The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-09-02
RESCUED FROM THE ROPE

~~~~No~~~o~4e~
= JOINED the Melville Comedy Com
pany at Denver early in the fall Of
49,. There were a great many
hardships to be endured while playing
in the Western territory, but they were
nghtened for me by the warm friend
shipsI formed with several of the COM
pany. l became particularly intimate
with Roy Darlington, our FIRST old
man." He had most engaging per-
sonality, and there was always notice
| able in his demeanor a sort of gentle
sadness, quiet melancholy, that was
hardly in keeping with his real good
nature. We were fully aware that it
was not the result of disappointed am
bition, for we knew he had declined
! several handsome metropolitan offers,
| which would have brought him great
reward. He seemed to prefer his lot
as first old man Of our company.
had many friendly talks with Car
rington, but he never touched upon
the cause of this popularity, and it
! was not until we reached Leadville
that l learned the story of events
which had materially changed the cur
rent Of his life. We were out walk
ing one afternoon and Darlington sug-
gested that we take a stroll through
the cemetery.
I laughingly remarked to him that
was not particularly anxious to visit
cemeteries, deeming the unavoidable
occasions quite sufficient. There was
something in his manner, however,
which checked my levity, and 1 re-
marked, rather more seriously, that on
| this occasion l waived all objection.
To the cemetery, then, we turned our
steps. Darlington was silent until we
had passed the gates, when he said:
| Clarke, wanted to come in here,
because 1 wished to see the grave of
| woman knew"
We walked on in silence for a few
rods, when my companion made de-
tour from the main path. followed
him and soon stood before a small,
neat lot, which had q single grave in
the center. The grave was marked by
small granite stone, which bore this
inscriptions:
SACRED TO THE MEMORY
of
ALICE PAYNE,
| who died
! November IA, 49,,
| Aged % years.
who was she?" I asked.
"Ill tell you," he answered with
deep sigh, as he turned and led the
way to rustic bench which was
screened from the view Of passers-by
by row Of tall lockwood After we
had seated ourselves Darlington con-
tinued:
II met Alice Payne five years ago.
few months before her death. 1 had
Joined the Baker Dramatic Company,
of which she was the leading lady. 4
was doing leading business then, and
of course played opposite to her. She
was a refined and well-educated young
woman, with one of those sad, sweet
faces we sometimes see in pictures
and once in while meet with in reali-
| ty. She seemed to avoid the society
of men, and 1t was only on few occa-
siOns that she allowed me to escort her
from the theater to her hotel. And /
think she only permitted it then be-
cause the weather was stormy and l
had an umbrella, while she had left
hers at the hotel
I'VE had played for a few months
on the Western circuit and at last
struck Leadville. We were to play
three nights here. On Monday night
before we left the theater Miss Payne
stopped me on my way to my dress
ing room. l noticed she was consider
ably agitated.
Mr.. Darlington she said, viii you
kindly escort me to the hotel to-nightY
| II replied that it would AFFORD me
the greatest pleasure to do so. 1 bur
ried into my street dress, but, quick
as was, l found her waiting for me.
We passed out Of the theater and start
ed for the hotel, which was about a
quarter of mile away. We had only
gone a short distance when we heard
footballs behind us asst some one was
shadowing MS. :! turned and saw !
man dodge behind a building / glanced
at Miss Payne,and saw that she had
noticed the movements Of the man be-
hind us. Her agitation, which had
been gradually increasing, now reached
lts intensity, and she burst into tears.
Her form trembled and had to SUD-
port her until We reached the hotel.
By this tmo she had ceased weeping.
and asked me to step into the parIor.
There were no occupants other than
ourselves.
Mr.. Carrington,' she said, turning
to mo with an ansuishsd look, that
Imam = my husband