Connecticut western news., 1898-03-03

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 hfd been made on the part of the management to have the scenic effects most elaborate, and the scene of the Roman forum was es- pecially we'll reproduced.
 At the back of the stage long flight 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 DOT trayed the part of Antony had stirred the audience to a 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 a Casarl When comes there such another?''
 Jim, wild with excitement, caught the cue, and, jumping upon the steps above the crowd, cried:
 "Neverl Neverl Comel Awayl We'll 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 cry from the audience. "Firel FireP'
 For a moment the stiffness of death reigned over the petrified spectators, only to be followed by wild pande- monium. It had not been a cry of wolf" Already a dense smoke was filling the theater, and it was evident to all the house was on 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, suffocating smoke.
 Jim, hearing the cries of "FireP 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 tbs Roman mob, that a few moments be fore was mad with frenzy, now wife 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 hand, some of your Aud Jim rushed for the steps leading to the tribunal Tn second they were torn from their fastenings and horne by the men to place beneath the balcony, where they might afford a means of do- scent to the terror stricgen spectators.
 The men had scarcely time to brace the steps before tho people began to chamber down i'll their mad rush to es- cape.
 In vain did Jim look for Polly in tho crowd. Could she have been overcome by tho heat and smoke? With the energy of despair he clambered up the steps, fig 2hting his way against the struggling stream of humanity that poured down against him and almost overbore him.
 Nearly sutfocated with rmoke, he groped his way to the place where he had last seen his sweetheart There he found her. lying in the aisle, inseusihle
 Suatching the lifeless form of the girl in bis arms. he struggled back to 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 fer the notP' 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 her insensible form over the balcony. His hold loosenod 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 and scorched remnants of the tunic in which he had led the mob to save many a life. At his side sat Polly, reading to him proposition from the manager of the Adelphi theater for permanent en- gagement us First Citizen. Boston Globe.