The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1898-08-24

Inc lhtllaStt WAS Ill perfect
frenzy, and Louisa Diet sat near one
Of the flats. silent and pale as marble.
This was her first appearance at
this theater and to have an accident
occur like this was enough To stupefy
any one under similar circumstances
Il pitied her from the bottom of my
heart.
II was standing at the prompter's
stand, when suddenly wild Thought
shot through my brain
Why couldn't play the part: For,
having such a number Of rchoarsals. |
WAS rs perfect in his part as WAS i'll
my own.
No sooner had the idea entered my
mind than | acted upon it. and going
up to the manager ! said:
"'l know this part, and | have no
doubt If You will iutrust il to my care
| can 10 through with it satisfactorily.
He grasned mo warmly Ivy the hand
and said
=" Thanks. thanks, Mr. Thomas. |
have every faith in your ability.
" But | cared more for tho grateful
look in Louisa $ eyes us she walked by
my side and said:
Il, too, will ever owe you service,
which viii be impossible to repay.
So it WAS decided that | should as
sumo the principal role, whilo u person,
after some trouble, wus obtained who
could, no doubt, 10y gaggng and being
followed closely, put through my part,
Well, Mt last the evening arrived and
with immense crowds that tiocllcd from
all quarters
- At quarter before the manager
stepped before tho curtain and narrated
tho accident To the audience, and then
begged their kind Indulgence in my
behalf, who at the last moment, rather
than have them disappointed, had vol
mtccred 10 play the part.
4, all this time, had been looking
through n small hole horod in the pros
ceuium
The hense WAS packed from rarquet
to dome with as refined an audience rs
over / have had the pleasure to play 10
AT & O'clock precisely the curtain
was runE up and the play commenced.
Mother Louisa nor appeared until
the second scene
was standing IN hrrathltss anxiety.
leaning against one Of the flats, upon
tho prompt side, while she stood slight
ly flushed, but perfectly collected, upon
tine %. Z side
81 had perfect confidence III myself,
but every actor, no matter how perfect
he may bo will feel nm indcscrbahlo
sensation of-you hardly say what
when he is about to stake his reputation
III IA new role before the public.
well, at last the first scene WAS
called in.
" And amid a doathlite silence the
star of the evening walked on.
Instantly storm of applause greet
ed her. and echoed and re-cchocd arounc
and among the scenery like the rum
bling Of distant thunder.
| '"The aeano Toprosontod garden ii
which she was soliloquizinR ms t.
whether her lover mcl was true to her
or whether he was playing her false.
AT last received my cue, and wen
| on.
My entrance was again the sigma
for dcafcninR applause. which was con
tinucd for nearly five minutes, and il
gave me time to fully think over what
| was about 10 say
" Finally all was once more quiet,
and commenced my delivery.
''li aoounded III protostations of my
undynR fidelity and love for her
AS | continued | warmed up with
the subject | was almost carried away
by the intensity of my feelings.
90 forgot that hundreds Of eyes Were
critically watching every gesture and
that attentive cara were devouring the
words rs they fell from my lips.
al saw only before me tho woman
loved. And the passion which | was
outpourlng to her ears was not tho love
Of the hero of the play, but simply the
love Of Harry Thomas for Louisa Detz.
When | had finished tho curtain
descended amid showers of bouquets
aud deafening applause.
The latter was continued until We
both appeared before the curtain.
81 need not dwell upon the remain
der of the performance, let it suffice
to say that we both received perfect
ovation
" And that night when tho curtain
had descended for the last time, tho
manager came hurrying IN to whore
was In the grecnruom and hcizing nae
by the hand ho said, his voice trem=
bling with emotion: