The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-07-07


a moment imagine that his prOtestaIions
are sincerep He Is trlfling with you,
FlOrTie, as all men wilt trItle with a poor
and pretty girl who can amuse them"
"You forget the gentleman is waiting
for you," was FlOrie's dignitied re-
sponse. [,
Octavia lifted with gemmed fingers
her glittering, maize.coiored train, half
hidden beneath It's sombre, trailing
cloud of costly lace, and swept out oi
the room.
The parlor was already swarming
with guests chaltering polite nothings,
but in the midst Of them all she found
Bryan Chafteris lazily watching the
simmer OF silks and glow of jewels in a
pretty alcove yelled by silken damask.
"You asked for mer she queried in
her most dulcet tones.
EYES," he replied, 81 wish to know
the name of the inventor Of this beauti-
full but dangerous drama"
Sand whyW she inquired, the uncon-
trollable scarlet of shame Tor brazen
lie creeping swiftly from brow to chIn,
~ do not know. Is not the impromptu
stage beautiful also? See, have mad it
adorned with the ioyeliesJ OF ever
greens, and Mrs. WaVerly mas spent
small fortune on the knots of exotic
blossoms tnat star the branches. They
will he all withered and dead in the
morning, as many hopes will be and have
been. WHAT we cherish most is trst to
perish; and like Others ! have many
hours when I think OF by-gone joys with
regret.o
"Haye you, indeed~ he observed
coolly, his languid, dark eyes hXed Oh
her ptoud, agIIated tace. 81 am very
sorry. But about this play, shielded
from Flame'-it is said to have been
written ny lady of the house. Ishowed
The copy you gave me TO the manager OF
one OF our leading theaters, and he oil.
fers a han dsome sum or it. He says it
indicated rare genius Of the writer.
would like to compliment the author
ess"
"Wait till the play is over" said Octa.
via, gayly. sit may not be success"
even If il is praised 30 exLravagantly."
The hours Went on amid the perfume
and splendor OF the brightly-I lighted par
| tors, and by and Dy the play began.
Strangely enough, Octayia had taken
| the character of a wicked, designing
| woman, who was to be defeated at the
close OF the drama by her rival.
Bryan Charters was the hero.
Tue play went on TO the end. The
pyramid OF gasights glowed through
| The last scene and act were nearly
done.
The subAheroine had been exposed In
her wickedness.
| Bryan held Florrie in his arms.
| "4ou are mine in safety and peril,
though all the gods oppose me-" he said.
I"You are Shielded from Fame in the
truest arms which ever clasped a sweet
heart to his breast. DO you heari She
did not kill you with that fierce stiletto !
Gu, God, you are dyingl There IS blood
ooziug from your breas But the flames
are upon us. She will perish in them.
leone, Will save you, or perish with
Iyouw
Tue mimic flames and smoke were
cracking and pouring behind the screen
Of evergreens and tall oleanders.
| Alas! tlat the mlmickry should be 80
real.
| A long, vivid, serpent-like tongue OF
living fire leaped from screen to screen
searching and shriVeiing leaf and bloom,
ana sowing terror broadcast through tD {
sumptuous salons.
Octayia rushed toward the hero of the
drama.
"save meW she cried; "for the sake O.
our old love, save mew
"FOlloW u.s." he answered, striding
onW ard through fame and smoke, with
Florrie cIaspeu III mis- arms.
The guests had dispersed like fright
ened sheep.
The scariet and purple flames were
madly bounding on from the fl JWery
bloom OF the stage to the gold and scar
let hanglngs of The beautilu parIors.
Tne next moment a stream OF ioamy
water dashed through the cracked aut
creaking windows, thrown from greal
fire engine snortlug aud groarin4 before
4 the door.
The fire was quenched.
Mrs. WaVerly was lying in hysteric:
in an ante-room Untouched by tie sud del
and brief cont1Agration, wuen Bryal
brought Florrie " uer side.
''1ou are unhurt, my pretty darling
she murmured, strUklng the girrs pale
golden curls. "You are my heiress, IN,
sweet! shall never survive this ex
citemenL-my physician will tell you b,
when he comes. 1t is the heart that na,
troubled me. You will find my Will il
the desk yonder. L have gwen Octayi
Il thousand year until she marries
She is bad, cruel and unklnd. She woul,
nave maze me believe disgraceful thing
about you, my pet. She was walcuin,
In the shrubberies one night at. TIL
boardiDg.SChu0l while you we.e talkiu
| with some oAe at the gate. 1t was Sin
who raised the story Oh your propose,
elopementi but L never believed ner-
neverW
81 was tie one who talked with Flor
rie at the gate" said Bryan Charteris
smiling. Il love her dearly, aud wisl
10 make her my wife, with your consent
lor we have both been loo honorable t.
ever think Of an elopement."
? THANK you for that assurance, m,
children. But where is OctaYlaY'
= Before either could answer. tn
| wretched girl was borne in, blac enc,
by smoke, and evidently dying or deau
! She mad stumbled and fallen in he
haste 10 escape, and this was her sa
e end.
! Mrs. Waverly gasped and grew pale
still.
e 'ehe can not live," said the doctor
i who had just arrived.
AS Mrs. Waverly predicted, she di
! Enot ouLiIVe the excitement ana shock {
x that tragic night, aud she was buIie
with the napless OctaVia.
j. Bryan's love comf0rted FIorrie, an
= after time she became his wife-th
! real heroine of her own drama-Lhe I'd,
|, OF The real hero by whom sue had bee
e shielded from Flame."
u ..--.---.
Continuous effort Impoverlshes I'll
] =