Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-12-05
An Actors Story.

Some years ago | was a member OF
an itinerant dramatic company, trav-
cling through the eastern states and
playing one-night stands in the
smaller towns.
In one of the parts allotted to me
had at the close of the second act to
shoot down my rival. The weapon
had been using for this pupose was an
OldfaShioned, muZZle-lOading gun
which had seen much service and was
worn and rusted to such an extent that
l had always felt a little nervous
about handling it. However, | had
performed the part scores of times
without any mishap, but on the last
evening of our engagement at the
close of the season ! met with an &C
cident which might have proved fatal,
and which came very near costing me
my eyesight. | had seized the gun as
usual and, bringing it to my shoulder,
pulled the trigger; there was loud re-
port, but something strange had hap
pened-a binding flash shot out from
the breech and I felt a singing pain
all over my face, especially in my
eyes, I dropped the shattered remains
of the old gun, and then, realizing that
I could not see, | staggered forward,
crying in my anguish: ooh, my God
am blind-blind! I cannot see!
The drop scene was Immediately
lowered. amid an outburst of applause
the audience imagining that this was
in the play, unconscious that anything
had happened.
AS soon as the curtain fell I was led
from the stage by the sympathizing
were the expressions of pity and re-
greet that were showered upon me
But the incident that touched me the
most was when the little soubrette
Maud Dalton, laid her hand gently or
my arm, and, tenderly wiping my pow
der stained face, said in tearfu
voice: ooh, dear! poor Mr.. Roland
I'm so sorry for you. Do you suffer
much pain?'
I had become quite friendly with
this charming girl during our many
weeks of daily intercourse, and she
had shown a decided preference fol
my society to that of any other mem
Der of the company. In fact, she hat
made quite a confidant of me, asking
my advice about little family affair:
and telling me all about her mother
and little sister at home, whom she
helped to support.
At that time she was about IS year:
old, though she looked even younger
with her slender form, clustering
curly, dark hair, little round face anC
big innocent eyes. She was a true
hearted girl and was as pretty ant
clever, as she was good
AS soon as possible after the acct
dent I was hurried into a cab anG
taken to my room at the hotel Their
the best physician in the town was
summoned and, after examining my
eyes, he said that he could not at that
time state definitely whether I would
recover my eyesight or not, but
thought it possible that 1 might do sc
with proper treatment and care. He
then extracted some of the grains OF
powder that were imbedded in the
skin all over my face, placed a band
age, moistened with some kind of lini-
ment, over my eyes, and ordering the
room kept dark, took his departure.
The following day most of the mem
ho1 n
their several homes, their engagement
being terminated, and I was, therefore
greatly surprised when early in the
afternoon, as I was sitting in my dark
ened room, with sightless eyes, feeling
very sad and lonesome, I heard a gen
tie tap on my. door and sweet, girl
ish voice exclaimed: ct is Maud
May come in, Mr.. Roland?"
l called to her to enter, being only
too happy at the thought Of having a
sympathetic friend near me to help 70
cheer ne and drive away the remem-
brance of my misfortune. I wondered
however, why she had not left for her
home with the rest of the company
but 1 did not question her upon the
subject at the moment.
She came quickly and noiselessly
over to where l was sitting, and
drawing a chair close up to my side
seated herself, and after inquiring anx-
iously about my condition and what
the doctor had said about my eyes she
began to prattle away in her usual
merry, childish fashion, striving to
make me laugh and forget my misery
if only for a few moments. AT length
the effort to appear light-hearted
proved too much for the generous lit
tie soul and, though she fought hard
against it. the actual state of her feel