Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-03-17

the window; gently approached him Ii
turned abruptly; my heart thrilled with terro
for in his hand he held pistol, and his eye
burned with frantic madness. "YOu are eve
coming before me- lie cried "mimicking m
Minnie Lee. You shall die lie pointed tn
pistol at me. Ny agonizing shrek mingled
with his frenzied laugh. The pistol grace
my left shoulder. Another shot and he sunl
iieless beside me. Servants gathered around
summoning medical aid. Mine was but n fiesl
wound, but for Ernest there was no hope.
Days ! fingered over his couch at length HI
opened his eyes, and they rested upon me,
Minnie Y
threw mysefupon my knees, burying my
head in the linen drnpery. lie clasped m,
hands in his
81 Have ! been very i'll, Minnie Lec?"
| looked up and kissed him, beautiful
smile fitted over his cheek.
" So very ILL., dear Earnest
+" DO they think will get well, darling y
Looked up at the time-piece, half past ten
g For your sake, only for your sake beloved.
f"St't uhu hiStfi Giiueu tioSv homNh'S 'i-"'
stole away his life.
"Ernest Ernest you are dying~ il rung
from my lips in a wild shrek.
And life so beautiful Minnie, cannot you
pray? loved my God once. but now"
"Do not say it," cried ''my punishment
is great enough" For the first time in many
years, words of prayer fell from my lips. Then
took and clasped Bible, opening at the bles-
sed words; " lie that cometh unto me | will
in no wise cast out" faint smile swept over
his face. The silver chime sounded ont the
hour of midnight, and with the words, "Haye
mercy i his soul loated in eternity.
During this time my wealth had gradually
diminished. My cxtrayagant living, my costly
dinners, my expensive wines, together with
Erncst's sickness, had reduced it.. When !
reckoncd il all up, those heavy bills as they
lay before me, the merest pittance remained,
together with my home and that ] must not
sacrifice sat up long that night, alone
in my library, carving out my future destiny
and when Ernest had hecn dead six months, ]
gathered around me the most celebrated dra-
matte authors and masters. had resolved to
become an actress.
II,roync, the great tragedinnc was announ-
ced to play in Paris | had. secured good
opening. II was ii grand, IL regal night. Every
heart thrilled beneath the power Of my own.-
Men wcpt, and women walled the burning
beauty of The language that rung frommy lips,
bound every soul, and quivcred every chord of
my passionate being That night ! felt that
at last | had attained my destiny. But was
ehary of my fayors. | had no wish TO pail the
taste minstcred unto Strangers came from
afar to listen to burning language, whose crater
was my soul | passed from city to city.
Across the waters came brilliant offers, but
refused. ! would not that the waters that Law
ed the shores of that new world should bear to
that homegrown, the destiny of my fathers
child, One night, MS ] sat in my
room after play, manuscript was handed
me, together with note. II was Il new trage-
dy, composed by young man on its success
depended the hopes of a widowed mother and
sister. opened the manuscripts it possessed
bDlH HiCN uHh 'HNiEy' ~ PtHNNS ~ p"S
ling took my pen, vanishing, as it were,
the beautiful picturei giving life to the half
spoken thoughts ! summoned the manager;
n week latcr iitty copies were placed in my
hands, it was announced that Herolyne, the
great tragedienne, would perform new trage-
dy. The remembrance of that night will new
er be forgotten from pit to dome it was liter
ally crowded In corner of a private box
sat young man. knew by thethrill ofthose
large dark eyes, that he was the author. That
earnest trusting glance, kindled the powers of
my soul, and stirred Il thousand hearts 1t an.
swered, nay, 1t went beyond every expectation.
The curtain fell the house shook from dome to
pit. had scarcely strength 10 lay aside the
heavy crown that rested upon tine brow of the
q Ayenger' when he whom had noticed knet
before Inc. The excitement | had undergone
me. | wept as he knelt there, wept
as if my heart would break, for another life
was awaking to lavish upon me its burning
love and had no power to arrest 1t. went
back at the close of winter, to my beautiful
home in Florence, and gathered around me
rongenial friends. Ore night an artist brought
10 my home the young writer; he had follow
me. | extended my hand; no pressed it silent
" to his lips That night sorrowed for the
destiny that was mine; yet / welcomed him
ever to my home. surrounded his fervd
Imagination with images the most grand and
glowing had been accustomed to the rever-
,nce of elder men ! never dreamed Of loving |
him. | returned to Parls again my name
thrilled on every lip. played n second TRACE
ly Of the young writer; it was more thrilling
than the first. Now the whitening desolation |
1f n broken heart swept its mournful music |
through every line. That night he knelt at my |
feet clasped my hands over my face, as that |
great love came rolling up, thrilling the tgomh- |
ing waters Of my soul. lie knew, he saw
here was no hope. A life chord sundered, and |
.hc crimson fluid dyed myjeweled hands. |, the
great actress, knclt and wept over the couch of
he broken hearted. The longing came over
me to see my childhood home. Wealth filed |
my coffers-wherefore should linger? Yet |
50 many changes had crept over that distant
homo. Arthur had long since married chill |
lren gathered around the old homestead, whilst |
was chldless. fingered another summer in
Rome, and then returned to Paris but no lon
ger played. One night, as passed to my pri-
vate parlor n tall, stately man crossed my
pathway. Day after day we met, for our rooms
were near, At length, from slight acts ofcour- !
iesy, we became well acquainted lie was a
man of wealth. and n scholar travelling fur |