The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-08-26

watching the wagoncrs boy IN MS frOck
and slouch hat, and 80 little bribe
bought ,he costume Of the fellow, and
the young Count smacked his whip
gavly as he drove over the hill and got
away without being discovered, though
the guard would examine the wagon be-
fore he let IL pass.
The Count sat under tree reading o
book for long while afterwards-thatis,
the WAGNER in the Counts clothes--snd
when the truth was discovered the con-
sternstion was so great that the confeder-
ates escaped scot free.
By shat time the young Count Wa
married. He had met his wife at lit.
tie church, TO which she came with her
father and other friends. and they
were made one and went OH To-
geths- There was some talk Of the
Count himself becoming an actor, but
whatever happened. the old noblemsn,
his fa.her, could do nothing.
II ally the family held counsel that
they would forgive their son il his wife
would leave the stage.
Now, the beautiful Adelaide was Q
born actress, but at the moment love
dominated her soul. Her husband was
@il 10 oil TO her. She yielded to his
peis'rr ions and retired from the profess
rion she adorned.
She went 70 live with the great fam.
lily, who were very kind to her. She
tasted all the sweets Of idleness and
luxury and WIS siored by her husband.
She WAS for awhile perfectly happy.
Bat slowly, surely, namsless long
ing crept into her soul. She felt her
life dull and uninteresting. The artist
within her gos the better OF her. Her
one great longing was TO act once more.
to tread the stage IS Of yore, to live the
life for which she was born. She
dreamed Of i. Il night, she dreamed Of
it by day, but she never spoke Of it.
Her word had been pledged and she
must keep it.
Society had ceased 10 charm her. All
occupation was wearis0me. She turned
her attention to the poor and was boun.
tiiul to them. Among other wretched
people she gave aims to the poor crsa.
lures in the debtors prison. II was in
the year 1S47. At that day in the place
where she abode creditor who chose
could cast his debtor into . foul prison
and let him rot there.
There was, believe, some law which
made it compulsory 70 give the man
who owed money which he could not
pay bread sad water For al else hs
had 70 depend on charity, and there
were bars in his cage behind which be
could sit, thrust out his hand for what
ever pitiful strangers chose to give
The Countess Adelaide had often
spoken to ono unfortunate man, . gen.
tlemnn whose debt vas very largo, and
one day it oams into her mind that there
was . way in which he might b deliv.
cred from his bonds and restored to his
helpless wife and children. Accord
ingly, she spoke Of IL 70 her husband.
Her idea was 10 give IN entertainment
to the public, the object being specified
in the public prints and in private let.
ters. The tickets sold at high prices;
actors of position would be implored TO
offer their services, and she herself
would take the principal part.
10 this the Count gave his consent
His parents, after some dsmur, agreed
that acting for . charity, and to such an
audience, was not Objectionable, and ono
night the play was put upon the boards
OF magnificent theater.
Once more Adelaide, in all the splen.
dor of queenly costume, walked the
stage. Once more she was happy. And
how she acted!
Applause rent the air. How wonder
derful genius impressed all who lis
tened. The old delight in it returned
to her husband, and none was more en-.
thusiastic than his relative I do not
know what the play was, or would give
its name to my readers, but those who
saw it that night never forgot it.
How often did they call the beautiful
Countess before the curtaini how olen
did she smile and courtesy and kiss hsr
hands to theml She vas happy for the
first time for long, hong months. A
good deed had been done The poor
debtor was happy, too. for his debt had
been paid, and he had money besides TO
begin the world with on his day OF fsvs-
dom. His wife kneN to kiss the hand
of the benevolent Countess, and the
poor man himself, bewildered by his un.
expected good fortune, could only weep.
Happiness was restored TO . homo tAat
had been very miserable. Al for Ado
laide herself. hope arose in her heart
The sensation her acting had caused was
80 tremendous that the whole feeling Of
her husbands family changed. Italians
are all artists enough to feel pride in
genius like hers, and when she unbur-
!ened her heart to them and told Of her
longing to return to the stage they gave
their consent, and 30 that greatest Of all
modern actresses, Adelaide Ristori, be-
san the triumphant career that has
made her name known in every country
in the world as the greatest Of ell mod.
ern tragic actresses.
Surely no one can say that truth may
not be as romantic as fiction. Mary
Kyle Dallas, in Fireside Companion.
coNuNpRuMS.