The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-01-02
On the Trap


clown, attached, on small salary, to {
theater in the capital of one Of the lit
tie duchies into which Germany wa!
divided before the genius and ambition
of Bismarck had effected its consolida
tion into the empire. Ny role was pop
ular because everybody likes to laugh
and likes one W no puts them in a laugh
ing mood. Ny makeup vas stonsideree
a marvel of perfection. My songs al
ways took, and my gestures and gri.
maces never failed to elicit the most
rapturous applause. 1t used to be said
that my face must be made of India.
rubber, it could be twisted and distort,
ed into such strange expressions. But
| hated the life, and my success made
it more and more distasteful.
One night | went home completely
worn out in body and mind. My little
sister Ada, fifteen years old, and light
and graceful as sylph, who was en-
gagged Us a danseuse at thesame theater
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 assert
ed Il depressing influence on our spirits
that evening. For many weeks l had
| been losing my heart to Fraulein Dora,
I I.
| who was no less lovely in mind and
heart than in her person. She was the
most beautiful woman | had ever seen
tall, well-formcd, graceful; 'withsa step
I like fairy queen; large thoughtful eyes
and sweet. winning smile. What first
| drew me to her was her kindness to my
sister, whom she took every opportunity
| to befriend and assist in her profession.
| This was the more surprising, because
Ada promised to become a dangerous
rival; and, in the theatrical profession,
jealousy is d rule, and generosity the
exception. So learned to like Dora,
and then to love her. But SO did every
body else Afl+the gentry of the place
fell in love with her, and raved about
her beauty and her dancing, in way
that nearly drove mewild with jealousy.
| was in love in the old-fashioned way
we read of in novels-I am not ashamed
to confess it-eagaT to kiss the ground
which she trod, and would not believe
that any one else could love and wor-
ship her with the same devotion. |
must not omit to say that Dora, in the
midst of all this adultation, displayed
the most discreet and modest behavior.
She was always attended to and from
the theater, by her mother, and always
returned the rich presents which were
shOwered upon her.
Among all who paid court to Dora,
feared onlySone the yOunEy rich, hand
some and accomplished Count Ernest
Won Walters, who pressed his suit with
unremitting ardor.. What chance had
the poor clown agains6thiss man? Yet
fanCied if he were out OF the way I
need not despair of winning her. Did
she not love my sister, and had she not
often spoken kindly to me, and praised
my acting and singing? But this day I
had learned the worst-that her kind
ness to me sprang only from gentle
and friendly feeling for the brotheFOfthe
girl she had learned to love like 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 eXerted herself to
make things cheerful I'M our quiet little
sitting-rOom. She suspected nothing of
the real cause of my downheartedness,
for she, my confidant in everything
else. had never been entrusted with the
secret of my love for Dora; and, in the
hope of drawing me out of my moody
silence. prattled on about number of
unimpoftant matters! She was inter-
rlpted by a knock at the door, followed
by the entrance Of our landlady. The
good soul apologized for coming in at
so late an hour, but the postman had
brought letter for me just after we
had left for the theater, and as it bore a
foreign postmark, she thought it might
be Important should get it that eve
ming. / thanked her mechanically, but
a glance at the postmark caused me to
tear the letter open with eager and
trembling tingersSa for [ had often
heard my father speak OF an only BROTH
er who had settled in England In early
youth, and from whom vague reports
came, from time to time, of success
lA mi mercantile career. The letter was
postrnarked London, and the heavy
black border lines told the story before
the seal was broken. My uncle was
dead. He had nevepmarried, and on
his death bed, remembering his only
brother, he had left all his wealth to
him or his children. For moment |
felt stunned and faint and Ada, throw
ing her arms about my neck, begged me
to tell her what bad news was in my
letter to make zoe look so strange and
pale. took her on my knee. and told
her we were rich, and would have no
more need To act ir the theater. We
would leave this miserable little town
and 60 to Berlin.
To my surprise, Ada again put her
arms. about my neck, and whispered
SOFTLY, Need we leave the Athea6er inn
mediately, dear brother?|
''No child" said Z, 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
e'as BscauEs. 8e dear Urosf4eff ,''tssie answer
ed, hesitating md blushing, Fraulein
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
I could deny her nothing, my little
sister and though it was like going into
the torture room OF the Inquisition to
enter the. theateT and see Count Ernest
al such familiar terms with Dora, II cge ~
sented forstle present tOs conceal my.
good fortune from cur friends, and go
oh inst the same 30 if nothing Ind ifap-
pened. S. ,gsa q
l1leiGFeNGfkaE evening tI4a6 ieaEt iNAa t5as
The plny was .intersp peYsea with ballet
dancing, and was to end with a Grand
1gansf ornaation scene ili which esa and
Dora weresto rise as sea -ngnaphse in q
ghell-like car. from the waters of n mimic
Iaise, 1T 80 happened tint, just before
fI.fe last scene. 4 went in ta the TO0sa M
derneath tho stage, where theH1achiTlerF
far raising the ear was placed, impelled
nv a strange fOreboding of inpending
ps;sfoFfla 40 assure naEself 6 tllat every
l,;aarr va 8 i1aaEfl RT; and naanT&CAkI-