Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-07-21

she had q carriage come regular, same
as the swell leading ladies uptown;
and, as usual, the manager give in and
the curtain went up, and Miss Cardeck
went on just as smooth as smooth.
You've seen that play, and you know
how / must afelt when looked down
from them flies on a. prison cell with
small grated windows and big chained
door!
I had always had my secret doubts
about that woman's golngs on, but
when I saw the way she drawed her.
self up, and spoke scornful to herself
about being "h'innocent," | knew for
dead certain she couldn't act--least-
wise, not that character; for why?
You see [ could judge her, cause I'd
been there myself.
Well, the play run along slick enough
till nigh the end of the week, when she
made another strike, and no mistake
raced off and got married; and there
was the poor manager a-hying about
the place In that dazed fashion like
birds do when they'vegot shot through
their bits of heads-I've seen them
and there was me with a. dazed notion
in my head of how [ could help him if
only had the courage to try.
It was close on to the afternoon
when it came to me--the nerve,
mean-and then I walks up to him
and says: ''If you've mind to trust
me, / think we can stave off trouble
tonight, and by tomorrow you can
have your pick and choose. [ amt
ever said one word on the stage, but
feel things pretty keen, and Pm
willing to risk it, if SO be you think
may take the chances"
It was only because he was clean
out Of his wits that he consented; he
said as much the next day; but he did
consent, and all that morning [
studied on them boards; and when
night come, there 1 was again, in a
black frock, with my heart way up in
my throat, aud my fingers as cold and
white as candles
guess l didn't awe nobody in the
first scene-leastwise, the people
didn't let on by so much as clap, if
I did; but when got to the jail part
it all came back so real, SO shameful,
that the tremble flew out of my body
into my voice and stayed there! /
forgot where Twas; only remembered
where [ had been!
/ don't just recollect how I got
through that first night; but / do
know that when it was all over, and
the manager told me my fortune was
made. why, just laid my head against
Efie's loving neck, and cried, and cried,
and cried like q, scrap of a baby-I
did
understood from the first that |
wasn't no genius, in general way-so
that's why I'm stickin' to this one
piece so powerful steady; and you see
for yourself that's it's a-bringing
fortune pretty sure. I've already got
q good big farm at the old home for
the two boys, and every sort of COM
fort, down to gold watches all around,
for the three girls and mother; and
by-and-by, when John -. Didn't
I tell you? Yes, the poor soul got
his stroke on the right side, two years
ago come Christmas, and I'm keeping
to the lawful promise | made him, no
end of faithful and true.
There has been them that allowed I
ought to pack him off to a hospital
and get out my papers for free leave
to do what [ please; but [ answers
such folks short, that 81 don't set up
to be no giltedged Christian; but this /
learned in my Catechism, and this I
lives up to, ''What God has joined to-
gether let no man put asunder!" and
John has got that softened like that
he's taken quite friendly notion to
the cat.
I always stuck to it that he had his
good pints someWheres
But when the Master calls him, I
amt sayin' but what I'll be thankful
for my blessing, cause them I'm going
to leave mother the rest of my--(Al
right, Efie D-It's gettin' time for me
to go on now, SO Iguess you'd better
90 back in the box-.-good-bY