Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-09-27

citizens and oonspirators were mingling
together, telling stories and cracking
jokes, while Julius Caesar walked arm in
arm with his most deadly enemy, the
lean and hungry Cassius.
Jim managed to get at the peephole
in the curtain, through which he caught
a glimpse of his sweetheart, whose face
wore look of expectancy and pride in
anticipation of the First Citizen debut.
Almost before Jim realized it the
performance had begun. 1t was mag
nificent cast, and every effort on the
part of the manager or performers was
received with enthusiasm.
As First Citizen Jim had little op-
portunity Of displaying his histrionic
power until the great forum scene was
reached. Special effort had been made
on the part of the management to have
the scenic effects most elaborate, and
the scene of the Roman forum was es-
peoially we'll reproduced.
At the back of the stage long fight
Of steps led up to the tribunal, and here
Mark Antony had aroused the populace
to seek revenge for the blood OF the
murdered Caesar. The actor who por-
trayed the part Of Antony had stirred
the audience to high pitch of excite
ment with his powerful and magnetic
delivery of the lines over the dead body.
Jim also found himself under the spell
Of this eloquent appeal for justice, and
his thirst for revenge was becoming
most real.
He could scarcely wait for his cue,
but it came at last. Antony had told Of
Caesars will, his bequests to the city,
his love for the people, finishing with
the words:
"Here was Caesar! When comes
there such another?"
Jim, wild with excitement, caught
the cue, and, jumping upon the steps
above the crowd, cried:
"Neverl Neverl Come! Away! Well
burn this body in the holy place and
with the brands fire.
The word fire" had no sooner passed
his lips than it was echoed by a cry
from the audience. Fire! FireP'
For moment the stiffness of death
reigned over the petrified spectators,
only to be followed by wild pande-
monium. 1t had not been a cry of
"wolf. Already dense smoke was
filling the theater, and it was evident
to all the house was Oh fire.
Luckily those occupying seats in the
orchestra escaped without difficulty,
but not SO fortunate were those who
had occupied seats in the balcony.
There every exit was cut off. The stair
could not be reached, owing to the
dense, suffooating smoke.
Jim, hearing the cries Of "Fire!"
that had followed his appeal to the
mob realized at once the danger He
could see Polly, her face blanched with
terror, appealing to him to come to her
rescue.
Rushing from the stage, he sought
the side entrance to the balcony, but
was driven back by the flames, which
were making rapid progress. He re-
turned to the stage in time to find the
Roman mob, that few moments be-
fore was mad with frenzy, now wild
with fear. He would appeal to them
once more.
"For Gods sake, men, don't leave
these people in the balconies to die.
Here, quick! Lend a hand, some of you'll"
And Jim rushed for the steps leading
to the tribunal In second they were
torn from their fastenings and borne by
the men to place beneath the balcony,
where they might afford means of de-
scent to the terror stricken spectators.
The men had scarcely time to brace
the steps before the people began to
Chamber down in their mad rush to es-
CAPE
In vain did Jim look for Polly in the
crowd. Could she have been overcome
by the heat and smoke? With the energy
| of despair he clambered up the steps,
fighting his way against the struggling
stream of humanity that poured down
against him and almost overbore him.
| Nearly suffocated with smoke, he
CROPPED his way to the place where he
had last seen his sweetheart. There he
found her, lying in the aisle, insensible.
Snatching the lifeless form of the
girl in his arms, he struggled back tc
the steps, only to find they had col
lapsed under the weight of the crowd.
He leaned over the balcony, but SO dense
was the smoke he could see nothing.
"Jump for the net!'' he heard some
one call to him, and, looking closer, he
| could discern men standing beneath the
balcony with something stretched be-
tween them.
"God help you, Polly. It's our only
chance" :" And as he spoke he raised he1
insensible form over the balcony. His
hold loosenel and his burden fell from
his arms. He tried to follow, but sank
back, overcome by the smoke.
|
At the Lafayette hospital the next
morning there were many inquiries fol
the First Citizen, and Jim answered
them as best he could, though the effort
cost him many twinge Of pain.
Over his head hung the torn ani
scorched remnants Of the tunio il
which he had led the mob to save many
life. At his side sat Polly, reading tc
him proposition from the manager o.
the Adelphi theater for permanent en-
gagement as First Citizen. -Bosto1
Globe.
Variety and Long Life.
| I see every little while men breal