Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-08-29

talked for some time, and finally /
promised him all the assistance in
my power. | had great confidence
in my companions ability as a MINI
ic, and trusted that with his face
darkened, and costume the coun-
terpart of my own, the difference
between us would never be noticed,
especially as in height and build we
resembled each other.
"Othello' was given on the fol-
lowing evening, and we arranged
that the experiment should take
place then; the performance COM
menced at seven o'clock. At half
past six | called at the hotel for my
acquaintance, and found him ready.
When we got to the Phoenix, |
managed to smuggle him into my
dressing-room. began at once to
dress for my part. | do not think
| played particularly we'll, for |
could not help thinking | had been
rash in bringing a comparative
stranger behind the scenes. | felt
some sort of foreboding as of
approaching calamity. At the close
of the fourth act | found my sub
stitute prepared to go on. His make
up was splendid. With his dark
ened face and the similarity in our
build we were very much alike
Presently my name was called by
the call-boy. Now" said l. He
rose quickly, gave hasty glance at
himself, and rapidly descended the
stairs. [ was curious to see how he
would succeed. Downing soft felt
hat, and covering my costume with
a long ulster, | stole down to the
wings to watch him. He was just
speaking the lines in the death scene
("When | have plucked the rose ]
cannot give it vital growth again" }
and certainly the resemblance to my
voice was marvellous. 1t was evil
dent the audience were deceived
Just then the manager unluckily
came up.
"Why, Crofton, whatever are you
doing here?" Then followed an
explosion of wrath.
When could get a word in |
told him in few words the history
of the matter He began to grow
calm, and his anger entirely abated
when he learned the name of the
actor, and in little while he showed
nearly as much interest in the ex-
pertinent as did myself.
"By Jovew he said, she has got
you to a 7, Crofton, my boy
Faith, l would have thought it was
yourself talking, but in matter. OF
acting you can't hold a candle tc
HIM, my dear fellow; and, by the
powers, he has electrified Vernon!
1t was true Miss Vernon did not
seem to have penetrated the dis.
guise, but she was playing with an
earnestness and passion that | had
never seen in her before. Des-
demona's touching pleadings were
given with exquisite pathos, and
when Othello stepped to the bed tc
smother her and drew the curtains
a shrek almost appalling in its in
tensity and anguish rang through
the house; the audience, which
seemed spell-bound during the scene,
burst forth into atumult of applause
Othello has now unlocked the door
to Emilia, who enters Immediately
after the murder. Up to now, with
the exception of the extraordinary
power of acting, there had been
nothing remarkable about the pre-
Torrance, but now surely the actor
must be mad, for instead of ques-
tioning Emilia and hearing of
Roderigo's death, as he should have
done, he began at once to acclaim
Othello's death speech, while poor
Emilia, not knowing what to make
of him, stared helplessly.
He went on: IL pray you, in
your letters, when you shall these
unlucky deeds relate, speak of me as
| am; nothing extenuate, nor set
down aught in malice; then must
you speak of one that loved, not
wisely, but too we'll" He omitted
the intervening lines and concluded
with terrible energy.