The Hawaiian gazette., 1869-01-06

at shall never forget" said Mr.. F.
ga circumstance that occurred here in the
winter Of 1856. It was illustrative, in an
almost Unreasonable degree, Of that Pc
culiar element in 8 womans character
jealousy.
One night Mr. / and myself were
seated in the Office solaciBg ourselves after
hard days work with cigar and an oc-
casional sip of brandy, when the porter en-
tered and announced lady wishing to see
us. She followed Immediately behind him
and the announcement was hardly made
when she stood before Us.
A lady evidently. There was no mis-
taking the naughty carriage. the digni6ed,
yet imposing manners. A heavy dark veil
obscured her features, but l knew intuiti-
vely that the woman was beautiful. There
was that indescribable manner about her
which every woman, conscious OF beauty,
invariably possesses. | say knew this
even before her voice told me who she
was. had heard that too often to mis-
take its accents now.
You are Madame H" said, of
fering her a seat.
You know me, then p She started
visibly as she spoke, and / detected tre-
NOR in her voice.
"1hat is not surprising, madam, since /
have so often heard your voice"
"Ah, yes that betrays me, but need
services, and should have been compelled
to disclose my name any way. Your ex-
cellent memory, sir, has saved me the
necessity"
bowed in acquiescence, and she pro-
ceeded to tell me that she had that after
noon received intelligence, which she deem
ed reliable, that plot had been formed by
rival actress to injure her personally, per-
haps to take her life.
They were both prima donnas in the
opera. Our visitor, a lady of remarkable
beauty, and whose voice, the sweetest,
most musical had ever heard, possessed
a compass and tone that made her the ac-
knowledged fayorite of our people. This
excited the animosity Of Miss B., who
before the coming of Madame H, had
enjoyed the distinction of q favorite, now
being rapidly withdrawn by her rival. She
was daring, vindictive woman, who for
this INDUCED an luminosity which only
could be appeased in the destruction Of
the woman who had deprived her of the
ambition in which she exulted Almost
as beautiful as Madame H, she mag
ined that but for the graees of her person
her triumphs would not be so assured. 10
strike this petted rival down, and, at the
same time, crafty the hate that burned in
her heart, now engaged every sleeping and
waking thought. Toaccomplish this Mad
am H had been informed conspiracy
had been planned, and to discover which
our services were required. She revealed
to us other facts not nescessary now TO
detail, but which convinced US of the truth
OF the information the lady had received.
Having done this she retired and left Mr..
L and myself to consult.
1t is needless to say that the next night |
found US both at the opera The beauty
and fashion of the city had assembled to |
hear Bellini's grand opera of " Norma in
which Nine. H appeared as Norma,
and Miss B represented the young |
priestess Adalgisa. Never perhaps, was |
the passionate sorrows of these Druid |
priestesses SO feelingly portrayed. There
was wild terror in Normas eye, not lent
by genius-a fierce despair in the mien Of
Adalgisa, not born OF the wreck of her
girlhoods hopes; their very communings
had au antogonism in them, which appear |
ed to the audience as if Norma had min
gled with her soothing jealousy of the
young prlestess who had robbed her of her
lovers fidelity.
l saw it all and knew what it meant. |
This impression was more deeply confirm |
ed when Adalgisa rose from her knees
with cry-meent as wall of DESPAIR,
but which breathed an exultant tone, and |
he'd from the presence of her consider.
Her personation was the repressed ieal-
ousy OF heart burning for revenge, not
the analysis ofan enthusiasts despair NV
heart felt chill of fear US | noted that
wild look Of the jealous woman, and mark
ed the thrill of the passionate voice. In
tuitively felt that the hour in which she
would seek to accomplish her revenge was
drawing near.
When the curtain fell in the last scene.
MIR. |. and myself were at the door from
which the two prima donnas would leave.
In the carriage which Miss occupied
l noticed strange looking man, evidently
disguised (; but as the light Of the lamp
flashed on him, saw deep red scar on
the back Of his left hand. 1 knew him
then as the keeper OF fashionable restau-
rant, to which the artists at the opera usu-
ally retired for night supper / saw the
whole arrangement. 1t flashed on me like
a CLEAN Of tightening, and / determined
not to loose sight of the prima donnas
that evening, come what might. That
they were going to the restaurant knew
full well. Madam H would be there
too. 1t was an invariable custom from
which their habits never varied. Driving
rapidly to the place, therefore, we we're
quietly seated in the ladies' ordinary when
the prima donnas came in. | saw at once
in Mrs. BIS eye a restless, scared look,
an uncertain. painful attempt to appear at
ease, which denoted mischief. But to
Madame H she was unusually polite.
| saw the start Of unfeigned surprise Of
that lady when her rival almost over
whelmed her with the unexpected COM
pliments on her success. Ingenious and
she had accepted them as in
earnest, and when invited to take a glass
If wine accepted at once.
Miss B. rang the bell, and the proprie-
or entered, himself, with the wine. At .
his moment the suppressed excitement of
Miss b was intense. Her hand trem-
,led as she toyed with the glass, and the :
PUPILS Of her great black eyes contracted !
md enlarged with the rapidity Of thought.
The wine was poured into her glass. and
s madam H was raising it 10 her Inns
afanrad hab;nd h. nk.:o - .r..