Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-07-01
BEHIND THE SCENES.

will tell you an incident that occurred
many years ago in New Orleans. 1t pos,
scsseS to me now, as I think of it, all the
vivid interest it had then.
1t was among the first cases entrusted
to Mr.. 7 and myself, and we devoted
to it an uEwearying patience and assidu.
ity that fitted US for their exercise many
a time aiterward. 1t was in mld-winter
that the circumstances / allude to oc-
Cured. The thea trical season was at its
height. The st. Charles was nightly
throneed with the beauty and fashion of
the city. A new star had appeared on
It's b2ar's. exciting an interest prevalent
and absorbing. Her beauty, grace and
accomplishments were the talk of every
club-room-the one suljcct that engaged
the attention of all the youth in the city.
Her name was Adele Larondu. Very
youn9--scarcely 20-ald very beautiful
was this young girl, around whom web
OF mystery was woven that seemed to defy
human ingenuity to Unravel.
say that she was beautiful, but the
word does not convey an adequate idea
of her exceeding grace of mind and per
son. Petite in form, the slender figure
was exquisite in grace and symmetry. A
wealth Of bright golden hair shaded
face rosy with health and brilliant with
genius. The clear hazel eyes flashed with
intelligence, and the delicate curve of the
exquisitely chiseled lips expressed hatred
or scorn, or intensified emotions.
Night after night the theater was filed
with her admirers. Passion in every
phase-the very well springs and impulses
OF our nature-seemed to fad in her an
Interpreter that never erred. Her analy-
sis OF character WAS perfect; it was true
to nature, and therefore perfect.
TIE night of whiIh speak had wits
Messed her greatest triumph. She seemed
inspiled, and the feelings and emotions of
her audience seemed absolutely under her
control, as if she welded the wand of an
enchantress. The curtain fell on the last
act OF the tragedy, and the audience dis
persed. Some mesmcrie power held me
to the spot, and fingered around the en-
trance to the theater.
An hour must have passed by, and the
last of the company had crept out OF the
narrow isle leading to the stage and
sought their homes. Still the actress lin
gered, her carriage at the door, the driver
impatient. Suddenly from behind the
scenes, echoing wildly along that narrow
isle, came scream SO piercing that it cut
to the heart like dagger. Anguish, hor-
ror, grief, were in its tone 1t chilled my
blood; stood rooted to the spot.
In moment more l dashed open the
door and rushed into the theater. Close
at my back came Mr.. L, the driver
and the porter of the establishment. The
light in the green room was burning. The
large mirror that hung from the wall re-
flected from the opposite sofa the tinsel
and mock jewelry of a queen. l noticed
this as / dashed open the door which
led tn the narrow drcssng-room assigned
the actress. 1t was empty. / called her
by name / shouted until the walls of
the vast building echoed back my voice.
We searched everywhere, underneath and
above the stage, even among the rolled
curtains in the loft, and the narrow aper.
ture beneath the scenes, in vain. The ac-