The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-04

on poor Cardonald it fell with force
which left him more or less broken and
aged before his time. He made no at
tempt to rejoin his old companions of the
theateF; indeed, he dreaded their mock
cry and shrank from such comments as
they might make on his folly and infatu-
atoh. Leaving plymouth, he fled to Lon
don and there for some time he led
solitary and wretched existence from
hand to mouth
He told no one of his miserable secret
indeed he had no friend whatever IN
Whom he could or would cOnfide. About
year later he changed his name and
Went to the United States, where he sue
ceeded in procuring an engagement with
one of the numerous touring companies.
In the meantime ne had heard nothing
of the woman who had been the chief
agent in his humiliation. She, too, had
disappeared, leaving no trace behind
her. He made no attempt to trace her
and from that period forward he never
saw her face again.
Several years had passed since the
time Of that strange marriage in Plym-
outh, and an English theatrical com
pany, exploited by an enterpris 'ng Amer
lean, was touring in South Africa. In
the course of their Wanderngs they
came to Johannesburg. where they at
tracted large audiences. They played the
usual repertoire of English dramas and
comedies, and chief among the company
intruSted with the most varied roles,
was an actor called ROlleStOn whose ner-
ing power and passion, awOke general
admiration. He was known among his
companions as reserved and moody in
dividual, who encouraged no intimacy
and invited no condolences; he seemed,
indeed to be constantly under the shad-
LOW of secret, grief, which he forgot only
temporarily when swept away by the
excitement Of portraying some imaginary
Of shis past career nothing was known
except from Thearsay which reported that.
'~although English by birth, he had gained
most Of his theatrical experience in
America. Tt was asserted, unhappily
with truth, that, although superior to
some of the common follies of his pro-
fesSiOn. he had one secret vice-the habit
of taking morphia, under the influence
of which he frequently lost his self-con-
troll.
One night. late in autumn. a large
audience was assembled to witness the
performance of an Old-faShioned drama
"The Corsican Brothers" The actor
Rolleston played the dual role of Fabian
and Louis de Franchi, a role for which
his stern. clear-cut features, his power
full, yet elegant figure, and his power OF
suppressed passion admirably fitted him.
He was enthusiastically applaUded from
act to act.
The play was approaching its conclu-
sion when a party of three persons, a
man and two loudly dressed women, paid
az the doors and entered the only empty
stage box. The man, although obviously
gentleman, was somewhat roughly at
tired, In a style familiar in mining-camps
VI country. 1t was Immediately evident
that he had drunk more than was good
for him, for he talked so noisily to his
companions as to interrupt the scene
then in progress and to awaken the angry
murmurs of the audience. Presently he
qGieted down and watched the stage
With heavy, sleepy eyes, until the great
duel scene between Fabien de Franchi
and Chateau Renard. which ends (the
reader may remember) with the breaking
of the duelists' swords and the employ
ment of the broken blades as daggers
to conclude the duel
The swords Were just broken, and the
actors were about to use the broken