Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-03-10
MY God | you have killed him.

Not much loss, miss. But the
devil aids such as he. Ife is worth
score of dead men yet But let us has
ten or he may recover, and he would
make it as hot as hades for me"
Half an hour later Bessie sat watch
ing her delirious mother As she re.
moved and replaced the icy cloths upon
the bursting forehead she ever aud anon
applied herself to learning the part that
She must be perfect in on tho morrow.
Not wink Of sleep was hers that night,
and when she appeared at rehearsal the
red eyes and feverish cheeks told Of that
studious vigil by her mothers bed.
That night Bessie Darling took the
town by storm.
The play was ended
The curtain rang down on heart that
little reckoned the floral offerings or the
loud applause that called her before the
green scene :; for as she returned Ia the
prompter's box, news reached Bessie
that her mother was dead
The reaction was terrible The poor
girl was stricken down herself, aud when
the mother was buried by the kindly
members Of the company, the daughter
was nearly fit subject to occupy the
same resting place.
Time passed, and slowly the young
| girl recovered. Each day during the
interval the invalid found fresh bou-
quet upon the table by her bed AT
first she refused to look at them. think
ing that they were but new iInportuni-
ties from him whom she so utterly de-
tested. But this was not the case, al she
shortly fouud. The timely lesson to the
young libertine had proved favorable to
her and useful to him He never
troubled Bessie again Therefore the
! flowers were not from him.
.'Who could it bel" she asked the
nurse; but she protested ignorance, and
stated that the bouquets were left on the
doorstep early every morning
! Finally Bessie was able 10 attend to
duty once more. What pleasure it was
to meet the kindly greetings Of her
friends, us she appeared at the first re-
hearsal. = ch member Of the company
stroye to Guido the other in little atten-
tons One brought her seat near the
wings another drew her shawl closer
around her shoulders, fearing she would
catch cold Poor Jacken, tho dwarfed
call-boy, insisted Gu bringing her lit
tie warm wine This panac IL for trouble. J
The manager greeted her, and told her
that her fortune was assured; he was
about TO produce new Sensational drama
IN which she was cast az the heroine.
In fact, her cup Of joy seemed full to the
brnl Ono relation that to Jacken's
papacea, for that had been disposed Of
with many thanks, at which the poor
fellows face turned red to the tops Of his
ponderous ears
The day for the rehearsal Of the new
play arrived In the last scene a tell
ing effect was to be produced, where the
heroine was thrown from the preoipicc by
the william Of the piece In falling she
lodges IN pine tree, while lie, losing
his balance, topples from the cliff aid
| is slain
Ill try that tree myself first Miss
Bessie, suggested the call-boy, TO see
that it is secure Mr.. Jones will You
90 through the business with me n
Certainly; although | don't think
that you make q charming substitute
for the heroine" laughed tic heavy man.
50 up the scaGolding they went
Inc struggle en8ued The orchestra
gave the chord and with a heavy lunge
me dwarf fell in the abyss.
A shrek eusued from the Indies aud
the strong u.ep sickened The william
paused III horror, for The tree had bro
ken aud poor Jackes fell through tie
trap With a harsh thud.
Friends hastencd to bis aid, and III
was borne 3 The stage stunned and
bleeding. The doctor Of the theatre
who was present. shock bis head
| Ellis spine is broken" he said J;
human aid cannot save him
"Oh. don't say SOY moaned Bessie,
who was wiping the blood from dcep
wound in the poor boys head
The closed eyes opened and a happy
! light lii their vision,
It's all over, Miss Bessie" he mnr-
INJURED, 'and | don't know but what |
am glad Of it "
Poor boy, poor boy, she said
smoothing back his curling hair.
Mother used to do that, and her
touch was no gentler than yours. 0, /
ain so glad p
| Bessie's tears ratified down on the
upturned face.
Don't cry be said "it's better as
it is. You never could have loved me
as love you, and am not more
sbapeIess now than should have been
had lived Would you kiss me once
once for the flowers left you when
feared thar you too, must die p
Bessie pressed kiss on the lips Of
the dying boy. and with that last beBi-
son the wondering spirit sought its
God.
What do you think Of the present
jury system = inquired a man Of an old
Chicago ex-Judge, the other evening.
Think p echoed the old man 10 dis