The Penn's Grove record., 1882-06-24
Behind The c n

IA ~ OA
/ happened in New Orleans many years
ago. 1t possesses to me now, as ]
| think of it, all the vivid interest 1t
had then. It was among the first
cases intrusted to MI. land myself
and we devoted to 1t an unwearylng
patience and assiduity that ftted us
for their exercise many . time after
ward. 1t was in mid-winterz That the
circumstance / allude to occurred.
The theatrical season wasa Its height.
The st. Charles was nightly thronged
with the Beauty and fashion of the
city. A new star had appeared on its
boards. Her beauty, grace and q
complishments were the topic of every
club room. Her name was Adele
Larondu. Very young-scarcely
| twenty-andyery beautiful was this
young girl. around whom . web of
mystery was woven that seemed to
defy human ingenuity to unrayel.
lay she was beautiful but that word
does not convey an adequate idea of
her exceeding grace of mind.and per
son. Petite in form, the slender fig
ure was exquisite in symmetry. A
wealth of bright, golden HAIR shaded q
face rosy with health and brilliant
with genius. The clear, hazel eyes
flashed with Intelligence, and the
delicate curve Of the exquisitely CHS.
eled lips expressed hatred, or scorn,
or intensified emotion.
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 find in her an interpreter that never
erred. Her analysis of character was
perfect 1t was true to nature aud there
fore perfect.
The night of which / speak had
witnessed her greatest triumph. She
seemed inspired and the feelings Of her
audience appeared 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 dispersed. Some mes
meric power held me on the spot, and
/ fingered around the entrance OF the
theater.
An hour must pave past by and the
last of the company crept out of the
narrow aisles leading 70 the stage,
and sought their homes. Still the
actress fingered her carriage at the
door-the driver impatient. Suddenly
from behind the scenes came q scream
so piercing, that it cut to the heart
| like q dagger. EH0&
In a moment more 4 dashed open
the door and rushed into the theater.
Close atmy back MI. r, the driver,
and the porter of the establishment.
The light of the greenroom was still
burning. The large mirror that hung
from the wall reflected from the
| opposite sofa the tinsel and mock
jewelry Of aqueen. / noticed this as
| I dashed open the narrow door that
led to the dressing room assigned the
actress. 1t was empty. I called her
| by name. We searched everywhere
In the building, but all in vain. The
actress had disappeared. The screams
that had so startled US were not re-
peated. There was no avenue of es-
cape !; still she was gone.
MI. I-visited her apartments at
the hotel. She was not there. The
gas was relit in the theater and our
search was resumed. She was not to
be found. Her friends were visited /;
the most transient acquaintance
called on, with a like result.
Each hour, instead OF revealing the
mystery, only deepened it. In the
light of the morning, we continued the
search. A single object was discovered
which could possibly afford q clew to
the mis- ing girl. On the floor Of the
dressing room was a diamond earring.
1t looked as If 1t had been torn from
it's place. 1t was not such a n a.
was worn by the actress. 1t estab'
lished beyond question the presence Of
another person in her room, and that
person 3 female. This was all. The
mysterious interview and its termina.
ton were shrcuded In a veil of dark.
ness our ingenuity could not pene'
trate.
What was to be done? We knew she
was a native of France, brought here
In childhood. Her relatives had died
her friends knew nothing save that
she was an orphan. Genius had aided
her rise, industry had secured her
fame. The architect of her fortunes,
abe had climbed alone the steep whose