Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-01-29
CHAPTER XIX.

J
Mrs. Vaughn Fessenden, when she obtained
for herself the robe of fine spun-glass that hao
once been the most priced curiosity in one o.
the royal houses of Persia.
1t must be remembered that Cecilia Fes
senden was beautiful woman-but not SC
beautiful as Lide Halstead and although she
lived in magnificent style, obtaining her mon
ey, the world never cared to ask how or where
since she led the "ton"-the grace, and lowell
ness and modesty of the young girl won moro
than one of Mrs. Vaughn Fessenden's devoted
admirers to her own feet, in unreserved HON
age.
Mrs Vaughn Fessenden was superb sing
er. Her voice was one of grand compass
one that constantly astonished her hearers
with brilliant roulades and shakes, full of ex
preston and she could move her "select'' au
dence to tears with the impassioned tones thai
came swelling from her throat.
Cecilia had host of admirers, but Lidf
Halstead had, perhaps, more. The former
had led the gay, fast "ton" of New York fol
two seasons-since she had left off her widow:
weeds. The latter had only just been added
to the opera company at "Pike's."
The beauty of Mrs. Vaughn Fessender
dazzled, while that of I.ide Halstead fascina
ted, with its feminine softness, and its winning
simplicity and grace. Both we're blondes
One was under thirty years of age-the Other
scarcely twenty.
Cecilia had not a relation in the whole
world-neither had Lide Halstead; but she
had chaperon, under whose careful wing
she was ever jealously guarded.
When Irving Mcdonald had sought hel
out, that day in the parlor, he had weighed
his course well, and resolved to make some
thing wonderful out of the girl, and hold he'
Gin reserve" should he win Mrs. Vaughn
Fessenden and weary of her. Therefore, il
their interview, he treated her with the pro
foundest courtesy, and told her he had just
left his wife, who agreed with him in his plans
but loved her too dearly to submit to the pair
of parting interview with her, and had, con
sequently, commissioned him to speak hel
farewells His plans were to educate her fol
the stage, she was so brilliant and beautiful
Lde received his information with the pro
fouudest gratitude, and the next day started
for New York with him, leaving long letter
for her "dear benefactress," promising in it tc
be "an honor to her yet" and at the close
calling down Heavens choicest blessings or
her devoted head.
Without misgiving, she set out on hel
journey, and being placed under proper tutors
had set herself to work and study with mar
velous energy. The end may be conjectured
Full of soul and fine talent, she developed into
a superb actress. Irving Mcdonald never
even once intruded upon her. But one day
a letter from him, bound in black, announced
the death of his wife. Lide moaned exceed
ingly; but never knew all of the sad story q:
,Ue know it.
When she made her debut, Irving Mcdonald
generously supplied her wardrobe, and still
stood in the light to her of a patron and 6
friend and as such, shs loved and admired
him, despite his evil deeds and his evil name
However cold he may have seemed, he never
ceased to watch over her-and to wait, as tht
glittering serpent waits, for the time when hi
may draw the futtering warbler into his scaly
folds.
He placed chaperon with her-a Mrs
Park Brentz who, to Lide, was father, moth
er and chaperon, all combined. She was plail
of feature, and deformed of limb and never
was there time, early or late, in public OF
private, when she could be seen away from
the young girls elbow. She watched every
thing with the sharpest and most glitterinG
eyes in the world, and listened with ears ST
sharp that they could catch the merest soune
stirring in the air near her-were it the flap
ping of a humming birds wings, or the beat
ing ola butteray's heart. She was universal
ly unpopular, although she smiled pleasantly
on everybody, and her tongue dropped thu
honey of aattering speeches; but despite he
oily compliments-despite her good-humoret
smiles-therc was something in her tones, ant
more in her looks, that filled all who ap
preached her with dislike and dstrust.
While the new opera was being rehearsed
Mrs. Vaughn Fessenden had Ola to watcl
and listen daily from seat at the wings. Sh'
viewed Lide Halstead with curious and mali
cious eyes. She knew that she was beautiful
and doubted not that her talent was great
and then her hair-it was of a bright COLDER
hue, hue that utterly quenched the ambe
light in her own fair locks, and made then
seem faded and dim in her own eyes.
When Ola would return home and tell Mrs
Fessenden of these things, she would bite he
lips angrily;a a wicked, spiteful light woulc
flash in her splendid eyes, and in her hear
she murmured much that she never dared tt
speak aloud, heaping curses upon the head o
the unoffending and innocent Lide. Ther
she would recognize her own marvellous beau
ty, and emberng she was in socia
sphere the young actress could never reach
she would become satisfied, and sing for he
guests far better than she ever sang before
Her voice had become richer, more flexible
and even more powerful than of yore; ane
her admirers and lovers and friends were il
rapturcs as they listened.
One afternoon, just as she ceased singing
an air from Trouatore to the guests gathered
at her reception hours Irving Mcdonald, VIII
had entered the parlor before the air was fin
ished, approached her and said-"You woule
surnass Yourself in opera !"