Connecticut western news., 1879-08-20
A Dusky Romance.

It was two or three years before inc war. A gay party of people on South ern plantation had been amusing them selves with private theatricals. There was small but completely appointed theater on Colonel Floyd's place. Some thing was brought out there every month or so. Tonight "The Rivals 9 bsd been given. Perhaps the playing had been as good as the amateur aver age. Certainly the audience was even more enthusiastic than the average ama- teuf audience. The play over, actors and audience trooped back to the house under covered way arranged for the occasion. The lights were turned off in the theater; but it was bright moon light, and that streamed in through the open windows.
 A girl who had been assisting tho ac- tresses in the greenroom stole across the stage when the last footfall and the last voice had died away. She began to raise the drop with trembling fingers, but yet with kind of nervous energy which finally accomplished her pur- pose. Then in the silence and solitude, and in the ghostly moonlight, she re- cited with dramatic action the scenes 1n Measure for Measure between Isa- bella and Angelo. She was beautiful {: head and shoulders taller than most women; her hair was dark, heavy, wavy; her dark eyes were full of deep, intense fire; her red, mobile mouth showed rows of even white teeth. Her profile and the general cast of f-r-oeun- tenance were only stuff -iently removed from classical regularity to give them a certain strength and piquancy. Her figure was swaying, 1.-the, rounded. She was an ideal of Southern voluptu- ous beauty.
 She was too much absorbed in her part to notice the entrance of a young man presently. He seated himself in the shadows of the back seats but he watched and listened intently. As the girl spoke her last line, she remarked him. She stopped suddenly.
 He came and joined her on the stage. He was about her height, with a sad, patient face-a face on which all the pa. tienee. that his race has for centuries needed was plainly stamped. It WAS apparent that he had African blood in his veins. "Go on, Dorothea," ," he said. "That was splendid. You acted bet. tern Miss Sue"
 "That wouldn't be sayin' much, ' Dorothea returned, scornfully. "She don't act at all but ske's all fuss and feathers, and that gees down with the crowd"
 Won't you do some mores What was that? It sounded like the Bible. ''
 ss It was Shakespeare. No, won't do any more. I'm afraid of somebody else comin' in. You startled me. I thought every one was safe in the supper-room. Help me down with this curtain, will you, Aaron ?'
 He did 50. She turned to walk off the stage; then came back with a face dark with emotion. "Oh, it's hard," she cried, tossing up her arms with sud. den, despairing gesture-" it's hard 1 ] could act J know could. It's in ne. My God, why was I born?''
 Aaron came close to her. He spoke in an agitated whisper. You're young Dor othea don't despair. I don't. E I live, you shall be free yet.''
 Yes, she was slave. She wrung hel hands together as though they had beer chained. Perhaps so," she said perhaps so. But it's hard for me t. believe it. And in the meantime I leat this dreadful life."
 She walked slowly away, he followed her. She locked the door of the stag entrance on the outside, and put the ke, in hey pocket. |" Besides" she pursued "even if you set me free, I should onl, be exchanging one kind of slavery fo andher. You want to marry me. Witt great price bought I this freedom. ,"
 She was cruel She could think of n one but herself. He looked at her, a though for moment he hardly dare trust himself to speak. Then ihe saiG yeryquietly, "What mean to do fc you b iist what any man ought ter for aly woman. It's neither var nc thar nat love you. Elf you can't loy me, tat ends it."
 Thii simple goodness touched an s1lencd her. She did not attempt {
 speak. She only bestowed upon him
 very gateful lock she could throw in
 mense oppression into her looks. He
 companion fully understood now ths
 she thaIked and respected him.
 They parted at the side door of th house. laron cut across the lawn, ge
 over fence. and so across the fields I
 the cabin where he lived with his mothe
 mile fromO Colonel Floyd's. His moths
 had been st free years ago by her mi
 press, after seasg of faithful service, B