The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-05
THE LAST ACT.

THE LAST All.
leem no longer doubtful. Bar
larked the inspector. as in the
hence of the darkened house
er approached him, and Mar
vas saying from her white
~, to CASTOR. In the play:
heRrt; here you are. you who
)Yer been otherwise than a
~ believe in me. you trust
Atm over ipe. till the end?"
II know that you are good;
red"
Replied Burnett: II. too. am
ective smiled.
difficult to conceive the brain
act as she does" said he, "and
so many momentous affairs.
she is at this moment planning
pc. or planning her own death"
EFT laughed contentedly, The
kht from her eyes was still illumi-
ing his soul.
Wait and see. but be ready" said the
pector. grimly. "for fear the worst"
The touching catastrophe of the play
foceeded to its end. There had never
cen so sweet. so gentle. yet so pas
tonate a Camille The loving woman
Who had sacrificed her life for her lover
was dying. There was little sign of re-
ygret; there was no effort to harrow up
the feelings OF the silent audience;
there was simply marvellous holding
up the mirror to nature-the sinking
away Of hopeful and not unhappy
girl
cannot be in danger" says Marquee
Site, pathetically. 'for CASTOR would
not have the courage to laugh at my
Bedside; the doctor would not leave me
a1one.''
n. Then followed that exquisite bit of 81
lent acting before the mirror: the little
cry a. she totters toward her bed, the
heroic effort to keep up; the creeping,
awful fear of death; the shuddering
glance at the door. as II she saw his
CHASTITY presence entering: and the
brave struggle not to faint, not to die
until her beloved had come back to
her from the ends of the earth. She
fans at last gasping across the bed;
Nanine enters and announces the ap-
proach Of Armand. 1t gives her mo-
mentary rush Of joy and strength. She
sits up.
"Give me my medicine, the brandy,
Nanine! Quickr'
Now follow mev' cried the Inspector
And he darted to the scene door Don't
you see?" he cried hoarsely. she is
going to actually kill herself. You know
the play; go on, you, as Armand: seize
the bottle Of medicine. Be quick, The
audience win not notice the imposi-
tiou. Hurry; 1t may be too Later
Detective DaviiGs; known as the
Y.'sleuth hound Of the New York police
Force, actually placed his hands on Bur-
nett's shoulders and pushed him toward
thelstage.
.fou can't mean that II really go
on as Armand?"
(Do you wish to see her die? I tell
ybu, it's what she will do. She will
make dramatic end; it's my theory
Of the case" cried Davids. excitedly.
Burnett looked at him aghast. But
there was no time to question or argue.
With his head in a whirl of confusion
and excitement, partly caused by the
blow he received in falling from the cab
y,
baleful words Of the detective, Burnett
eprang upon the stage, madly shouting:
Don't die, Marguerite! for my sake,
for my sake!'
His acting was certainly very realis-
tic and vivid. A round of APPLAUSE burst
from the gallery. Many in the audi
ence believed 1t was the true Armand
(Mr. Wickersham) returned from his
long journey" and having the traces
Of his duel with N. de Varville on his
pale face, the ordeal he had undergone
accounting for the change In his gener-
a lIappearance. He was a much more
daohlng, much handsomer Armand than
Mr.. Wickersham. His fervency in
throwing himself upon his knees behind
nEafyuerite's bed stirred the gallery
gods profoundly.
AZ for poor Marguerite. she was clev-
er enough to keep her wits about her.
She believed that Burnett had sudden
< " gone crazy, but her quick actress
sense told her that to most of the audi
ence the incongrufty of the entrance OF
Armand in a dress suit, splashed and
muddy shirt bosom and light overcoat
without a hat was noticed. She whis-
pered to the maid, Nanine. quickly,
psReep Mr.. Wickersham off," and with
. stage cough, turned to Burnett. who
had seized the medicine bottle.
80 you have come at last! Armand
can II be really my Armand? Oh. 1t
q net you? It is impossible that God is
% GOOD! (Whisper) 1t must be the
owl prompted you to do this. Mr.. Bur-
0etel Have you gone mad?"
syYes. II is !, love you. Do not
curve me! have had the most sinister
preeenflment that you were about to
6sethak should never see you
eueak with you alive again.
"Poor Armand! He does love me!
hut viii you not give me my medicine?
Ngotto voice. You are very bold. Mr..
8urnett. I am very angry at you!
ssevef heard Of such presumption In my
aifer'
Burnett fwhispering)-I dare not give
Won 4be medicine. 1t may be poison" !"
1sarruerise (wfispers) IN Nonsense. Mr.
Burnettl It ID the proper business
nlvaA TO No and don't let It drop down
my .nsckgc VI
Burnett etood up by her bedside and
4 S,ref f4nded t6 feed her the medicine, but
h With : dry spoon.
Is 1darguerite There feel better On
rm so glad you have come, Armand
/ aeoW your father will not seperate us
eveF sxsin, will ne? Cough You dc
Y NJ ma your Marguerite as Of the past
3, ,(cooSal' but / an still young. shal
e661ne beasskaful. again, because ! an