The Red Cloud chief., 1879-01-09
BEHIND n SCENES.

mind 10 make q confession of all tho
circumstances which have led u my
lying heie.
Here" In tho Westminster hospi
al. and ] am lying on ono Of the nar
row beds In tic accident ward. crush.
60. MANNED and helpless. crippled for
NE even u ] recover. which IL doubt.
ful.
can hear the distant muAicd roar of
trafic In tho busy world outside-that
world which now seems On shaxiowy and
FAR on, though II Was oncc 20 near.
Every now and thcn m the solemn
sound Of the great boil, booming out
smother hour, full of palm and suffer.
Ing. Around me sec only beds. tsn-
antsd by white, worn faces. and nurs-
% In plain print drcsses and white
clean aprons, walking up and down the
ward.
hero IL nothing " take my thoughts
on myself, when I am sufficiently out Of
palm u think at all. ~ ! will tall you
now how ] como 10 be hero. Alasl
through my own ianlt
In tho early part oi tho visitor was
engaged ~ principal dancer n the Dru-
rp Lane thcAtcr. Thcy were giving .
serics Of English operas. with bAllets
aftsrward; and whom those pcrforman-
ces were q = grand Christmas pan.
tomime wAs forthcoming.
Dancing had bccn my profession for
some years. WAS very happy In II.
] had good looks. I wNa auccc ssful and
popular; but ! delighted chiefly In tho
easc and comfort which my employ
mont enabled ma IN bestow On my MRcd
father, who lived with mi and WAS my
constant cAre.
He idolissd me-. and I loved no ono
. I loved him. though had many MI.
nlrers nj that time. No onc took q
greater pride In ma than he did. and
bis praise ~ swcctcr 10 me- than tho
combined applause of manager. compA.
ny and audience
The ChristmAs pAntomims came on,
and . leading role was assigned 10 mo
In The drst part ~ we'll ~ In tho ballet,
~ l could sing we'll and 40, also. |
waa clever ON the stage. though I say
% myself.
For some time after ChristmAs w
drew crowded house nj the DruryLanc,
but In February began 10 notice that
the house WAS . little thinner than
usual. and ! asked tho manager the
reason.
''Oh." said he, ''ths people have
gone 10 Convent Garden to see the new
dancer. Marie Goubaud. I suppose.
They say she IL very beautiful"
Tho instant those words were pro-
nounccd. the demon Of Jealousy entered
my soul. had often before heard oi
the talent and beauty of this woman,
but had paid little attention to the re-
ports about her, feeling secure In my
own stronghold. But now. I listened
with painful eAgerness ~ everything
that was said about her. With bitter
reflections I behcld my audiences al.
minish night after night and read In
the papers glowing accounts Of her per.
tormances and personal appearance.
When the pAntomime season wAs
over, ! wAs engaged NJ one of the smAll.
o. thcaters for an Easter cxtrAvMgAnsa
which WAS In preparation. What wAs
my misery on discovering that the
manager, shortly after I had Joined the
company. had affected terms with Marie
Goubaud, and that she was coming 10
our theAter In time for the rcAcarsals
Of the Easter piece.
was furious. looked over the ar
dcles OF my agreement; but there Was
nothing In them against another 90
tress being engaged. - No part he'd yet
been given 10 me. ! could not COM
plain. and yet | felt inclined TO throw
over the manager and every one else.
and quit the whole concern. regardless
Of the damage I should have 10 pay.
However. just then my poor father fell
III, and this rendered my leaving the
ttheatcr out Of the question. was OBJ.
iiGed TO smother my rage.
Marie G0ubaud came. and I was In.
treduced to her. She was certainly
lovely. Dark. with brilliant eyes. white
teeth. and . clear. olive complexion.
her lace WA full Of vivacity, and her
manner attractive In the extreme. I
felt that she surpassed me. and that my
power ~henccforth was gone. felt ali
this. and was half maddened by Il,
though ] smiled. and fairly Kissed nv
beautifui rival.
IL took only evening TO proclaim
her superiority 10 me. Every person
In The audience was ready TO worship
her. and ] was forgotten. or at best nv
appearance ON the stage was the signal
bus for . few faint clAps. not worth the