The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-06-28

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entered no one thought of watching the
wagoner's boy in his frock and SLOUGH
hat, and so a little bride bought the cos
tune of the fellow, and the young count
smacked his whip gayly as he drove over
the hill and got away withou being dis
covered, though the guard would exam
inc the wagon before he let it pass.
The count sat under a tree reading a
book for a long while afterward-that
is, the wagner in the counts clothes
and when the truth was discovered the
CONSERVATION was so great that the con-
federate escaped scot free.
By that time the young count was
married. He had met his wife at a little
church to which she came wIJn ner
father and other friends, and they were
made one and went off together. There
was some talk of the count himself be-
coming an actor, but, whatever hap
pened, the old nobleman. his father,
could do nothing now.
Finally, the family held counsel that
they would forgive their son If mis- wife
would leave the stage.
Now, the beautiful Adelaide was a
born actress, but at the moment love
dominated her soul. Her husband was
all in all to her. She yielded to his per-
Buasions and retired from the profession
she adorned.
She went to live with the great fam
lily, who were very kind to her. She
tasted all the sweets of idleness and luz
ury and was adored by her husband.
She was for awhile perfectly happy.
But slowly, surely, u nameless long
ing crept into her soul. She felt her life
dull and uninteresting. The artist with
in her got the better of her. Her one
great longing was to act once more, to
tread the stage as Of yore, to live the
life for which she was born. She
dreamed of it at 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 to charm her. All
occupation was wearisome. She turned
her attention to the poor and was boun-
tiful to them. Among other wretched
people, she gave aims to the poor crear
lures in the debtors prison. 1t was in
the year 1847. At that day, in the place
where she abode, a creditor who chose
could cast his debtor into a foul prison
and let him rot there.
There was, | believe, some law which
made it compulsory to give the man who
owed money which he could not pay
bread and water. For all else he had to
depend on charity, and there were bars
in his cage behind which he could sit
thrusting out his hand for whatever
pitiful strangers chose to give.
The Countess Adelaide had often
spoken to one unfortunate man, a gen.
tleman whose debt was very large, and
one day it came into her mind that there
was a way in which he might be deliv-
cred from his bonds and restored to his
helpless wife and children. Accord
ingly, she spoke of it to her husband.
Her idea was to give al entertainment
to the public, the object being specified
in the public prints and in private letters.
The tickets sold at high prices; actors of
position would beimplored to offer their
services, and she, herself would take the
Q4lilCipes1 PbAN 49,"
To this the count gave his consent.
His parents, after some delnur, agreed
that acting for a charity, and to such an
audience, was not Objectionable, and
one night the play was put upon the
boards of a magnificent theater.
Once more Adelaide, in allthe splendor
of a queenly costume, walked the stage.
Once, more she was happy And how
she actedl
Applause rent the air. Her wonder
full genius impressed all who listened.
The old delight in it returned to her
husband, and none was more enthusiastic
than his relatives. do not know what
the play was, or l 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 curtainl how often
did she smile and courtesy and kiss her
hands to theml She was happy for the
first time for long, long 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 freedom.
Hi. wife knelt to kiss tho hand of the