The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1893-11-10
HIS LAST ROLE.
Story of the Rise and Fall of an
Actor.

The curtain had already been raised
three times and still the applause was
prolonged. They were compelled to
raise it again. Darzincourt, his left
hand pressed against his heart. his
right holding several gilt laurel crowns,
bowed, while his eyes filed with tears.
The bravos increased to a storm; he
wanted 10 say something to express his
thanks to the public, but the old come
dian could only open his lips and utter
n mumbling sound. He was overcome:
his emotions were too deep to clothe in
words
Canes beat on the floor with furious
noise. The entire theater shook with
the sound Again and again did the
ushers pass up To the stage paper palm
branches bearing ribbons on which the
principal roles of the actor were
printed. Meanwhile as Darzincourt
stood in the midst of the company that
had supported him the stage manager
left the group and embraced him in the
name of the crowd. At the same time
he placed one of the crowns on his
head. The crown, far too large, slipped
down To his shoulders, but what of
that?-the scene was beautiful.
1t was on this tableau and amid fresh
and furious applause that the curtain
descended. leaving Darzincourt to take
off his crown and receive the felicita-
tions of his comrades
Never before in that provincial city
had similar manifestation been made
over a retiring actor, and as he was %
leave the stage permanently there was
no jealousy among his fellows So he
retired To tine Cafe de Ia Comedie, where
a second ovation awaited him. and the
fragrant smoke from the punch bowls
on the marble tables received the en-
thusiasm of those who pressed for
ward To do him honor And there
We're toasts without number. You may
be sure.
The old habitues of the theater re-
preached him for leaving them SO soon.
why, if one p!eases the public, one is
always young"
And ne, rubbing his chin. that had
been shaved for more than half a cen
tury, was obliged to defend his retire
ment. His hair was white; he was
too rheumatic To kneel gracefully in the
love scenes BESIDES, he made his
mark. his life had been passed on the
boards Well, he needed repose He
wanted to see the real country instead
of faded canvas. He had dreamed of
little farm-a little garden where he
could smoke his pip in peace TO the
end of ms days. 1t was time to think
of himself; he had given enough of his
life to the public. And il was amusing
10 hear him speak of his farming prof.
ects, seated there in the costume of
Louis Nv, with the makeup" still on
-, h., e
glistened in oily lines.
AT last the manager, with his maies-
tic gravity, and also moved by the
ibations he had taken during that af-
fecting evening, declared that there
was no telling what the future might
bring forth. Who could say that Darz-
incourt would not come back some
day? But the latter shook hIs head
No his decision had been made; he
wanted now to enjoy the luxury of do
ing nothing.
Two days afterward Darzincourt, in
stalled in his little house, his head COW
cred with large straw hat, wearing
a linen suit and wooden shoes, began
TO water his flowers in the midst of
broiling sun. while chatting with the
little servant maid
she said They will perish"
BAH he smiled. Flowers are like
women. You can't show them too
much attention"
From that time a delicious life began
for him in the peace of his rustic home.
He thought with horror of the rehears-
ais of other days, of the constant
changing of costumes and parts TO be
learned, and shivered at the remem-
brance of those scenes which called for
nervous action. A year of peaceful
pleasure followed He was very happy,
and why not? he kept asking himself
again and again-so often, in fact,
that he began To doubt if he felt so sin
cerely.
This happiness at the bottom was
monotonous- Yet he was not willing
10 acknowledge that ennui had crept
into that pretty little house which he
had longed for SO much, and the more
he assured himself that he needed
nothing the more he saw that the days
that dragged by were abominably void
and dull
To-day, seated in an arbor taking his
coffee, he allowed his pipe to go out as
he read over some old plays, occasion
ally pausing to exclaim as he came to
some familiar role: ''Ah, | was great
in that And the old memories of the
past that he thought We're buried came
to the present and sang siren song in
his ears. All, the music of applause,
the shouts and bravos that set the
lights trembling after an impassioned
speechi And the little servant coming
to remove the dishes surprised him
standing there flushed of face, his hair
blowing in the breeze, apostrophizing
an imaginary parsonage
''Ah. monsieur lie comte-at last we
are face To facet
"A count here! Where is this count
of yours"
And the girl laughed till the tears
ran down her cheeks
oh, these old habits that we can
never lay aside, One fine day Darzin-
court was forced to acknowledge that
he regretted the theater. Well, yes,
why not? One cannot live on the
boards with impunity and not suffer
from nostalgia He subscribed to the
town paper and followed the theatrical
notices written by young lawyer
clerk who had literary aspirations.
When he read the eulogies on his old
companions his bile rose; besides, they
We're playing in roles that he had
filled. He had hesitated before; he
hesitated no more
One morning he abandoned his linen
suit, put on his holiday clothes and
sought the director of the theater. The
latter appeared to be surprised at the
visit and, learning the motive, raised
has hands with gesture of deprecia-
ton.
What, Darzineourt at his age wished
To reappear?'
And he noticed the comedian stopped
feebly since he had lived in idle exile
and had accumulated fresh crop of
whiskers. Still the prospect of fruit
full evening, on the strength of the
actor's rcputation. TEMPTED him. and he