Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-03-02
II.--PUDsoN's STORY.


usual frequenters.
II.--PUDsoN's STORY.
/ am lying here on this bed helpless.
shall not die yet, the doctor says, the
bones are setting, and in a few weeks
| may be out again; but | shall never
be fit for the clowns business any
more. This misery and suffering l
have brought upon myself; it has
been the result of my own wicked an
imosity-thec consequence of a jealousy
which urged me into crime.
l will tell you how it came about: [
joined the Forum Company this last
Winter, when Smithers and l was en-
gagged for the pantomime. To my
surprise, found that the girl to whom
1 had been paying addresses-Mary
Morrison, by name-was engaged for
"Columbine.u / had understood from
Smithers that some sweetheart of his
named Lora Lorini was going to take
that part. The sight of Mary was an
unexpected pleasure, and going up to
her | said:
"Mary, my dear, this is good luck;
but thought the 'Columbine' was to
be Lora Lorini.n
$50 she is," she answered.
"What,. then, are you to be? Har-
| lequin, or some other nonsense of that
| sort ?o
No-Columbine.n
stared at her, utterly ignorant OF
her meaning.
"Don't you know" she went on,
"that my professional name is Lora
Lorini ?"
was staggered.
"But, Smithers,n / cried; "Smithers
claims Lora as his girl! Surely, Mary,
you have not been playing both of us
false ?"
"His girl, indeed! Neither his nor
yours, if it comes to that, unless you
keep civil tongue in your head.
Can't girl have more than one adj
mirer, should like to know ?u
"She may have a dozen admirers,
but she cannot have more than one
plighted lover, if she has any sense of
decency."
Mary turned on her heel and fiounc-
ed off. noticed during the reheas-
ais how she devoted herself exclusively
to Smithers, while l got never a word.
There came bitter, gnawing pain at
my heart at being treated so-a hun
ger to be revenged on him and her.
Many time | had it in my mind to
stick my clasping-knife into his
throat; but the attempt was too risky;
it might have failed, and l should in
fallibly get arrested for it.
brooded over a subtler revenge
but first took Mary aside. &c want
to speak to you,n | said.
81 don't want to speak to you, y
she saucily answered.
"No follies-this is a Weighty mat
ter" l retorted sternly. "Listen and
be CAREFUL
'sGo on.n
"I ask you If you love George
Smithers better than you do me ?u
"Lor, Tom how do / know ?u
"You must know the state of your
own fellings.n
"Well, he's, not so cross as you, and
he's a beautiful dancer, and he's so
gracefully made-and, in fact L do
like him.
"Better than me?n
"You see, my poor Tom, he has
many advantages over you.n 8
"Go," / replied, grinding my teeth.
"those advantages shall be short
lived" And this time it was / who
turned on my heel and left her.
This was on the 9th of December,
the second night of the pantomime.
AT the fall of the curtain / sought out
Smithers and said "See here, George,
I've thought of a bit business in that
scene before the barber's shop. l got
hold of your wand you stand there
so-now do the shivery shaking busi-
ness while l tickle you up with it.
Now you regain it-force me back
and fall into huge pot of BEARS
grease.n
Smithers agreed. What deep de-