The Red Cloud chief., 1879-01-09


strike the woodwork. but she ned too
swiftly. and ! waited.
The b~uricsque went on IA the third
scene. The audience we're wrought mp
toa high pitch 81 excitement. and seem.
ed ready ,o rush upon tho stage and
bear Of their favorite In triumph.
The fatal moment approached.
grew cold from head Ia foot. My
lips we're parchcd and dry. suddenly
seemed Ia see n vision ~ Marie all In
flames. with three awful biaish. burning
patche. IN her face-one On each cheek.
the othcr on her forehead. Wa hor.
ror struck.
In the midst ~ this vision the real
Marie came running IN Ia the stage.
brilliant and laughing. She saw me
standing nj the wing and smiled. show
Ing her white row II teeth. She looked
away, she drew nearer; she stood a..
rectly under the lamp.
savagcly struck my hand upon the
side II the scene. The terrible lamp
Jared up and to,,ercd. and ! turned
faint and almost fell To the ground
Like n fash 81 lightning my vision
came back again sprang forward
with n desperni. effort. From the cor.
ncr II my eye ! caught a glimpse ~
the flaming shower. and ] rushed upon
Marie and dragged her away.
Wa too late. A shrek ~ agony
burst from her lips, and n purplish
flame appeared upon her right temple
near her eye.
Then ] was attacked myself. The
most exquisite pain seemed to be- raging
In my shoulders and cheeks, but I
scarcely hecded II. saw the burning
stun fall upon the door. I heard the
scream NJ the actors. the cries Of the
audience. ] instantly felt tina, the
thcater was In danger. knew every
part NJ II and the whereabouts Of every.
thing. ! tore away and got n large
basket ~ sand. was half blind. 1
dragged II out and flung II upon the
rising flames, and with some handsiul
l brushed the flaming lime from my
own face and arms.
The scenery caught fire. ran back
for the hose. which hung upon the wall,
turned on the tap. and ff.w sut again
upon the stage, drcnched with water.
and struggling with the wrlthing pipe.
Ia i've minutes all was over, and all
was safe.
The actors stood around stunned and
frightened. Tho spectators had rushed
upon the stage. and we're pouring
praises and blessings upon me-. be-.
gan 10 feel my frightful burns. and
swooncd away.
II seemed . long time-thcy told me
II VIA two w~ceks-beforc I came Ia nv
senses again. I heard the great boil
booming out, and I found myself In
this bed. In Westminster hospital,
whore had been taken through the
MADNESS ~ some friend ri the manage
ment who had witnessed the accident.
Marie WAS sitting beside mo She had
been tn soc me every day since that ter.
rible night when ! WAS carried here.
She looked more beautiful than '
She had . c near one eyc. but Il
only lowered the lid \ little. and ron
dered her expression more ptguanis and
charming. lnwardly ! thanked heAvsn
II WA so. was frlghtfully disfgured
myself.
She evidently had not the Toast idea
Of the wicked intention that had been
In my mind. She WAS all pity for my
dreadful injuries, aud gratitude for my
having saved her. ~ she said.
The first thing she told me WAS that
she WAS engaged to be- married to my
friend, tho author.
Abb q how Il would be from the
first. But ] cannot complain; I deserve
all and mere.
One day. before that great solemn
boil tolls out my last hour on earth
aud II will not DO long--l mean To tell
A'arie everything, and I pray that she
may not turn from nae In loaihing and
horror. but that she may forgive me.
~ she only hopes 10 DO forgiven when
she dies.