The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-08-08
On THE TRAP.

was only clown, painted, grin.
ming clown, attached, on a small sala-
ry, to theatre 10 the capital of one
of the little duchies into which Ger.
many was divided before the genius
and ambition of Bismarck had effect
ed its consolidation into the Empire.
My role was popular. for everybody
likes to laugh, and likes one who puts
them in laughing mood. My make
up was considered navel of per.
fection. My songs always took, and
my gestures, and grimaces never fail.
ed to elicit the most rapturous ap-
plause Ii used to be said that nv
face must be made of Tndia-rubber,
il could be twisted and distorted into
such strange expressions. But !
hated the life, and my success made
it more and more detested
One night l went home completely
worn, out in body and mind. NY
little sister, Ada, fifteen years old,
and light and graceful as sylpb,
who was engaged as danseuse at
the same threatre, also seemed dis
pirited and worn. The play Lad been
running forty nights, and he whole
company was heartily sick fit. But
it was not this alone which exerted a
depressing influence on my spirits
that evening. For many weeks i
had been losing my heart to Fraulein
ID r., the princiI oil dt 'euse # the
threatre, who was no less lovely 10
mind and heart than in her person
She was the most beautiful woman !
had ever seen tall, well-formed. grace
full, with step like fairy queen
large, thoughtful eyes, and sweet,
winning smile. What 6rst drew me
to::h er was her kindness to my sister
whom she took every opportunity to
befriend and assist in ber profession
This was the more surprising, because
Ada promised to become dangerous
rival and. in the theatrical profess
sion, jealousy is the rule, and gen. r
osity the exception. So l learned to
like Dora, and then to love her. But
8, did everybody else. All the gent
ry Of the place fell in love with her,
and raved about her beauty and her
dancing, in way that nearly drove
me wild with Jealousy. l was in love
in the old fashioned way we read of
in novels--I am not ashamed to con-
fess i,-eager to kiss the ground ON
when she tTod, and would not be-
lieve that any one else could love
and worship her with the same de.
voiion. | must not omit TO say that
Dora, 10 the midst of sll this sduls-
ton, displayed the most discred and
modest behavior. She was always
to and from the theatre, by |
her mother; and always returned the |
rich presents which were showered |
upon her
Among all who paid COURT Dora,
| feared only one, the young, rich,
handsome and accomplished Count
Ernest Won Walters. who pressed his
suit with unremitting ardor. Wba.
chance had the poor clown against
this man! Yet fancied il be were
only out of the way ! need not de-
spair of winning her Did she not
love my sitter, and had she not often
spoken kindly to me, and praised my
acting and singing? But this day
bad learned the worst-that her kind.
ns IS to me sprsng only from q gentle
and friendly feeling for the brother Of
he girl she had learned to love like
sister, and that she had promised to
become The wife Of fCount Won Wal
.ers. What wonder that l went to
ny lodgings with despair 10 my
heart?
Ny little sister exerted herself to
make things cheerful 10 our quiet sit
ing room. She suspected nothing of
he real cause of my downhearledness
or sbe, my coafdent in everything |
.lse, had never been entrusted with
he secret of my love for Dora; and
u the hope Of drawing me out Of my
moody silence, prsttled on about
lumber of unimportant matters. She
VAS interrupted BY knock at the
ioor. followed BY the entrance Of our
The good soul apologized
Or coming in at 30 late On hour, but
be postman had brought letter for
ne just after we left for the theatre,
ma AZ IL bore foreign postmark. she
houg il might be important should
,et 1t that evening thanked her
mechanically, but glance At the
caused me to tear the letter