New York Clipper (May 1895)

OWUll* ^ nst, nt nuk ^bmb PotlUliif oaofur <UalMd.) Founded by I FRANK aUEEN, IB53.1 ISTEW YORK, SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1896. (VOLUME XUIk-Ne. M. 1 PriM 10 C«nta THE F IRST NIC HTER. TniTTIJT »n Till Nlir TOIK OLirPBR, BT MONROE ir. ROflEMrELD, nis ftc«, the mine hmUlar am, Beuua Crom Uia oldea mt; ne nalier knom him Uke > book, Tbitdgore Mm and nemt; no g»2«s OD blm ullb * amlle SoraphlcaUj sweet I Tbe actor eeenu to pitj to Min, A cililo be, aerere; ntj note blB calm approTliig smile, HIa dlnpproTtog oeer; In (U tblnga hlantonlo be la known to be • aeer. lie aanntera oat between tbe aots Just to eicbange hla news; "I know It aU," tbat la bis air. From opera bat to aboes; And be could UU 70D bow tbe play Will "roD" ir be abonid cbooae, [f be declares 'tis a sacceas, Tbe plot la flneljr vroogbt, Tbe leading ladr qalle snperb, Tbe aotora gimndly taugbt; Tben 70a can bet f oor pookeioook Uls Ucket be baa bougbt I Bat U bla aboQidere be will ebmg In anger ntberbol. And call tbe plot and lacldenh Bmpballcallj rot— Tben 70U can wager all jon'm wortb A dead bead pass be's got t And so be sits the new plaj oat, TblB man wbo knows It all; He calmlj watobed Ibe eortaln rise, As caltnlj aeea It fall. And exita wllb opinions of Ulmseir, extremel/ tall I Ab, wben tbe cnrtaln ItabsU riae On Eden's drama fair, Su Pater, aa tbe oaber grand, Wbo Beats all cotnen tbere, will abow tbeboldllretnlgliter atnlgbt Unto a pertpiet cbalri A WQM ArS HQNOR. wRiTTnr roa tri ifiw tork cLimi, BT IDLU PRIOK. II waa a anowy, blosterans December nlgbt Tooni Percy Padgett bad arrived bj an erenlog tnin from ibe West. Fresb from college, and acircdr twenlr-two, be bad come In tbe ranltr ol bU yoQ tb to make blmself an sotor In tbe metropoua. It Is tme be Is a snccesafnl aroblteot now, and bla Dane Is not enrolled among tbe famons onea of tbe Mage, but to entbuse tbe pabllo wltb bla blatrlonlo gcDloi was tben Ibe flnt aspiration of blssonl. Before presenting blsletlets of Introduction to tbe nunsgeis, and allowingtbem to llibtltoatbetween tbemjelres wblcb eboold bare blm, bo determbied to devote a day or two to tbe InspeeUon of tbe great city, wblcb be now saw for tbe flnt time, fio, after a batty meal at tbe botel be saunteredonlto mingle wltb Ibe tbrong In Ibe biHIlaot tboiongbfare. WeaiylDg of Ibe glitter of Broadway, be at last turned Into one of tbe darker oroaa streets, to make bis way towards Fifth Avenue, bis curiosity Impel- ling Urn tbllberword, altbongh tbe wind begin to blow nlpplngly, and tba snow to come In thicker olonds. Tbe buildings wore, as nsnal In these side streets unltonn, tall and exclusive In their frowning slats- llneaa. la several, however, tbere were bright lights, and from one eapeclally there came tbe Bounds of muslo and tbe merry langhter of children. Homesick, lonely, and, truth to say, somewhat abaabed by bis lint expeilenco with Ibe great world which be bad tbongbt It bo easy to conqaer, be felt bis beatt glow under tbe InspliBtlon ot thlsmhlb, and an uncontrollable curiosity eelied blm. Tbe window onrtalos weie drawn aside, and from the opposite aide of the street a full view ot the par- lore and ot tbe young meirymakeis might be bad. Tbe wanderer orosaed, and, ascending Ibe steps ot Uie opposite bonss—a grand, bntgloomy, unllgbted mansion, snd Bbeltatlng himself from tbe wind and •now under the ptoJecUng stonework about tbe doorway, enjoyed tbe moving apeotacle wltb a zeet ibat was belgbtened by bis lonely position and dis- mal surroundings. Be bad been snugly ensconsed In Ibe doorway less than a minute, bowever, wben tbe door eoddenly opened behind blm, oeariy m- clpltatlog blm Into tbe hallway. A band aelzed bla am, be waa drawn In and tbe door closed behind blm. "Ilnshi Follow mel" came a wblsper In a woman's voice. Alt waa dark ssvo tba faint Ugbt tbat made Ita way from a beavUy abaded library lamp In a back room, tbe door ot which waa open. Fadgett would bave asked for an explanation, but the female flgnre was already gliding up tbs stslni, and, being yonngand self reliant, be reflected that, btlQg well armed, he would prefer to follow out tbe adveature even II he should have his choice, which bt bad not by any means, so far aa Ibe aOkIr had gone. Tbe explanaUon might be made as wall up- sialre as down, be reaaoned; so he followed the m;Bierlona Ognre. It flitted hefore him nolaelaaaly, and dlaappeared throagb a doorway on the aecond floor, through wblcb a faint Ugbtcame out to alrog- lie belfcctoally with tbe darkness. Wlibout fnitber hesitation be followed Uito an elegantly fnralabed boudoir. The glide panaed at • centre table and turned up lbs shaded lamp, which bad been burning dimly. Before him, with Ibe table between tbem, etood a lovely woman, queenly In sumre and grace ot bearing, and atdred Tltb a taste that was In keepUg with tbe reined air ' *nd haughty manner of Ibe wearer. Ko sooner did the licieaaed Ughl enable her to dbuingsiab his faatnres than the woman gave a niled ciy, and a look ot hoirordlstorted her beand- lolface. '■Whai'a ihla 1 Ton an not Walter Taoe I" she cried. "Ko, madam; I'm reroy FMgell, the actor. Just •nlved from tbe West In search of an engagemenL 'Thatcan I do for yonf repUed tbe Inroluntaiy men, with a desperateaaaotsnoe. "What are you doing here f Oo;l«avemer You should not bave come," moaned tbe lady, wringing ber banda. "If youll be cool and reflect a utile, madam," be replied, "you'll recollect tbe fact tbat I am not to blame for being bore-tbat I waa^ln tacl,:dragged In." " I mistook you for another person. Now, go away," eald the unwilling bosleas, In great terror. "Fear nothing. I understand tbe mistake," aid tbe joung man, "altbougb 1 must aay it was a strange one." "Ool Qol" she cried. He bowed snd moved towards tbe door. A aoond made blm pause. The woman beard It, The lad; thus familiarly addieased slaitnl aa If stung by Ibe Inlerencos of this free ton^ and re- plied deliberately, ber petulance dlssppeartng aa ber eamestneaH aeMned Itself. > "Mr. vsno. ihlsXihe flnl Inlerrleir we haifEtad In three years." "Yes, since tbe eve ot your wedding, when you bad promised to elope with me. Wben I appeared at tbe rendesvous you'relused 10 keep your promise, said you were simply amnalng youielf with me. Tbon your mairiage wu baatened, aid look place wblle [ waa waiting al another Uyadng place for yon to keep yonr promlae. Boyonmademyhomllla- tlon complete. Oh, I don't foigei It," Inlerrapted tbe bandaome young visitor, ibrowlns open bis fur ne feioclty with wblob the man aald this startled even Padgett, who waa following the dramatlo scene with eager attenaontrombia plaoe olconoeal. menL Tbe vltltorhad,tor ibemooeni, tbealr of a The woman ahuddsred and grew pale wllb lamr, but with a mighty eobrt seemed to shake.olT ber tear, and regained ber sell possession. She went In ber former oold and hangbly tons: "Finally, to emot your purpose, yon had ncoune 10 threats. You reminded me tkat, during my girlish flirtation, 1 bad written you lettore —" "Tea, avowing your lore, and sgTeelng to our elopement," Interrupted tbe man Utterly. The young wife trembled vIslMy at Ibis reminder loo. It was tbs opening and shutting ot tbe heavy door to Iho vesUbuls. A step was heanl ascending tbe staircase. 8be sprang forvrerd and laid ber band on bla arm. "8omeoDelacomlngl"sbe whispered In great sglla- tlon. "Yon cannot go now. Stay, If you would aave a woman's honor—" "Anything 10 be obliging; but really my Unteven- ing In New York Is a nlUIng lively one," ssssnted the young man, aa coolly as ever, "but where " Esospe to tbe dsrk hallway was bnpoaslMo. The footst^ werednwlog nigh, snd In another minute the new comer, candooaly aa be was advancing, would be in lbs room. Acting on tbe Impulse of the dangeroos moment the visitor darted Into a closet, ibe only biding place at hand, snd bsd baiely closed the door be- hind blm wben the aecond rlaltor amred. The closet door had, bowerer, been loft slightly sjsr by Padgett In tbe haste ot bis retreat, snd he bad a partial view of what went on In the apart- ment after bla redremeuL He kept bis eyes open to events, for blsposldon was far from reassuring. If not poelttvelyslaimlng. The newcomer entaied the spaitment wllb soms canlton. Be was not, tben, the husband ot Ibe lady, as the "actoi" had at lint anppoeed. What was going to happen nowr Be began to wish blm* eelf out of Ihe scrape. Ugbt he not And an op- portunity to sneak out, glide down the itaire and out to the stteett To be taken tora thief If caught In thia plight t No, Ibat would nerar do. He would atay where be was and trust to luck. Tbe last visitor was a tall, bandaome man of soldierly bearing, blonde, blue eyed, elegant In dress snd mannera, and not tar beyond thirty. He cast a suspicions glsnee about blm. "Weanalonet" belnqnlitd. Tbe iroman, wbo received blm standlag at the op- poelts aide ot the Ubie, anawered with a cold nod. Her air wu more haughty and trigid than before. "I was fuiprtsed that yon risked leaving the door ajar forms. 1 took It fors good omen, Oan. Was I nghtP' ransrked ih* ' tunud overcoat and throwing himself noncbalsntly into an easy cbalr. Tbe woman remained slsndlog, psle with resolu- tion, and resumed: "I was s silly girl. I foolishly toyed vrllh your sflfecUouH, and Ood knows 1 have bad cause aloce to regret my crael folly. 8lnoe ny manlage I have known no peace. You bave pumoed me everywbere wltb lellera—la Europe, abroad and at home. My servants have been bribed to hand ne yonrmls- ■Ives In my husband's bonss, snd stnngen have ihnist them Into my bands In the street, atlheopen or In the restaurant, forcing on mo a secret corre- spondence thsl bi my terror." Tbere was a slight aound from Ibe closet. It wu Psdgeu, making a desperate esori to restrain his desire "to bit that fellow Just once," u he ex. pressed It In a wblsper. Tbe vtallor received the so- cusatlon coolly, and replied: "TnJo;iiutlf you suder. Imagine myalate. Is It nothing to lose the one woman yon lover You may bare pretended aOecHon; I did not I loved you In eanest, with all ny heart—fonrerl" Tbe womanahuddeied at the Intenaliy of his lone. There wu somelblog alarming In lu "la be going to kill ber P' Ihougbi Padgeu, watch- ing every movement keenly. There wu. Indeed, a Uaie of Insanity In the eyes ot the guest thst would have alarmed the stoniest heart The lady quailed a moment before It, but by a strong eOOrt of Ibe will lecorered her aell posts*- tlon snd continued: "Ton bave demanded s peisoul and prtvale In- iervtew,tbat I may be still funher compromised." "Tea, I bave aaked this tor yean, conldsnt that It I might spuk with you and plead my snffetlnga yonr own heart would Judge ne tsTonbly," leplled tbe visitor wllb s fierce eara s sl ns ss "II Another man's wltef There wu a percept- IMe aollenlng In the tosesof tbe wonian'a vitee, de- spite tbe effort abe made at Indlgnatfcn, "Blswtfet No—be siolsjoul Ton an Bla* by right Atoollsblmpnlse,si|lrtlahjmnk Bade yon bis- TnurbeaitUmlael" ot ber folly, but wllb an ellbrt continued: "You Uirutened to sind these leuera to my hus- band." "Yes, In my despair I wu forced to that messure." "Out yon seem to have nieotad, for I, Ibougb doubling you, have given you this rondenrous on the offer on your part to return ny latlen and cease this tormn,"sald the lady, Iwltohlog betdngera nervously, u If ugar to la; hands on Ibe fatal mbislves. "And I bave kept my word," replied ber band, some guest. "Uere Ibey are." De drew a packet from a pocket of hla coat and placed It 00 the labia. The woman bounded for- ward wllb tbs air of a Ugreu and laid ber hand oa tben. Be still retained them wltb a dm bold, bow- svar, snd they remained for s nomtnt, eacb with s band clutching Ibe epistolsty trtanre. "A moment," said be. "Raoumtier wben you lake theu they are myglfi, Intbs hope that pity may assert Itself In your bun, thai yon may be led to a similar generoally m realortng me ray happl- ness u I restore you yoiire." Hereyea met hla wllb s soft, langnlsbing sxpres- don. He released the packet, aid the drew It to ber csgeriy. Tearing off the wrapping, she nn her eyes over Ihe doten dslnty little billets wltb a hua- gry glare, casting each Into the Asm* of the open grate, wberea Are of csnnel ceal wssssndlog up lis bright snd cheering Osmet. The last she aet on Are, holding It In ber hand until It iru ooiisnmed, and fell In ashes at ber feet A flitter ot triumph ahooe In her eyes, and her tonn slnlghlensd up proudly. Filing on her guest a look ot mingled soon snd hale, she exclalnad: "Fool 1 K; long slaTsry Is st u end I Ton are disarmed, and I am tree 1" "And mjrawardt Ut yonr hsstt apeak I" aald Ihe vhittor, la a ton* ot appeal. "H/beartapeaU In hatred for Ha tyrant I T«nr hopea and plots end In tbe aahes St my fset," nplisd shs,proudly. "And I had hoped you mifhl dsclda odMrwIss— that yen mlghi evei(agie* lo fly with ms." "Wlihyout no; leavemyhuaband'aboonl Ton are dbnnned, I ssy, snd I tear yon no longer." "I am notdbHtned I" he cried, suddenly ohaaging bis msnnor from soft hnmlllty to violent commaid. "I had not faith In you. I suspected your tales heart Here, I bave retained tbe nfbst oompromls- Ingof all your lotion—tbat proposing the elopement three ycara ago. lllHiannDdalo, andnooneoouM prove that It was not writien yeaterriay, lien It is sesled In Ibis stamped enrotope. and bearing the club AddreM of your husband." The woman grow pale, and tnltored u If ahe bad received a aevoro blow In tbe face. "Onwaidi" said aha, ";nu an detemlaed on my rulnl" "I held Ibis," be resumed, moodily, ube rephioed Ihe letter In bla pnoket, "In the hope of forolng yonr heart Ui awaken to the old love; but you have shown me how talae It Is. Ituoh a heart u Tonis, inadara. Is not worth Ihe leading awayu I might lead II by Ihe chain 1 bold here, thit my sunbrtngs at your hands must lie avenged, and your orael heart must bave a bitter punlabment. ThU la my revenge." He look from hla pnrkei a carefully folded paper, and shaking a greenish powder Into a glam hall Ailed with water whlcb tbiod on iha laMn, ewallowed the mlxlnre at a gulp. "What do yon moant" exclalmiid the lady, n- gardlog her visitor with a look of Intense bom>r. "t mun tbat I have taken a deadly polann," be replied, wlldlyi "lhat In a tow minutes I shsll lie a corpse. Wben your busiisnd snd yonr frionda re- turn soroiint for my presencs u yon msy. Reneot thst yon IisTO wrooked my life, that you have been Iho reuse of my death I" Aa ho uld the Isat words, hla speeob henime thick, bit eyoA rolled wildly In their socketa, be aug- gered, balanced a momeni erect, wllb a horrible amlle on hla twiiohing and illstorted fealnrea, and then pltnhlng forward, loll tn Iho floor on bla face, wltb a drwdful nhooli, and lay thsn mndonleia. The lady gavo a shriek and niahed forward to uve him. Abo only caught hh arm, however, and the wstgbl of hla body bmugbt hor to her knees Iteslde him. Blio put ber ams about litm, and turned bis fsce up to the light. A gnenlab foam ooversd bis lips, ami the otos were Axed and staring horribly. DeadI deadi" abe cried frsntlcall;, dropping Ibe head ot Iho oorpse In hor termr. Then, 00 a and - don Impulse, she begananongorsearoh of tbeliody, ending In iho Irinntphant produoUon ot tbe aealed letter lbs dead man had ao iHmstriilly dUplayed. Tottering towarda tbe grate she (lung It Into the flra.and, with an hyaterical laugh, watched It bun. As she turned alnnl she found herself faoa to face with young radgeti. lie waa pale and evIAenlly horror alrinken. Hlie Iremliled violently at Ihe eight of bin. In Ihe excitement ot the terrible scene aha had quite forgoiien the presence ot Ihe unbidden witness. Hhe shnnk from htm u mm an soonser. Point- ing at Iho corpse, she cried; "They will ssy I mur deied him I" snd toll to iho floor In s doep swoon. Padgou ttood for a moment iwwildered inlween the living and tlie dud; then, tiiddenly arousing himself, excUlmed: "He wu a onty soonndnl and he dill Iho right thing to hill blnuelt. Bat to do It here I What an awful revenge It It be canled out to Ihe snd I hut It shsn't he If I MU help II I" The rub yonng student made hU way down Uw slain wllb csuuon, opened the street door widely, stepped out snd looked up snd down lbs suset Not a soul wu visllilo, Ibe snow wu coming down In a blinding cloud, snd Ihewlndwudriving II Into heavy drifts. Retureing io the apsrtmsnt when he had psssed sn hour of suoh terrifying captlvlly, bs, without more ado, seized Ibe conlnrtsd ooipss ot the ciar-y lorer, snd,slinuldering lt,stsggered down the stslrcasewlUi lihi grussomf linrdtn. Out Inin Ibe drttis he made bit way, and thrangh the storm torn ralats of Ihe night. The next moning tba Indy ot Walter Tane wu found three lilooks away, lylns In a mow liank near Ibe haunt of tbe iisd obsnoten wbo rreqnent one ot the West side tvsnnes. It seemed plain to the coroner Ibattbeyoongman bsd been drugged to death and roblied. Ptdgeli bsd no inclluUon 10 nveal the Inth, ao he did not appear to coirool lbs srrar, u may well he believed. Its bad saved the honor ot a woman and defeated Ihe ends of a villain or a maolao. The woman be never met nor heard of again, but a month later, when led tiy ber hnme li; bla ourlotlty, h* fonnd thn hoiiso vacant, and, InqQlrlng ot a aemnt lounging al iho gateway ot an adjacent residence, be learned thai the ocoupsnta, an Invalid lady and ber busimnd, hsd gone to F.urope, and the dwelling wu for sals. MILDRED HOWARD Wu Imm In Mlnnespolhi, Minn., twenty yaan ago, Her parents were or prominence In thst city, and Mtaa Howard wu one of the most lirtlllant aohdan of tbe Jiidaon Institute, when herprecoelona aliUlty made her the prt» winner In all cUsscs. Ilsr por- trayal of JsssIra, In "Ths Merehani of Venice," al one of the commencements, received nob nnanl. mous rommendallon that she decided to adept a stage csreer, To thlsendslio studied underOsorg* M. Cipricn, and al tbe tame time took lessons In eal- bilhenlcs and danolog trim Prof. Finch. Upon tbe completion of ber tiudlst she wu engaged u son* hratte with a slock company In Idnneapolls. Hbe next Joined the Andreirs Opens Co., and wu after- wards a memlier ot aeveial isaveling orgulfatlosf. In wbloli ahe gained eoosldsnhls fsme. Bhs bu Just completed ag engagement In Pblltdelpbla, Pa., which WW exisnded Itom time to lime, becans* ot her snccMs, until It onTsred a period of tlx weeks, during which she preaented a novel dance of bir own designing, enUUed "Fascination." Kin How- ard hu reeenily become a memijor of the Unique Thru, headed by Robert V. Fergntoo, and of whieb w. J, llolmu bi the other memiier. They prodac* norsllles In llie shape ot high class prtlM coinedlaa, for which work Mlas Howard Js well Ailed by reason of ber tnlalflg and experience In variou branehta of stage work. "Itow-sw.nnw d» they determine Ihe depths of tlie waUb In the teal" uked Lliolly. "By tound," replied the naiiilcat nan, alirapUy. And (Molly wu BO turprlsed that he badnH thahaait lo uk anjr mon qneauona.