The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-07-10
ALEXANDRIA, La, WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1878.

southern people, SO he has told me a
hundred times. There were many
royalty beautiful women there that
night, and fairer scene the lights
never shone upon. The band had
just commenced to play one of
Strauss waltzes, and while l was
standing by the door, ga looker-on in
Vienna"
TURNED AND SAW JOHN WILKES BOOTH.
He had but a few moments before re-
turned from Ford's Theatre, where
be had been acting. He came over
to the. noticed that he looked very
angry and very much excited, and l
asked him the cause. He pointed to
couple circling in the rhymic meas
ure of a waltz. They seemed to be
oblivious of everything in the world.
Their movements were perfect-the
maiden's head almost rested on the
youths shoulder, and, with eyes half
closed, she listened to the earnest,
tender words that her companion was
pouring into her ear. 1t was Bessie
Hale and Robert Lincoln. AS he
witnessed this scene, Booths white
teeth clenched over the moustache.
and his face grew very white, while
his eyes blazed like fire. He caught
me by the arm with a grasp that
made me vince, and caused me to
utter an involuntary cry, and Kissed
into my ears
"Mrs. Temple, see that damned
villain? Oh, l could kill him and his
father, too; and by the Lord of Hosts
the sands of his life are fast running
OUT"
"What do you mean2" I asked
him, thoroughly startled by his nan
ner and words.
ooh nothing" he said, recovering
himself. "Oniy the man had better
never been born than to come between
me and my love. Bessie loves me,
I'll swear; but what between her peo
pie and his, they will dispose of her
as lamb led to the slaughter"
II am sorry for you, Mr.. Booth"
said my husband, who, standing he
side me, had listened to his words.
Booth turned fiercely and dis
painfully around to him-for he
never liked my husband-and said:
"Sir, would rather be Action,
chased and devoured by his own
beagles, than to be like Lazarus and
have his wounds licked by dogs out
of pity"
He left US abruptly and went out
of the room, and we saw him no more
that night.
l told Bessie Hale of this scene,
and she was at first distressed about
it, and then got mad, as woman al
ways does when she don't know what
to do, and fiirted openly with Robert
Lincoln, much to that young mans
delight.
The next morning we all awaited
Booths coming anxiously, and Bes-
sic sat in my parlor or until dinner
expecting him; but not then, nor
that Whole day, did he make his ap-
pearance.
An another day passed, and still
another came and went, but no signs
of Booth. Instead,
ROBERT LINCOLN,
came regularly, and by breakfast
time a most exquisite bouquet of
flowers from the White House Con-
servatory would always be sent to
Bessie; and Robert Lincoln pressed
his suit boldly and arlently. l
think she was piqued at Booths 81
lence, for she gave Robert much en-
couragement, aad his visits became
longer and more frequent.
One day, about week after the
ball, as the two were sitting alone
together in my parlor, John Wilkes
walked abruptly in, and sitting down
with only slight nod of recognition
to both, took book aud commenced
to read. An hour passed on, and his
rival, seeing that Booth was deter
mined to sit him out, got up, made
his adieu, and left the field open.
Bessie told me afterward that she
was much incensed at his behavior
and gave him piece of her mind.
He retorted. She grew more angry,
he more curt and contemptuous.
She recriminated sharply, and then
he, losing his temper, flung himself
with a muttered curse out of the
room.
She cried often and bitterly over
this misunderstanding, and would
have sent for him hut, that bar nrido