Louisiana capitolian., 1880-08-26

: moment, said something in low tone
and then left 9he room.
} When Hardinge returned, he found hi
wife in a deathly faint, from which b.
made no attempt to rouse her; but seiz
ing an old shawl from the foot Of The
bed, wrapped it round the babe, and bur
riedly left the house.
For two or three hours Agnes contin
ued in this dreadful state, lowering, a,
it were, between life and death, The
kind neighbor came in with nicely
prepared supper. and immediately set to
work to restore her.
After little consciousness dawned
tho extent of her loss almost over.
whelmed her. Long she listened for hel
husbands step, hoping to gain some
hint from which she could discover the
the whereabouts of her darling; but day
after day elapsed, and he came not, and
an impression deepened into conviction
that he had abandoned her entirely.
Strange as it may appear, In the midst
of her great aff}iction, health returned
rapidly. The elnaciated cheeks were
soon plump and rosy again, and, but for
the mournful expression of her boauti-
full eyes, an observer would scarcely be
lieve that an atfliction so dcsolating had
swept over her.
Now for a position. What could she
do! Teach music. But that idea was
soon abandoned the market was flooded
with professors. Obtain copying p
easier said than done. After diligent
trial, that was given up also. Embroid-
cry THAT she attempted, but after
working like slave for . week, she
found that she had earned the
paltry sum of one dollar and seven
ty-fve cents. That would never do. She
advertised in one or two of tho dailies
for her infant, but got no response. I'll.
nances were running short. Where
should she turn7 She remembered that
she had achieved quite u reputation in
private theatricals, aud being perfectly
familiar with the standard dramas, de.
termined to apply to some manager,
stand the test of an examination, and
see what that would bring.
With wildly-beatins heart and flushed
cheeks, she was shown into the room
where the pompous manager of one Of
the uptown establishments sat in dress
ing gown and slippers, apparently very
much absorbed in the morning paper,
and our heroine gazed at him full mo-
ment, before be condescended to notice
her.
"Ah excuse me, madameW as the
grace and loveliness of his visitor burst
upon him. 81 was 80 much interested
in this article that | quite forgot l was
waited upon by lady caller. Is there
anything l can do for you, madame'"
Agnes explained her errand.
"Your face, figure, voice, and pronun-
ciation are in your favor, assure you
but have You the necessary talent for
delineating your character {? If you cen
prove to me that you have, ! shall be
very glad of your services. Now, to-
night we play the School for Scandal"
Our Lady Teazer is not reliable, on &C.
count of illness. If you could take tho
character we should be delighted"
"There will be no doubt with regard
to it, sir. l am perfectly familiar with
the part"
"Let me hear you read it, if you
please"
Agnes unfalteringly read the selection. !
Remain to rehearsal, madame. be-
lieve you will do
And SO it proved. No fault could he
found, and the manager had sense enough
to know that he had secured prize.
That evening, Agnes, under a "nom
de plume" was called before the curtain
ut the conclusion of each act, showered
with bouquets, and literally overwhel.
med with enthusiastic admiration. She
rose in the profession so rapaidly, and her
friends-although not few
were convinced that their favOrite was
the former Agne Sheldon-received no
look of recognition; and the woman
who, abused and disowned robbed of her
larling, penniless and forsaken--wbo
had attempted in SO many different ways
to earn respectable and comfortable
livelihood, now found her appropriate
sphere, and in one years time occupied
a fine suite of rooms in ono of the best
hotels, and was surrounded by luxury.
Not only did she deny herself to all
but went from the carriage to
her rooms closely veiled, and always