Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-09-02

"'That Is Just the reason urged.
Il must tell you'll refused him the
other day, and he intends revenging
himself tonight. For PHYS sake drop
the curtainl'
"'My child, 1t is impossiblel We
should have riot in the house! l will
go and speak to Blackburn, and come
back TO you at once.'
81 sat and rocked myself in anguish.
George came and stood by me, but |
could not speak. He evidently thought
was seriously i'll, and said he should
fetch the doctor when the play was
over.
'''I can't imagine what you can
mean,' said Mr.. Gosling, returning.
Blackburn is as cool and collected as
any man have ever seen-wOnderful-
~ so under the circumstances. / told
him his acting was little too strong
for you, and that you were little over
excited. He says he is determined you
shall not complain of his last act. So.
my dear, dry your tears, and go and
change your dress. You know would
do anything in the world to please you;
but what you ask is completely impos-
sible; besides, there Is really no reason
"'Heaven help me then, said I, for
no one else will ! will forgive you
both; and may you forgive yourselves
for what feel sure will happen! Shake
hands, Mr.. GOsling, and thank you for
all your goodness to me; and George,
come and fetch me when the stage is
ready for the last sct.'
Il left them looking after me gravely
and sorrowfully. | have since heard
that they feared my brain had given
way. H
II dressed in silence, evidently 10 the
surprise of my companions, who were
full of talk about the wonderful sue
cess of the play. Il remember their con-
graduating ME on the effect L had pro-
duced on Mr.. Seaman, the London
manager.
"'I saw him apAauding you, my
DEAR said one; you are safe for an en-
gagement. Don't forget Old friends
when you get to the top OF the tree
"Just then George's knock struck
upon my ear like a knell. / rose I'M
steadily, and said
"'l want to say goodbye to you
all
Goodbye, chIldI' said the Emilia
OF the evening. why, we snail all be
here when you come DOWN.
"'No; say goodbye now.' [ kissed
them all, and left them standing frlgh-
tened and silent together. Give me
your arm, George; l cannot walk
"'My darling,' he cried, with his
eyes full of tears, 1T seems so cruel to
make you go on; but what can we do?
Please Heaven, l shall soon nurse you
back to healthl' He helped me tender
ly to the couch ON the stage and cover
ed me with the quilt.
"'Now kiss me, and go, said /.
..'My dearest, not now,' he replied;
'see-we are not alonep
- For the last time-surely you will
not refhse for the last timer
''He evidently thought ] was wan
dering, and bent his head and did as
desired. | heard a smothered laugh,
and, looking up, saw Mr.. Blackburn
standing just behind him.
''POor George hurried away and the
curtain rose.
81 cannot now attempt to describe
how the act was played. l was told
spoke my few lines all right; but, if I
did, it must have been quite mechanic
cally My whole brain was occupied
with one absorbing thought-when will
it come? How many minutes more?
although was almost unconscious
l had sufficient reason left to be sur
prised that he did not endeavor to suf-
focate me with the pillow; but | was
quite powerless to move or speak. In
minute heard Emilia's voice at the
door, and knew that the terrible mo-
ment was come. / felt his feverish
breath on my face. opened my eyes.
Good Heaven, what a sight met my
Mortified gael l tried to scream; but
my tongue claye to my mouth, and
was unable TO utter sound.
"He was bending over me, with the
unmistakable glare of insanity in his
eyes. In that awful moment all that
had been mysterious in his manner
was explained. He had been mad all,
along and never suspected it, although
1 had been oppressed with strange mis-
givings about him. His burning fin
gers clutched my bare throat, and
saw the dagger glare in the uplifted
handl
"'Shut your eyesp he hissed. You
are dead, you are dead!'
''Involuntarily my nerveless lids
dropped, and the next moment | felt |
the icy steel-enter my side. l sprang |
up on the couch, gave a desparing !
Shrek which rang round the house,
and fell back insensible, with the sound |
of deafening applause mocking my |
ears.
1T appeared that the audience |
thought this was new reading of the |
part and were quite carried away with |
it.
"When l next recovered conscious
ness, was in bed in my longlngs, and |
George and one of my dressing-room
at the theatre were sitting |
me anxiously. Ifelt strange |
ly weak. and was not allowed to talk |
or move Some weeks after, when L |
was comparatively strong, George told |
me the finish of that miserable night.
Nobody knew anything about IT.
said he, until the end of the play; he |
had pulled the quilt right over you. |
When you did not take up your cue
for the last line, we thought you had
it, and Emilia passed it over. |
the curtain fell, poor Black
burn began to scream and rave, and |
rushed up to where you were lying. |
Imagine our horror. when he pulled |
down the cover, to find what had hap
peGedl thought the men would have
tern him to pieces. saw however that
he was quite mad; and Costing and two
Or three others took him away and
him all night. They tele-
yraphed to a brother of his, and he came
DOWN the next morning.
II then heard OF the miraculous eS-
cape had had. The doctors said, had
The dagger devia.ed half an inch from
The course it had taken, 1t must inevi-
.ably have killed me; as 1t was, they |
had many anxious nights and days of |
during which lay quite un-
conscious.
"a year after that married George
and | have been very happy ever since. |
My only trouble-but that is heavy
lne-is the thought of the poor miser-
able man, who still drags out a hope
ess existence within the walls of lu-