moody silence pratt|ed on about number
OF unimportant matters. She was inter
rupted by knock at the door, followed b,
the entrance Of our landlady The goot
soul apologized for coming in at SO late al
hour, but the postman had brought a lettel
for me just after we had left for the theatre
and as it bore foreign postmark sh
thought it must be important should get j
that evening. thanked her mechanically
but a glance at the postmark caused me t.
tear the letter open with eager and trenb
liog fingers for had often heard my ia
Their speak Of an elder brother who had set
tied in England in early youth, and from
whom vague reports came, from time t
time, of successful mercantile career. III
letter was postmarked London, and th
heavy black border lines told the story be
fore the seal was broken Ny uncle wa
dead. He had never married, and on hi
death bed, remembering his only brother
left all his wealth to him or his children :
For moment I felt stuoned and faint
and Ada. thro wing her arms about my neck
begged me to tell her what bad news wa
in my letter to make me look SO strange an
pale. I took her on my knee, and told he
We were rich and would no more need
act in the theatre. We would leave TIL
little town and 60 to Berlin
To my surprise Ada again put her arm
about my neck, and whispered softly, "Nes
we leave the theatre Immediately, dea
brother ?"
mo, child" said I, wondering what 81
could mean, "but tell me Why you shout
want to stay another day, when you, Ca
leave at once and be free from the siav
~ ?"
because. dear brother" she answere
hesita.ing and blushing, "Fraulein Do'
told me I was great deal prettier than ST
Was, and better dsncer, and that ! shou