Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1888-03-08


and but one thing restrained me
That vas my terrible secret. I di'
not dare to reveal il before marriage
and it would have been cruel TO hay
married any woman. leaving her I,
discover it afterwards.
/ returned to the store that nigh
q have q sleeping room there) il
great perturbation. As I have sait
before. ! was very much in love viii
Medora. and I would have eiver
worlds if I could have called her
mine Il hadn't q great many world.
on hand at that time. to BE- sure. ]
| But what hope was thsre for me-,
while there wers so many younger
and more agreeable men already at
her feet? And then my secret Ah
no, mol loved her, but would not
marry her. That would be too cruel.
Neither could the widow ever be my
widow, unless upon better acquain-
tance / could summon courage suff
oient to tell her my secret, and I felt
sure never could. But at least I
would try. And in her society I
might possibly conquer my love for
Medora.
For the next two weeks I kept
away from Mr.. Budderfi's although I
was a constant visitor at Dunready's g.
Twice during that time met Medora
on the street. The first time she bow
ed coldly, but the second, she did not
notice me at all? What did it mean.
Was she angry because had deserted
her for Leda, and did she care some.
thing for me. after all? I wouldn't
allow myself to be so egotistical as to
think so. Pshaw was old enough
to be her father.
Well, the night of the Fair came.
l accompanied Mrs. Vastings to the
hall, which was already crowded.
The youth and beauty of Larragona
were assembled, and something less
than thousand hearts beat happy"
Eve never could raise such a crowd as
Brussells), and was soon to appear
before them as the redoutable John
Smith. / doubt if the real Smith felt
more tremulous than did as began
my preparations for the character.
At last all was in readiness. had
lain myself down at full length upon
the stage, with my head resting upon
the fatal stone. Powhatan, alias
White, dressed in full Indian costume,
and looking like veritable red man,
held his club ready to strike, while
Pocahontas, far more beautiful than
the original, with her eyes turned be-
seechingly upon the face of the ''stern
parent" protected me from his i'm
pending wrath. Gathered around US
were a score Of young men, arrayed
as children OF the forest.
Turn your head little more this
way, Smithy," said the fierce Powha-
tan; "the curtain is going up"
I did as directed. As I gazed
around among those terribly ferocious
looking savages. pair Of dark eyes
met mine. knew them, and I re-
cognized the face through the war.
paint. I was about to speak, but just
then the curtain rolled up.
All was hushed for one moment,
and then the curtain began slowly to
descend. We must have made very
creditable appearance for the applause
was immense. Down came the cur
tain. The cheering continued.
Roll up again whispered Powha.
tan. Keep cool Smithy."
Again the curtain arose. The ST.
lencs was awful. I held my breath
for an instant, and then with single
bound, one OF the young "braves'
rushed upon me. scalping knife in
hand. A thrill Of horror swept
through the audience, the ladie,
shrieked and Pocahontas tainted.
could not move, and all the rest seem
; ed spell.bound. The scalpipg.knif'
flashed like lightning around my head
and then, ah, thcn-the young Indial
, clutched my hair-I shut my eyes,
| tried to pray. / tried to shout-h
tore my patent wig from my heat
exposing my secret to the world. an'
my completely bald pate to the jeer
Of the crowd.
. "Seize himi" yelled. springing :
, my feet; but alas he had fed fror
{ the hall. carrying my scalp with hin
, "Not down in the billsr' cried
? voice, in the rear Of the hall.
"Not historical. Smithyl" shoute
another.
: A roar of laughter followed.
. think I should have killed some