The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-05-11


charge OF powder, went off in my faith
cr's hands, and the rival, whom he had |
so latoly feared and hated, lay dead be-
fore him.
81 have related this incident to show
You the cloud OF misfortune that hung
over our family, and shortly altcrward |
enveloped me in its folds.
Although probably no one actually
believed that this tragedy was other
than sad accident, yet some there were
who, recalling the enmity between tho
two men, were malicious enough to whis-
per that the shooting was premeditated
under cover Of the play. These rumors
coming to my fathers ears cut short hs
stage career. He secluded himself close.
ly ut home and would see no one. Ono
night, ! rccolect, he called me into his
room, and said My son, it would have
been far better for me if had purposely
killed that man, for in that case my pun
ishncnt would be deserved and sure.
This distrust, the uvcrtcd eyes of those
who were onco proud to call themselves
my friends, is killing me- He must
have spoken in a spirit of prophecy, for
on the following morning he died.
"Soou after this event | was the re-
riuiput of some tlattcring offers from
thcatri"wl managers, and | determined
10 return to the stage, although my
mother bitterly opposed it. Oh J that |
hnd listened to her gentle plcNduHs,
liut youth Is proud and hcadstrong, and
unwilling to heed words of caution.
Was | not dcsirous of providing for all
her present aud future needs? Had /,
although acting contrary to her wishes,
any other object than her ultimate hap
pinoss in view? Would she not. sooner
or later, come round to look at things IN
uy way?
MY return to the stage was followed
10y almost Immediate promotion, and the
pooplr tIockrd to see me in parts which
my father had rendered famous. Many
Of my friends were anxious to see ne
attempt the higher walks of my art, and
partly opDcasc them, as well us to air
certain theories and innovations of my
OWE, gave ont that ! would shortly cs-
SAY the rolo of Othello. For weeks
and months | studied this creation OF
tl,c great GramatiSt, and succeeded in
thoroughly identifying myself with the
part. On the night before my debut as
q tragcdiau was TO take place | retired
early, but my sleep was disturbed by
dreams. BY turns was the fond and
tender lover, the proud and powerful
! General, tho cra2ed, relentless muir
lcrer.
1.-THE morning dawncd and developed
! IN my own home more horrible tragedy
| than was ever conceived hy dramatst,
for while slept and dreamed u bastard
| iy assassin had crcpt into my mothers
chamber and etrangIcd the life from her
sweet body. Upon her fair white throat
was the cruel imprint of the mrrderous
hand, and, oh, God whilo | slept, un-
conscious Of her agony, she was strug-
Cling with her slayer,
Weeks and months passed, but no
rlow TO the murlerercould be discovered,
nor the object of the crime imagined.
Ny life, robbed of its trucst friend,
seemed duh and melancholy. There
was but one thing left for me to do. and
that was to recall and act upon her adj
montjons, 80 that, if haply her spirit
looked down on me, she might bless my
efforts. | left the State and sought in q
Western State to give a new direction to
my life. But even here my reputation
as an actcr had preceded me, and | was
waited upon one evening by the man
agrr of the local thcater with the re-
quest that ! would take the place Of his
| leading man ON the following evening,
| he being incapacitated by sickness from
| appearing. The piece was to be "Othel-
lo.' accepted the proposal, pleased that
| my name had not been cntircI Y forgotten
by the public. The hotel at which |
stopped was Overcrowded, and the land
| lord informed me that | would have
to share my room with IL stranger.
| But the stranger, when ho came in,
| proved to be an old friend, and we talked
far iato the night of old times, mutual
acquaintance, but especially OF my
| forthcoming appearance rs OthelIo on
the next night. slept, and dreamed
once again that was the veritable Moor
of Venice, breathing into Desdemona's
ear my ycngcful, cruel purpose. | was
suddenly awakened by Il terrific pull Mt
;nS n" "ii" 'D""" ~, oo,' on eel in l ~
shc,aaI" a. m wif., ~, 6, ,,N,. Wo hands
yo,a 1fa.io, o., ~ vl...IIn,, Grin on his
I'r,ot Iv "',d ,rl- waLed Eis hold
ol",' w. o'u %'.r "" w., ',,. l., an! hcloloss,
I' T,' n't u,o 90; 49,, ~ ~, u,o.,onta in
life when Ike nm electric fash nil that
has Lner and nmnh thot ia to ho stands
ont clearly revealed md owe.struck wo
puyo ot tio fearful nrosncct The mys-
t,rv of INV mothers takinr.off wos no
lnnpcr - Gvstrrv II ,yos thcso occurscd
| a. - =, a.
JrmncI me- Iiko Abasuer,s 10 wander
over fine world scoI,ino relief and find.
inc none" o
with these words the vounp mnn con.
rhiInd his trogic story and snizinc, his
hut opcncd tLo outer door and disap.
nn,roi IN tLn d,,rI,,ose No,t;o ,r;ih