A Double Tragedy: An Actor’s Story by Louisa May Alcott

This is a wonderful story of love, revenge, and a sad ending. Clotilde is a blossoming actress who is acting in plays. Her boyfriend, Paul, is also involved in the theatre. During one scene Paul notices Clotilde’s expression has gone stone cold. She looks terrified but Paul does not know who she is looking at in the audience. Later it is revealed that Clotilde was once married and her husband had gone missing for a time until it was announced that he had died. He had returned. Paul discovers this truth and becomes repelled from Clotilde. She feels she has done her penance but Paul wants nothing to do with her. In the closing scenes two of the main actors die and one is left heartbroken.