Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-02-05
An Original storvg.
Written for the Yorkvillc Enquirer.
DESTINY;
OR,
HOTNDED DOWN. .
rittcn for the Yorkvillc Enquirer.
BY NELLY MARSHALL McAF EE'
CHAPTER XXI.

30, madam, how beautiful you Go look !!
Ola exclaimed, in honest admiration OF hel
mistress, who was standing before her gllded
mirror, dressed for the new opera that was
Forthcoming, for the first time, tonight.
And Ola was right; for Cecilia Fessendel
never looked so charming as she did at thl;
moment. Her dress, trailing far behind her
was of fine spun glass, lustrous as light, ano
melting and mingling in its warp and wool
all the colors of the rainbow. 1t was con
fined at the waist by band of red gold
Her arms and shoulders we're exposed, but
without any ornament whatever; while from
her handsome head, descending far below hel
waist, glstened, in soft, undulating masses
the richest and goldenest tresses.
"You are handsomer than Miss Halstead,
pursued Ola, touching the long, glistening
curls with the tenderest care
care you sure thatI am quite right in eve
ry particular ?" asked Cecilia, nervously.
II am willing to lose my head, if there is
fold awry," replied Ola, emphatically.
II should faint with modification, if any
thing should turn out wrong tonight an
swered her mistress.
"Do not be alarmed! You will set the
people wild with your beauty and your mag
niGcence. The opera will be failure beside
youw Ola murmured, enthusiastically.
Mrs. Fesseuden did not reply. She was
amazed at herself. When she remembered the
love of Clarence Gadbury, all desire to COM
pete with her theatrical rival had vanished,
as if by magic. She was even angry with
herself for having struggled to outshlne her
in the eyes of the very man whose heart was
already hers. She knew her ambition to RI
val Lide Halstead was weak, and she was
heartily ashamed. The emotion, however,
was momentary. Gazing at the reflection OF
her beautiful image, the old sense of satisfied
vanity brought gay, glad smile to her face
81 will confess to Clarence how ambitious
was to win him !' she said over to her own
heart; ito confess this much to him will only
make him love me more fondly!
Presently the carriage was announced, and
she rolled off to the opera. hearrived there,
and comfortably seated herself in her private
box, lust in time to hear the thunders OF ap-
plause which greeted Miss Halsteads entrance
on the stage. Every sound penetrated her
Jealous ears like a dagger-thrust, and the
girls wondrous beauty blinded her envlous
eyes, as she watched her.
30, that hair of hers p she cried, mentally
swhat does a wonderful robe of fine, spun
glass, count beside its brightness" And
there she sat, examining the young actress
with critical eye that saw no longer beauty
or brilliancy in her own face, form or attire
At the close the first act, Lide was called
before the curtains, and Cecilia heard fresh
bursts of applause, and afterward saw show,
er of bouquets fall at the lovely young actress
feet. The Jealous woman writhed in secret,
and bit her lips until they bore the impress OF
her pearly teeth for hours afterward. ., but
to rival her on the boards! To meet with
similar public applause; to have bouquets
showered around her! What triumph
And yet their different rank forbade it for
ever.
Suddenly, looking as if she scarce credited
her own eyes, she saw Clarence Gadbury be-
hind the scenes, talking with Mrs. Park
Brentz and regarding Lide with profound ad
miraton. When Cecilia witnessed this, she
became almost wild with modification, spleen
malice and wicked desires. Just then, Cad
bury caught glimpse of her face, apparently
the index to serene and happy thoughts
"Does not Mrs. Fessenden look beautiful
to.night?" he said to Mrs. Park Brcntz.
EYES," said the willy woman, with mean
ing shrug of the shoulders, "just as beautiful
as tale, rouge, theatre and aureoline can make
her! She is all arti6ce"
"Artifce, madam ?" said Gadbury, staring
half angrily at her, with red flame on his
check II do not understand you! Every
lady in this age uses cosmetiques, more or less.
"A thousand pardons" exclaimed Mrs
Brcntz, with wel.feigned concern 81 was not
aware that you had any particular interest in
Mrs. Fessenden. Pray forgive my rudeness
And forget what said, at once and forever!
"But, madam, don't understand"
She interrupted him with Il low cxclama'
ton: "Bc silent, Mr.. Gadbury, for heavens
sake! Mr.. Irving Mcdonald is near us"
"Mr. Irving McDonald?" replied Gadbury
in angry surprise; "and pray, what do | care
for Mr.. Irving Mcdonald? I have neither
fear nor awe of him! Why should I have?
"No reason, really" said Mrs. Brentz i'll
sinuatingly; "only supposed you have heare
what every body knows-that Mcdonald !;
her betrothed husband"
Gadbury stared at her in intense surprise
and then answered with well-bred hauteur-
II have the requisite authority, madam, tt
correct that impression. TO my certain
knowledge, Mrs Cecilia Fessenden is engaged
to no one-last of all, Mcdonald"
"You may speak by the book MIR. Cad
bury" answered Mrs. Brentz, stoutly, bu
looking little uneasy II can't tell about
that But certainly, if she is not engaged tc
Mr.. Mcdonald, she only veri6es her notorety
as firt."
"a hirt, madam?' groaned Gadbury.
"The most consummate in the world" SAID
Mrs. Park Brentz, with leer; "she has beer
celebrated for her coquetries since she wa:
seventeen. know her better than you do
and / know she broke his wife's heart-firt
ing with him before they moved away from
Tennessee"