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


England in early yo1tf, and fror
whom vogue reports came, from tim
10 time, of Q successful msrcantil
career The letter was postmarke
Loudoa, and the heavy black borde
lines told the story before the sea
was broken. Ny uncle was dead
lie had never married. aud ON hi
death-bed, remembering his onl
brother, he had left all bis wealth !
him or his children. For mvmeu
felt stunned and faint; aud Ads
throwing her arms about my nect
begged me to tell her what bad rec
was in my letter to make me look o
strange and pale. took her on m,
knee and told ber we were rich, an,
would have no more need to act il
the theatre. We would leave thi
miserable little town and 60 to Berlin
To my surprise, Ada again pu, be
ms about my neck, and whispere,
s,ftly, "Need we leave the thsatr
Immediately, dear brother ?"
mo, child" said l, wondering
what she could mean but tell m,
why you should wish to stay snoth
er day, when you can leave ct ono,
and be free from this slayery?p
Because, dear trother," she AN
swered, hesitating and bIushing
"Fraulein Dora told me l was u gresl
deal prettier than she was, and .
better dancer; and that | should
have the FIRST place in the new dance
they are to put on the stage mex
week. Oh, l would like to have such
a triumph onc,! 1t would be such q
pleasant way to say goodbye to The
stage"
l could deny her nothing, my little
sister; and though for me it was like
going into the tnrture-room of the
Inquisition to enter the theatre and
see Count Ernest on such familiar
terms with Dora, consented for the
present to conceal my good fortune
from cur friends, and go On jus. the
same as if nothing had happened.
The eventful evening came q,
length. The play was interspersed
with ballet dancing, and was 70 end
with grand transformation scene in
which Ada and Dora were to rise as
sea nymphs. in shell-like car, from
the waters of mimic lake. 1t 30
happened that, just before the last
scene, | went into the room under.
meath the stage, where the machinery
for raising the car was placed impeIl-
ed by strange foreboding of impend.
ing misfortune, to assure myself that
everything was in order; and that
no precsution against accident had
been neglected. There l found the
master machinist, q dark and gloomy
visaged man, standing by the car,
to himself in an undertone.
Better che should die than marry
the Count. He has bewitched her, as
be does all women. A little slip
What are you muttering to your
selt?" / asked him suddenly; and
what do you mean by those mysteri-
ous words ?"
He faced me, as if struck BY an un-
expected blow.
"a was only examining the ma
chinery to see that everything was
right" be answered, sulIenly, and
turned away.
l carefully examined the cords by
which the car was raised. Every.
hing appeared to be secure and in
good order; and I went back to my
place, trying to laugh myself out Of
my apprebensions. But though it
was easy to argue that all was right,
and that my fears arose merely from
some explicable disorder Of the brain,
could not feel secure. l was posi-
live that some frightful misadventure
would occur before the play vas
over; aud every nerve was strained
10 The effort to maintain q calm exte-
-ior.
The play progressed. The curtain
.ose upon the magnificent traastormA.
ion scene; and the plaudits Of the
audience grew tumultuous a. the
.plendors unrolled before them. At
engih the car began TO rise slowly
md msjestically, to low, sweet Strains
If music. / watched with scarcely
, .ating heart and bsted breath, the
irst appearaLe. Of the beautiful vis-
like vision it looked, rising
md still rising, the car resplendent
With all the tinsel which shone like |
,old, and silver, and diamonds. A
ound as of many tinkling fountains
mingled with the strains of delicious
music; fairly-land seemed opening |
Ipon the sight with arehing bowers
md far-reaching vistas, and myriads
f elhn forms disporting on the
round and 10 the air. For u moment
was fascinated. when Ada and
Dora, in all their beauty, rose above
be lake, their stately car seemingly
TIED by invisible hands. l forgot
,y apprehensions. and once more
resthed freely.
Suddenly there was q dreadful
rash, and u wild cry filed the house.
he car had fallen. For an instant
felt rooted to the spot where l was
landing, and then recovering my
enses, rushed forward to learn The
,orst. As l made my way through
be narrow passage under the stage,
heard some one say 10 plying
,ne: Poor thing, she win never
auce again" Which was II, Adai
'orsg fought my way through the
ctors and attendants, and saw my
tile Ada lying senseless in Dorss
rms. Throwing myself on my
uees, took her cold hands 10 both
mine. my dear friend" ssid
Ora. who was weeping silently,
she is not dead, though dfesdfally
art. The surgeon will be here di.
,c,Iy. Compose yourself She is
,viving"
My little darling opened her eyes,
ith q deep Sigh. and looked about
er with bewildered gaze.
"Hush, little one, said Dora softly.
, she saw Ada was sbout to speak.