Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-01-31
AN UNLUCKY NUMBER

NlCbdDlG. his mar WAS WnlUe anu MS lace
thin and weather beaten His trousers and
coat were fringcd at the bottom from age
and wear, and his hat was scarcely better.
Many paused to glance at him. and many
would have smiled lightly and passed On
but for the sad expression which held at
bay every smile intended as jcer. He
was stranger to every one. All glanced,
then paused to look closer and wonder
who he was and from whence he came,
and all were puzzled to know why he en-
tered the grounds for from early morning
until evening he sat In the same seat on a
bench near the lake, looking indifferontly
about him and taking no interest in any
thing whatever.
Toward evening when a cool breeze
sprang up, the old man shuddcred and
drew together over his chest the ragged
fronts of his coat Just at this moment a
pleasant faced old gentleman dropped
down beside him. at the same moment
thrusting a bill in his hand The man
looked up in surprise, glanced at tho $40
note pressed cordially and tcarfully the
donors hand and aU tho same time return.
cd the money.
The circumstances demanded an cxpla.
nation, and it WAS given, by request, of
course, for the poor old man did not look
capable of volunteering any information
about himself or any one else
lie pointed to the number 1913 on tho
note and shook his head with painful
sigh. After Il moment he said slowly:
Nothing on earth with the number 1 3
on IL for me. That number Is fatal to me-
To that ! with 3 to its right owo "a life
time OF misery. SuperstitiousP Yes; but
not until that number made me SO When
you have an experience like mine, you
will bo snperslitious also. Years ago six
girls and seven boys were left orphans
Being Stont hearted and fond of each 9th
or, they chung together and managed fair
ly well for u time. But after q while every
thing seemed to go wrong and such dread
full luck followed as rarely visits one fam
lily at the same time. The boys and girls
not only looked for but begged for work
but without success. There were 10 Of
them and they lived in Il house numbered
1918. They sometimes thought of this
but fought against any belief in it,
AftOr failing in every undertaking. they
formed Ia dramatic club, secured IA chenp
house and play ed several nights in their
town. Having many acquaintance. they
were patrouized to IA flattering extent. Ere
they had played two weeks the leading
lady tho oldest sister and best in the
troop, slipped down the poorly arranged
trapuoor and died from the injuries
Ihls broke up the troop until the
wolf NJ the door drove them forth again
to laugh, sing and dance i'm sYite of the
ache in their hearts, OF course. another
girl was chosen to fill the place of the sis
ter, for not ono of the sisters wanted to
take her role. They played night after
night and madc ten times more than they
ever dreamed Of Thus encouraged, they
planned four through the States. They
stopped ut all the country towns for il
night or two, and did fairly well
FINALLY they reached Now Orleans
They got In at midnight, in IA rainstorn,
entered tho first boarding house they came
to, only to find it was numbered 49, The
morrow found them trying To secure II
house, hail or something to play at least "a
week. All the payhouses were full, the
bills good and prices cheap, so their first
day there dawned and closed as the | st
one-darkly Finally public hall was Sc
cured at ridiculOusly high rate for two
weeks, and there they played to an empty
house for three nights, and another mis-
fortune came upon them. The star con
tracted a cold on the night of their arrival
and it turned into pneumonia She was
sent to the hospital To die. The leading
man, Robert Parker had heard Of Glenn
ontine Ducro beautiful creole girl
whose form, face musical abilities and
charming Inanncrs generally made her the
belle of the bellies. She had appeared in
private theatricals a few timos and had
made "a hit.
1.-THE leading man made flattcring of
fer and want made the mother accept it,
And 50 when the Thirteen Dramatic
company played again charming Clemen-
ina. Ia
hall was crowded night after night The
troop had six weeks engagement, and
when it was up they wanted to secure the
house for f"ur weeks longer. But, owing
10 other arrangements, this could not De
done. so they were forced to leave the
town for other places.
"ClGmentine had a lover-Ad0lph AL
coed; indeed she had many. but it was
pretty well known that he was the favored
one Auolph was jealous and always mis-
cradle lest some one else should take her
from him. He escorted her To the theater
tho night Of her first appearance and he
was the first 90 applaud. But after the
frs scene after tho loyemaking began,
1hero was no more applauding from
Adolph although the house was dealen-
ing. His eyes flashed ana his hands witch
I'D nerVously. But with compressed lips
lie waited until the play was over and
then escorted tho newly risen star home.
He was silent most of the way, and SO was
she. Finally she told him that Robert Par
Ber, the leading man, was to be her escort
the next evening. Her lover guessed as
much, but did not make any reply. When
the door WIS reached, he lifted his hat
from his head, bowed low and left her
And tho next two evenings saw him IN
attendance alone, for his sweetheart came
and went with the leading man. On that
East evening, after the curtain had gone