The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-02-03
A HON + ROMANCE.
rHE HEROINE
\ Highly Drawn Sensation from a
Denver standpoInt-History of
a Cheyenne Girl-The
Earts.


From the Denver Republican.
The tragic attempt of Jerry Crowell,
the comedian, to commit suicide at
Leadville the other day, calls to mind a
parallel incident in the case of a young
lady, who was formerly a member of
the Hy-by-night company, of which
Jerry was the star. Her name is Clara
Crookharn, and every n who has Wis
tied the Palace theater in this city
knows her. She is a vivacious and
handsome girl, of medium height, with
a fair, transparent white skin, and a
form that would do as a model for
Powell. Observe her on the variety
stage, smiling coquettishly upon an
audience composed exclusively of gen.
tlemen, you would surmise that she had
played an important factor in the his
tory of many a man, but it would be
hard to convince you that the same dis
dainful and provoking girl possessed a
romance In which true love swayed a
stubborn heart that broke when sud-
denly bereft OF its cherished object.
The story is briefly told:
Clara Crookham is twenty years old.
She came to this city with her father
and mother from Pittsburgh, quite a
number of years ago. Her parents
after a short stay in Denver separated,
the mother remaining here and the
father going to Cheyenne. 1t was then
Clara showed herself a little heroine.
Crookham had refused to provide for
his wife. Clara first saw her mother
comfortably situated and then followed
him to Cheyenne. OF course he was
compelled to support her and so agreed
to do. She remained two years with
him, and during that time contrived in
| clandestine ways to keep up her moth
er in this city, this being done Of
course without his knowledge. Clara
soon became a real favorite in society;
both on account of her merry DISPOSE
tion and her proficiency as a pianist, as
which, on one or two occasions, she has
since been called upon to support her.
self. She is an educated and cultured
young lady, the early part of her girl
hood having been passed in a luxurious
home back east, where her father was
a well-to-do merchant. Thus she won
the affections of a young government
surveyor, and though but sixteen, she
promised to be his wife, the betrothal
being made at his pleading request.
As they met more frequently in society
SO their love increased, until Clara re-
garded herself sacred to all but the nan
whose home she had promised to make
happy with her sunny nature and girl
ish prattle. 1t is just in this way that
many a girls life is wrecked. Thus
with Clara. She loved not wisely but
too well, and innocent as she was, her
sense of right and wrong was blunted
by the kindness of her all-suffering
heart. j
Her musical education, as well as GER
tain other personal qualities, eminently
fitted her for the stage, and she finally
communicated with her lover her deter
mination to become an actress, having
been offered a place in a certain snap
company known as the "Rocky Noun
tain Dramatic Combination" A very
stormy scene ensued between Clara and
her prospective husband, in which he
left her with the alternative that if she
Joined the company she must positively
forego the hope of ever becoming his
wife. Cut by the cold words of the
young man, and to punish him for his
cruelty she accepted the place, and left
Cheyenne, appearing in several western
cities as the heroine of 'sThe Road
agents of the Black Hills" a reeking
border drama written by one Of the
company. Thus she came back to
Denver where, through the influence of
Mr.. Forester, she succeeded in obtain
ing an engagement with John T. Ray
mond, visiting the mountain towns.
At the close of the season she returned
to Cheyenne, her pride Inundated but
her love more powerful than ever. She
saw her lover only once on the street.
but he did not seem to know her, Time
passed and he went to Leadville and
there fell in love with an heiress, who
returned his affections. The marriage
day was set for Christmas. Meanwhile
the girl whom his cruelty had rendered
reckless, entered a variety theater, and
hearing that her lover was about to be
married, went to Leadville, and there
appeared in the Athen@um. Here al
most hourly reports we're borne to her
ears concerning the marriage of her old
flame, and driven almost frantic, she
decided to end her life. On the
marriage day she accordingly procured
some laudanum and swallowed it.
Physicians were summoned and by
means of timely emetics her life was
saved. Her first call on recovering her
consciousness was for her lover. He
was notified and hurried to her bedside.
That day the marriage was not con-
summated. The bride passed from one
swoon into another, hearing that her
afianced was nursing the girl whom he
had so basely betrayed. The Leadville
papars nub1isbad tha rattar hut neypr