The Republican journal., 1877-02-22
n Theatre Lovs-Letter.
THf STORY Nf \ WARDROBE WOMAN.


| There was nothing unusual in her APP
! rcarancc, except a wide crimson ridge ON
her right brow. The profile OF the other
side OF the face was very pretty, and her
form was still light and supple, although
she must have been forty years OF age.
Her manner was quiet and dignited, con-
yeying the impression that she had not al
ways occupied so humble position in life
Something in her bearing awakened my
| curiosity, and having occasion to go TO the
wardrobe room, and not acting till late in
the piece. waited until she had given out
the dresses ior the night. After the rush
was over and the last ''supe' had lett,
told her what | wanted; while she was
rolling up the Jacket for me, asked il she
wonld mind telling me how she got that
strange red scar. She turned deadly pale,
and fastened 10 add:
"No matter. excuse my touching upon
4 paiuiul subject; djdni mean TO wound
yon"
She replied, g.! seldom speak OF it. but
since you've asked will tell YOU 1t came
from an unmeIited blow. and almost killed
me-"
She drew IL long breath. and |. leaning
on The little counter over which passed and
lepassed the tinsel iinerv which lined the
shelves. listened to her story.
81 was the daughter of well-to-,o people
in the " est,' she began. who owned Il
large farm near the even then populo $
city of c.. They We're honest folks
who brought Inc up with 4 strictess that
as grew to WOmanhOOd, | found ink some.
and burned to shake off. | longed for rich
dress to enhance those charms upon which
with girlish vanity | set full value, but my
father was stlngy and restricted me to
such plain clothing that my friends. the
daughters OF much poorer men than he
was. actually ridiculed me.
This wounded my pride as we'll rs my
vanity, and my heart was constantly rank
ling with discontent He had, however.
given me better education than was usual
in those days, but it only filled me with a
desire to obtain a higher position than that
of some clod-hopping farmers wife, for
our friends We're confined to that class.
had an aunt living in c., and when
was sixteen | went on a visit to her that
was destined to change the whole current
of my life. She was as lenient as my faith
er was severe. and | was allowed to wan
der through the streets alone as long as ]
liked. One day | was gazing into a store
window. thinking that would almost sell
my soul for the privilege OF going in and
purchasing what | pleased OF the magnii-
cent array spread so temptingly before
me, | was aroused from my reverie by 4
voice which almost whispered in my ear
~ oung lady, You seem to admire those
splendid goods
Startled, turned quickly, and beheld
what seemed to my youthful imagination
a man-god He was tall, slim and finely
built with large, black eyes. raven hair
and red cheeks, which looked as smooth
as the satin Of u rose.leaf He was dressed
in the extreme fashion, in broadcloth,
wore a silk hat, kid gloves, and patent
leather boots, which We're then the style
tie seemed to me an Apollo. His voice
was musical, and his manners polished
" nat an enchanting vision was this to me,
VIII" had never met any bu rough, Ill
dressed hoor4 So strong and instantane-
Gus was the Impression he produced on me
that a thrill OF heavenly delight made my
whole frame 1uiyer when flashed those
cleaning orbs into mine. 1t was case
of love at first sight with me--not the pas
aionate fleeting fancy of an hour, born Of
oyEe Eoqh55 sfS Eyo2 t2%29'iS M IEsam7 l4t
to leave its trace on = lifetime
y ca, " | taltered, in reply to hi rema1,
And wouldn't you like to buy some 2''
he asked, iingling the coins in his pocket,
for it was before the day of grecnhacEs
Nv ouldn't though ?' ! answered, fax
ing tire at the very thoneht
And why don't you =" he inquired in
his most insinnatinG tonfs, that would
have beguiled Il nun
hung my head. lnI said, 'Eecanae |
haven't any money"
OF course felt IT. WA NIOn" to talk
with a stranger, but was only Il child
after all, LneW nothing Of the world, and
wa carried away bY his good looks. !
now thinl. that taking advantage Of i
weak moment when | was SO earnestly
longing for tincry, the devil sent him pur
poaeiy to lure Inc to my ruin, but then
tlncled him an archanoel dropped straight
from heaven to show me the way to par
adlse. Here was the divine hero who
would save me from my fathers parsimo-
ny, and from marrying some country gawk
'"Oh, # moneys all that hinders,'' he
went on. "Tm not badly of. Here, 90 in
and get what you want"
lie pulled out u whole handful OF gilt
tering gold and opened his palm to me.
Seeing my hesitation he gave me three
twenty dollar gold pieces, SAYING authori-
lively
600 in and buy dress for 500. Bring
me the change, and be quick about it or
won't watt
Bewildered. breathlpss, | ran in and
bought the first dress had ever purchased
"a snowy sik-and fearing my beautiful
bcnefactor would vanish like Il dream,
hurried ont to him. He tore II corner Of
the parcel open. said carelessly, ''lt's pref
ty,' and drawing my arm in his, walked
me rapidly away from the store.
1t was not until we We're some distance
away that le asked me what was going
to do with my present.
Il don't know" ! replied, Il didn't
think of that, but as | cannot account for
where | got it, | dare not take it home"
He said he would keep it until the next
day, when, having thought it over in the
meantime, he would tell me what to say
to my relatives. So fascinated was |, that
| never stopped to consider the moral as,
pect of all this, but did exactly as he bade
me.
We met again and again, he giving me
plenty OF money to buy the clothes | de
sired and trunks to put them in, all Of
which We're sent to an address he gave me.
Finally we were married secretly, with
a few of his friends for witnesses We
were to start on our wedding tour as soon
as the ceremony was over, l raptuously
consented to everything he proposed,
without a thought of, much less consult
ing my parents or any one.
He married me legally,in his own name,
Christopher Ellis, and hardly had we been
pronounced man and wife. before he was
arrested He was the chiet of a gang Of
counterleiters, and crime was the source
of that wealth had thought as boundless
as his liberalty.
1t transpired in the course Of the trial
that he had been in the habit of entrap-
ping guileless young girls into thus pass
ing false money tor him. his profit being
in the change they brought him lie was
sentenced to fourteen years' Imprisonment
Being his wife | was not called upon to