Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-04-19

CAlN " OAAO O'1OOO1i3 NI1lOll was w UCl
ate with the pantomime, expected to
run for another month, then they were
to retire into private life for few
weeks and look out for a summer
engagement with some travelling COM
pany. The serenity of Leighton Hall
had not yet been disturbed by this
second bomb-shell, Geoffry being
DESTROYS of not igniting the fuse until
the ceremony was over.
The closing night at the Theatre
Royal Puddlewick arrived The open
ing piece was over, and before the cur
tain rose on the pantomime Mr.. Mac
ready Jenkins, with camellia in his
button-hole and spotless kids, had laid
his hand on his heart for the last time,
as he concluded his farewell address to
the house with a becoming emotion.
"Thank goodness our troubles are
nearly over" said Geohfry; he was
standing in one of the wings talking to
Frances Western; so ends my first
season; | can't say it's been an exciting
one, professionally speaking, but event
full in other respects, certainly"
It's quite change for me looking
forward to closing" she said: cit was
generally only the beginning of fresh
trouble In seeking for another engage
ment; but now"
eyes," he whispers.
cit is all too strange and good to be
true"
There being no one near them where
they stood in the shadow, it was only
natural after this speech that the De-
mons head should be bent down close
to the Sleeping Beauty's, and not rails
ed for a few moments.
LET me go, now" she said, I" or 1
shall be late"
The transformation scene was Just
coming on in which the Sleeping Beau
ty had to emerge from a shell, and, sur
rounded by her attendant nymphs,
ascend slowly to the flies amid garlands
and festoons of roses, and grand
illumination of red and blue fire.
"Pll wait for you at the stage door,
said Geoffry, as she went off. He
stayed for a few minutes talking to one
of the firemen who was ready with his
hose and bucket in case of an acct
dent, and was slowly ascending the
stairs which led to his dressing-room,
when he was suddenly arrested by a
fearful crash on the stage, followed by
the shrieks Of women, and the deeper
utterances of hOrror-stricken men; and
then he heard the ominous thud of the
drop curtain as it was hurriedly lower
ed. With deadly sickness at his
heart, he sprang down the stairs, and
rushed on to the stage.
"Keep back, all of you," the mana
ger was saying; keep back and give
her air. Go in front, Mr.. Morgan and
tell them they must clear OUT
They drew back as Geoffry forced
his way through them, knowing he had
right to be there; that it was his
place to kneel down and take the poor
helpless form in his arms, and lift her
up as gently as a woman would have
done.
eco for a surgeon" he said to one of
the supers near him: ''see if there's
one IN frontier pounds to the first
man who brings him"
You had better take her to a sofa
in the green-room," some one says; and
he carries her there, and lays her ten.
DERBY down on the couch, and Blanche
Anstrusher loosens her dress, and 9th
erwise busies herself about her, the
tears running down her cheeks the
while. The room is cleared of the
crowd, leaving only Goeffry, Blanche
Anstruther, the manager, and the man
ayers wife, who has hurried in from
over the way at the news of the acct.
dent; but they are all pressing up tc
the open door, motley show, in their
paint and masks and pantomime
dresses. Heavens will the surgeon
never come? Here he is at last, COO
and collected as if it were the most
trivial case in the word, instead of a
question of life or death.
Fell from height?" he asks, and
lays his hand on her heart.
Yes" says the manager, fourteen
feet at least. Machinery broke down
He removes his hand to her fore.
head, and lifts her eyelid. "Bring me
looking glass"
Some one outside runs up stairs to q
dressing-room, and returns with one
which is passed over the heads at the
doorway. He wipes ion his sleeve
and holds it to her mouth. "Shut the
door and keep those people out"
Geoffry looks at him, trying to form
a question; for the life of him, the
words will not come. The surgeon
meets his look, and probably under.
stands the situation, for he addresses
himself to him and not to the others.
1t was instantaneous of
the brain. She could not have stuff
at all"
Even now Geofry does not utter a
word, but he stoops over, and softly
kisses the still white forehead. There
are no tears in his eyes as he raises his
head again; words will not describe the
anguish of that moment. It was all
over, the dream dispelled. the story of
his love ended. The golden cup had
been raised even to his lips, and then
dashed from him, and swept away be-
fore his eyes by the rushing tide of
Fate. They talked in whispers round
him, and trod softly as fearful of dis
turbing her; no need to hush their
voices; no need to move SO quietly. The
poor Sleeping Beauty slept the sleep