The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-16
BACK FROM THE DEAD
The Narrative Of John Preston. Actor,
Once Hanged for Fratrlcide.
DATED AUG. 9, 1889.
A Story Of the Stage.
BY SAQUI sMIT q
FART L.
Copyright 1901 By s. 6. McClurs.l


u may be taken as common rule ofliie that
an experience OF q peculiar kind. such as
rould be remem bered long afterwnrd falls
within the lot OF most mon. Mine is one Of
such cases. Tho experiences which have to
relate being not only peculiar. but consider.
ably out OF the common run, have yentured
20 set Thorn before you In my own way. The
narratives OF those othor persons who took
mart In this curious drama Of real life wore at
nv request, written and placed In my keeping
In tho days whom all England was still ringing
With my story, and they now appear for tho
1rst time. That every word Of what those who
follow me shall tell is strictly and literally true
tina records OF the criminal courts prove. More
than this, in vindcation OF my own good faith
and the good faith OF those persons who as my
reouest will each In turn account for their re.
srectivo pats In this curious play OF real life.
It Is unnecessary for me to say. and with your
permission will at once proceed to the bust.
ness IN hand. These arc the facts IS nearly -
! can recall Thorn:
Twonty years aso-thAt IL In the spring Of
lsl9-my bro her. Harry Preston, and myself
vere actors in HowbridRe's Royal Shake
hpoarlan Company. which at that time worked
through nearly the whole northern circuit Of
England How'd, idGs was retired sea Cap
tain. with q as,e for the drama. who had In.
vested his savings in tho theatrical business.
and On tic whole taking one year with an
ether. did vrry well. We two brothers had
travelled togo her from place to place. sharing
with each other when times wore good. or
starving with each other whom times were bad.
and exchanging no angry word for five years.
Then one morning HowbridRe announced that
We might xpect IN acquisition to tho company
at rehsa' sal that day-none other than Miss
Annie Gil YER. an actI oss with good metro
poli'an reputation. who had been specially en-.
gael for leading business In our fall tour.
She waI to take tho place OF our regular lead
In: In ". who had married and retired.
Even Mt this distance OF timo every little de-
tai OF that days work is indelibly impressed
on my mind. I remember even tho trivial
blum !ers at rehearsal. and. In particular. the
hasr made OF my own lines-a circumstance
overlooked In the stir which sign alized Miss
Giover's first entrance into our company. She
proved to be . pale. slender. sinRulsrly beau
tiful woman with big brown eyes. wealth Of
dark hair ooiling In n knot at the back Of hsr
head. and 1.-the. willowy grace Of movement
that gave her tho appearance Of being tailor
thnn she really was; woman who returned
our first curious stare with the complscency
OF contemptuous Indifference.
There is history behind her" said Foyle.
the stage manager. to me. as, defsrentially
csc ,ssad to tho promptsr's tsbls By Howbridee.
she t6ofs 4 scat and calmly looked on. seeming
tn one glance to take In every detail ofthe scene.
Ssh knows her business. however," no add.
oil. later. when she had spoken the first faw
lines NJ her part with the heavy man. did
not MOTTO h IS words at tho time. did not
seem 10 h ar them. Ny eyes were fixed on the
nav lea ling lady. now fitting grace fully from
point to po'nt OF the stage. and mover left hor
until awoke with a start to hear Howhridge's
voice calling for the change Of sesne.
Look at old Macy" said Foyle suddenly to
Inc What's como over him? 10 he going to
have another o. those strokes? Hanged II no
isn't stari1. Mt that woman as though he had
S.en ghost"
I tuned my head in tho direction Of the
place waere Macy. in his capacity as promptsr.
was acsu.tom ri to take up his position.
snlfry. weazen ID. palsiei, seem in:ly worn
out old man. with a saullinG gait. and carry
ine With him psrp,tual smile and q general
impression o! his having dressed himself In q
hurry. As tloksd at him saw that he was
stan ling stockstill. loaninR heavily against tho
roller OF tn" rr sceniuul. with q faco a. white
a. death. Hi. eros wer, fixed aud staring upon
the newcomer. his month Wide open as though
no WIRE bro !tni"g hard. Howbridges voice
sec'ns t" recall. him IA from dream. With o
snrt he came out Of hts trance. his face as.
sumsl II. usual life!ess. automaton-li like ex-
pes No :. he pakei IN the prompt book from
the table, M tho rehearsal proceeded. Report
ha! sail tina Annie Glover was mistress OF
every 'le'a o; nor art, and for once report had
spoken sraly. Tat much | knew already.
What know so m afterward was that ! loved
hsr with my who'e heart.
ldon't at,snrt 10 excuse myself for this
u IL
oont b'alne niY one but myself for what fol.
Lowell.
can't to-" how cam. to love her. What
~ ldealy wok, IN to. however. WAS that she
MAJ pos-esslo OF m, Lody and soul. that she
W'a In al my thoughts. IN thar she was the
qua NJ tnfusnc, OF my lie. I hid my heart
rom the Others: thought l hid 1t from her.
o"' vas hroag. | new know that she had
olseprsr,l my SO rot before had discovered
nfor myssi.
AZ last tn crisis % tho fever came and with
my rontn-si.n Of miserable weakness.
m'na tn, me- wall enough. a bright, W lrm
su"shiny nj ernoon. with scarcely a bro 9TH OF
H,oa 10 stir tho lazy stlllnesy that hung over
sntn'hI'. W In travelled through half the
rIovlous night aud that mornlng rshearssd In
Ne lo"n OF Beverly. Looking around the
s SIZE whom the rehearsal was over thousht
->N"o HioNo' iiib1 blCO6 ~ SOn0 UOu5
anoh' paSSin: the hall-open do ;r Of her dress.
ing rom. hoard the sound OF u sob
s'oppod' Ee'itntel for q moment. then gently
pushed opon the door and went up to where
.us was sittaG In her chair with her back
.oN0e' me. Apparently. she did no, notice my
sop'oarh. hut remained perfectly still with her
I've buried in her hands. ~ course was rs
ssupd aud spoech!ess as u block OF wool. Mon
my condition. under such circumstances.
.sa,y awa's ars. could only stand over her
~ N'hcs VITA all my heart In my eyes. Ny
.saa 'l'aidly stole forth and rostoi on nor
=. MAT Is your trouble? What can / do I
~ ~ me help yon." stammcreJ at last. She
,s'nsa her head at the SQUAD OF my voice aud
M.ghs bitterly
"hat is tho trouble 2" shc criod. My own
suoueh's. Tn"y nre always my trouble. No
Av eau sac mo from them. Batter for sou.
Sn "sr Tor every one. TO leave mo 10 myself"
ss'ooRed down a, sho spoke. and beat the
.. 0"' WIN her foot. Suppose Tut You to the
,. sho said. musingly. after minute OF 81
''aGs' Would you befriend me- won6er3"
ask me whether / would do for you,"