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

happened that, just before the last scene I
went into the room underneath the stago
where the machinery for raising the or
was placed, impeled by strange forbod
ing OF impending misfortune, TO assure nv.
self thai everything was in order; and that
no precaudOn against accident had been
neglected There / found the master ma
chinist dark aud gloomy-visaged man.
standing by the car, muttering to himself i'm
an mdertone Better she should die than
marry the count. lie has bewitched her
as he does all women. A little slit would-v
What are you mutterllng TO yourself -
! asked him, suddenly " and what do Won
mean by these mysterious words ?"
lie faced me, as if struck by an unex
pected blow.
" L wasonly examining the machinery TO
see that everything was right" he answer
ed, sullenly, and turned away
! carefully examined the cords by which
the car was raised Everything appeared
to be secure and in good order; and went
back to my place, trying 10 laugh myself
Out ol my approximations. But though il
was easy TO argue that all was right and
that my fears arose merely from some mex
plicable disorder of the brain, / could not
feel secure. / was positive that some
frightful misadyenturc would occur before
the play was over aud every nerve was
strained in the effort % maintain a calm
exterior.
The play progressed. The curtdn rose
upon the magnificent transformation scene
and the plaudts OF the audience grew Ia
multuOus as the splendors unrolled before
them. At length the car began to rise slowly
and majestically, to low, sweet strains of
music. ] watched, with scarcely beating
heart and bated breath, the first appearance
of the beautiful vision-iJr like a vision il
looked, rising and still rising. the car re-
splendent with all the tinscl which shone
like gold and silver, and diamonds. A
sound as Of many tinkling fountains mingled
with the strains OF delicious music fairy
land seemed opening upon the sight with
arching bowers and far-reaching vistas and
myriads of eltin forms dsporing ON the
ground and in the air. For a moment |
was fascinated, when Ada and Dora, in all
their beauty, rose above the lake, their
stately car seemingly lifted by invisible
hands. | forgot my apprehensions, and
once more breathed freely.
Suddenly there was dreadful crash, and
a wild cry filed the house. The car had
fallen. For an instant, ! felt rooted to
the spot where | was standing, and then
recovering my senses, rushed forward to
learn the worst. As | made my way
through the narrow passage under the stage.
heard some one say in a plying tone
I" Poor thing, she will never dance again.
Which was it s? Ada? Dora? | Tough,
my way through the crowd of actors and
att, ndaLts and saw my little Ada lying
sensCless IN Doras arms. Throwing my
self on my knees, | took her cold hands In
both of mine. My dear friend,o said
Dora, who was weeping silently, "she is
not dead, though dreadfully hurt. The
surgeon will be here directly Compose
yourself. She is reviving "
My little darling opened her eyes. with a
deep sigh, and looked about her with be
wildercd gaze.
" Hush, little one,' ssid Dora, softly. as
she saw Ada was about 10 speak 81. lie
still and be patient till the surgeon comes.
The gentle sufferer closed her eyes, and
her little hands pressed mine with tender
grasp. The surgeon was soon on the spot.
He assured me that Ada had sustained no
fatal injury, but it was doubtful whether
she would be able 10 walk again. With a
piteous cry, she fell back in Dora's arms
and tainted dead away
| had noticed no one but Ada and Dora. |
but at his moment | was conscious that the |.
count was kneeling beside me, and he
clasped Doras hand. Better she than
you, my love he murmnred
Dora gave him a quick look of reproof |.
. This is no time for love making she an
swered. Withdrawing her hand. Have /
you no feeling for the poor girl lying here /
whose whole life must be one of misery and /
souowY1
What is this ballet girl to me " an
swered the count stu1g TO the quick. and
for moment thrown oil his guard. "Of
course, am sorry for her" he added the
next moment, "but-o
At this moment Ada opened her eyes
again, and faint blush struggled with the
paleness in her cheeks, as her gaze fell up-
On the count. a beautiful smile PLAYED
upon her trembling lips, and she reached
her hand toward HIM. "Oh, my love
she said In low whisper whisper
which first sent the blood manting into
Dora's face, and then left il palcr
than SNOW" YOU are near and L"
Something in the counts face stopped her
words
"The girl is wandering" he said coldly.
"She does not know what she is saying.n
She had tainted again "Go count. -
said Dora hastily Your presence is not
wanted here Her manner was decided
and even imperious, and the count did not
venture 10 disobey; but as he left he cast
upon Ada look which caught the others
eve, and from the expression that came
into her face knew-knew even then. that
he would mover more hold place in her
heart.
We carried Ada home, and through the
long illness which followed, Dora was her
constant nurse and companion. To this
dear friend was coniiacd with many tears
the secret of her heart. The count had
won her love, and had promised 10 ask nv
consent 10 their union. Unsuspecting aud
conidng, she knew nothing of his atien-
tions To Dora, and il was by his wish that
she had never mentioned his name to me
heard atterward that he and Dora met
but once after the accident, and that he
underworld to defend his peilidy On the
plea that lac was only amusing himself with
Ada, and never had seriously thought Of
making her his wife. $50 much the
worse foryou. count y said the iice.heart-
ell woman. q" shall never be your wife.
and never want ~ see your face again"
W. am tnaprfa1 npXy Dora anI 49,,