Bridgeton pioneer., 1911-05-18
A Tragedy In
A Creenroom
BY F. TOWNSEND SMITH
Copyright by American Press Asso-
ciation. 1911.

-EOOLu IuuhlllB up. n uunupSl VI pIOp-
.erty articles were scattered about
cosmetics, wigs, daggers, indeed every
variety of material for sham purposes
He had been playing in a drama of
the French revolution and attracting
great attention. For a hundred nights
he had held audiences spellbound in
the character Of Danton, while a
young actress was setting the public
wild by the impersonation Of Char
lotte Corday. Two men met on the
street, and each remarked to the 9th
-er, "Have you seen Edward Orme as
Danton and Edith Kent as Charlotte"
Two ladies drinking tea fell to talk
ing about the wonderful impersona-
ton, the one in admiration of the
actor, the other of the actress, and
quarreled. Nothing was discussed ex-
cept the great play, the great actor
and the great actress.
By far the larger number considered
Miss Kent the greater genius of the
two. To those the advocates of Orme
declared that she had far better Op-
portunity than he for a display of
genius; that Danton. like other revo-
1utionary leaders, was simply yielding
to the cry of the people for blood,
while Charlotte Corday was an en-
-thusiast who offered herself as
martyr. Some even maintained that
the real Charlotte of history had
been maddened by the events of
the revolution. These averred that
the genius of Miss Kent's imper-
sonation consisted in throwing into
her acting a feigned suspicion Of in
sanity. 1t was noticed that night after
night she dwelt more on this feature,
thereby working to greater degree
upon the feelings of the audience. In
deed, so intense her emotions had be-
come, so deeply did she feel herself to
be the real Charlotte, that Orme at
times began to fear that she would
stab him instead of pretending to do
so.
One night before a performance the
tragedian was sitting before a mirror
making up when he heard the door
open. Turning, he was surprised to
see Miss Kent
"Why, Miss Kent" he exclaimed in
astonishment that she should come to
his room. But one glance at her eye
told him that what he had been fear
ing, what the public had called genius,
had come to pass. Miss Kent displayed
unmistakable signs of insanity. In
stead of showing any shame at visiting
a man in his room, she turned the key
in the door and flung the key behind 3
lot of property articles.
Prepare for DEATH"
The words sounded like a knell to
the actor. Shut up in room with
mad woman, who had killed him on
the lyric stage for a hundred nights
In succession and who now conceived
herself to be the real Charlotte, he saw
no way of escape. His only hope was
that he could see no weapon in her
possession. Looking her full In the
eye, he made an effort to stay her by
talking with her.
"What means this visit?" he asked
II have come to sacrifice a tyrant.
He has long been drinking the peoples
blood. 1t istime that the people drank
his blood"
"Whom do you take me to be?'
Citizen Danton, whose right hand
is the guillotine."
"You are mistaken am the Marquis
de lafayette. l have just returned
from America, where l have helped to
make a people free"
"You are not the Marquis de Lafa-
yette. You are Danton. drunken with
the blood of the French people. l am
Charlotte Corday."
Orme listened for a sound without,
hoping that some one might call for
him or that the actress might be
missed and would be hunted for,
though no one would think of looking
for her in his dressing room. A clock
licked on the wall before him. He
glanced at it and saw that it was but
few minutes before he would be
called to go on the stage. But that few
minutes might be enough to end his
earthly career.
A dagger was lying on cabinet
UuouS olHer property drtlcleS. Ine
girl seized it and advanced toward the
tragedian. He was watching her eager
ly. AS soon as he saw her take up the
weapon a crafty look came into his
own eyes. Without looking away from
her he reached back and placed his
hand over a small bowl.
In another moment Miss Kent sprang
at him and brought the knife down on
his breast. Orme grasped the dagger,
and red blood spurted on his slayer's
clothes. He fell on his face and lay
still
There was hurried footstep and a
knock on the door. No answer. Then
came another saying. "Orme. you're
called; times up" Still no answer
Muttered sounds without, then a crash,
and the door flies open.
The stage manager and several 9TH
ers stood looking in at Miss Kent pac-
ing back and forth with blood on her
dress, muttering to herself while