Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-10-21

Of the Cats, silent and pale is marble.
This was her first appearance ut
this theator, and to have an accident
occur like this was enough TO stupefy
any one under similar circumstances.
II pitiod her from tie bottom Of my
heart
Il was standing at the prompter's
stand, when suddenly q wild thought
shot through my brain.
"Wty couldn't / play the part? For.
having saoh n number CT rehearsals, 1
was IS perfect IA his part as 1 was in
my own
"No sooner had tho idea entered my
mind than 1 acted upon It, and going
up to the manager 1 said:
81 know this part, and / have no
doubt IL yon will intrust it to my care
l can 60 through with it satisfactorily.
"He graspod me warmly by the hand
and said:
Thanks, thanks, Mr.. Thomas /
have every faith in your ability
but I cared more for tho grateful
look in Louisa's eyes as sko walked by
my side and said:
al, too, viii ever owe you a service,
which will be impossible to repay
$50 it was decided that l should as
sumo the principal role, while a person,
after some trouble. was obtained who
could, 70 doubt. by gagging and being
followed closely, put through my part.
Well, at last the evening arrived and
with immense crowds that nockcd from
all quarters.
"At a quarter before 8 the manager
stepped before the curtain and narrated
the accident to tho audience, and then
begged their kind indulgence in my
behalf, who at the last moment, rather
than have them disappointed, had vol
unteered to play the part.
~, all this time, had been looking
through a small hole bored in the pros
cenium.
1.-THE house was packed from parquet
TO dome with as refined an audience as
ever l have had the pleasure to play to.
cat 8 o'clock precisely the curtain
was rung up and the play commenced.
Neither Louisa nor l appeared until
the second sceno.
Twas standing in %breathloss anxiety,
leaning against IL of the fats, upon
the prompt side, while she stood slight
ly flushed, but perfectly collected, upon
the %. P side.
81 had perfect confidence in myself,
but every actor, no matter how perfect
he may be, will feel an indescribablo
sensation of-you hardly say what
when he is about to stake his reputation
in a new role before the public.
"Well, at last the first scene was
called in.
"And amid a deathliko silence the
star OF the evening walked On.
INSTANTLY n storm Of applause greet
ed her, aud echoed and re-echood around
! and among the scenery like the rum
. bling Of distant thunder.
. 1.-The scene represented a garden in
which she was so%lilcquizing as &c
, whoeher her lover (me) was true to her,
= or whether ne was playing Ler false.
= SAT last l received my cue, and wen
J on.
my entrance was again the sigma
for deafening applause, which vas con
tinued for nearly five minutes, and |
gave me time to fully think over wha
l was about to say.
FINALLY all was once mora quiet
and l commenced my delivery.
) at abounded in protestations Of m,
undying fidelity and love for her.
, "As l continued | warmed up will
u the subject. | was almost carried ava,
by the intensity of my feelings.
= ~ forgot that hundreds Of eyes wer
. critically watching every gesture ant
. that attentive ears were devouring tn
= words as they fell from my lips.
, 81 saw only before me the woman
loved. And the passion which l wa
u outpouring to her ears was not the Low
- of the hero of the play, but simply tn
= love Of Harry Thomas for Louisa Diet7
20 "When / had finished, the curtai
descended amid showers Of bouquet
and deafening applause.
, 1.-THE latter was continued until W
y both appeared before the curtain.
ID IL need not dwell upon the remain
der Of the performance. Let it sufic
:, to say that we both received u perfeS
+" ovation.
"And that night. when the curtai
~ had descended for the last time, tn
W manager came hurrying in to where
was In the greenroom, and Selling N
y by the hand ho said, his voice tren
- bling with emotion;
70 lyon have saved tho reputation
~ my house.
"And thereupon he drew up papel
= Of agreement trebling my salary an
engaging me to play leading business.
81 need hardly add that my fan
was at once established, and a sho
time afterward Louisa and l were ma
nt ried."
And now tho names of Mr.. an
Mrs. Thomas displayed upon the bill
= boards of any theater are sufficient
cause the manager dong before q
hour Of commeneing) TO put out Il
y. sign of "StandiAg only. Mil
no neapolis Tribune.
OF Got It Overheard.
Once while in a foreign port Admir-