The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-09-11

A STORY OF AN AMERICAN ACTRESS.
WRITTEN FOR THE TIMES BY FRANK COOPER.

wen, Sir, no one knows to this day
how or at what hour of the night
he managed it. All know Is
when day broke he, his black
horses and Daisy were all gone to-
gether. They have never returned,
sir, until today Daisy was brought back
here In her coffin to be laid at rest in
this grave. Wasn't it dastardly act
for the young chap to break the colonel's
faith in him by such trick? Old
as the colonel is if he could catch that
young rascal, even after these tw ,uty
years. his life would not be worth the
money 1t would take to bury him. How
ever, people tall me Daisy became cry
wealthy, which 1 know pleased the co.
onel mighty. 1 believe it was in some
sort OF quarrel"
lently, II have heard her story after she
left the village; it was her early history
which interested mo. All! You have
not heard the details of her life after
she abandoned the tavern. Yes, indeed,
l was well acquainted with all her
triumphs."
Lighting his cigar with a peculiar
care distinguishing man of the world,
he recited, with many f1ourishes Of the
curling smoke toward the grave and to.
ward the sanctuary, from which SOL
emn chant arose, the following history
OF human life and the fatalistic forces
guiding it:
Prom the village they travelled to
New York, where Horton surrounded
Daisy with luxuries beyond her dreams
As partner in New York house and
man OF some wealth, he devoted a
great deal OF money to sporting plea
sures, not the least of which was his
desire to place Daisy on the stage.
She undoubtedly inherited q natural
talent In this profession, for two years
adding thereto the finest training the
metropolis could afford. He loaned her
large sums Of money and took promis-
sorry notes OF long standing, believing
them additional incentives to the high
strung creature for whom he cherished
much love and great ambition.
During the two years of her novitiate
In the city they lived, not as tho over
puritanical might imagine, life of
1everish vice and its reactionary con-
sequences. Upon Daisy's part at least
her relations to Horton were faithful.
and his attentions were so constant thai
stranger could not have discerned an
ABSENCE OF the desirable legal ceremony.
Her dependence upon him was for a
long time absolute, and she substituted
In the absence of real affection fear of
being turned adrift that caused her to
constantly heed his slightest word.
she made debut at the Fifth Avenue
Theater, winning the public at once,
adding to the aerial buoyancy of her
childhood an atmosphere pregnant with
nameless charm. The Kaleidoscope
changes through every character she
presented and every moment from her
advent on the stage kept her audience
In wh1rl OF pleasure. She was a great
financial success.
her independence was gained, and
Horizons influence over her was from
that date lost. In month they had
quarreled and separated. Soon she
drifded into that brilliant though
shameful life that contributed vastly
to her notoriety and success. Thereaf-
ter she treated Horton as she might
have done discharged Sc want whose
time Of service h ID expired.
"Re emf ured this with apparent euua.
n1mity; while for her the years swiftly
elapsed that wrought the gradual trans
formation Of the dining room girl into a
leading star of the American stage.
I'm course of time her wealth in
creased enormously; it was her cust om
to appear nightly decked with gems
worth tens OF thousands of dollars. AL
though hlched by money parasites, the
resources OF her wealth seemed inex-
haustable. She lavished on all around
her vast sums questionablY obtained.
Her beauty charmed poet, philosopher,
divine. Inc marvellous Lowell ness Of
nor magic features commanded the ul-
stinted admiration Of those who were
loudest in condemning her Immortality
A movement of that mobile mouth, a
word from the riches of her life-cheer-
ing voice, and thousands bowed befo. @
her. Preserving the pontaneous graces
OF childhood, she developed an artistic
love of dress which she satisfied in
minute detail Tie blush of her fair
shoulders, the delicate brown of the iris
which assumed different hue for eyerv
trace OF emotion sweeping the profound
depth OF her eyes, was the result OF art,
but 1t was al art allowing of no substi-
tuition o! the le.s for the greater, 70
paint, no make-shifts. To her audience
ana her intimates she was the sane
abnormal growth OF the species woman
rather the came ethereal creatr-e.
whom to know was to love. as she her.
self loved, in spite of faults OF characte-.
ALTHOUGH glittering IN vice her ari,.
tocratic inheritance showed itself un-
consciously for past attainment by o.
woman OF lers calibre. A gesture of the
hand became an easy curve, SYLLABLE
was softt led, all relations with her at.
tendans were tuned in an unmistakable
harmony. She seemed to be under no
obligations to study the knowledge OF
her emotions, as Mozart, yet child,
woke the echoes of the great cathedra,,
her rare geAius moved all nature to sub.
lection. TO this power, seemingly her
gift divine. society threw open its
doc 3 to the envy OF many woman of
infinitely greater moral worth.
Abroad other triumphs yet awaited
her. In England the Prince of Wales
toyed with Ter for season. In Germany
a hnndred con rtiara Mod &. a x.Aaa