The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-20
CHAPTER VII.
MISS ovINGroN PLAYS ACTRESS.

"You are very good, Julie" she said with
that affable gentleness which characterized
her manner; "but l am very ill-rest is all l
require.
Julie Maintenon placed the shaded.night-
lamp upon its alabaster stand and softly left
the room,
No sooner had she done so than the silken
curtains were dashed aside by two small
white hands, and Maud 0vington sprang
from her couch.
at is impossible to restr she exclaimed;
| can take no repose until l know all!
How long the hours are, and how mary
weary moments must pass between this and
midnight"
She took the night-lamp from its pedestal
and passed into the adjoining apartment,
which was the dressing-room, in which she
had received the man William o few nights
before.
She locked the door of the chamber,
lighted the wax tapers upon the toilet table,
and seated herself before the looking glass
She unlocked q small casket, which, among
other elegant and costly trinkets, adorned
her dressing-table. From this casket she
took small bottle, containing dark, but
transparent fluid, which she poured into
tiny crystal basin. Then, with her two
slender hands, she pushed her rich golden
hair away from her forehead, and, twisting
it into one tight knot, fastened it at the back
Of her head.
"Now for transformation she mur-
INJURED, as she contemplated herself in the
glass.
She dipped sponge into the dark fluid
In the basin and passed this wet sponge
nightly over her beautiful face. As she did
So her delicate skin changed from the hue
OF alabaster to a dark, sallow tint-such as
is seen in the complexion of an Indian
| When she had completed this change she
opened drawer in her toilet-table aud took
| from it wig of wavy black hair. She drew
this wig over her own yellow tresses, and
| fixed it firmly upon her head. This change
in the color of her hair and complexion
made her an utterly different b ing to the
lovely Maud, whose bcauty had made her
the belle of the previous season.
With a camel's-hair pencil she painted her
| eyebrows and lashes of the same hue as her
false ha r; then, rising from the tollet-table,
she went to wardrobe, from which she
took some shabby garments OF rusty mourn
lug. Sac dressed herself carefully in these
garments, among which there was widow
cap
When her toilet was complete, she ex
amined herself from head to foot in the
cheval glass.
My father would pass me in the street
without recognizing me-! she muttered.
A fire burned brightly in her bed-cham-
Der. She returned to this apartment, leav-
ing the door Of the drefsing-room open, and
seated herself close to the hearth.
''lt is cold!' she muttered "and l shiver;
but do not fear, | will 90 through with
brother Georges plan to the endm
The orlnolu time piece in the adjoining
room struck ten.
1.-Two hours to wait" murmured Miss
OvinGton.
She listened to all the noises in the large
house. She heard every step in the CORR
doris and upon the staircase without, us the
tarnily retired TO rest
Before eleven o'clock all was still.
A little after eleven, a cautious hand
knocked at the door of the dressing room.
Maud Oyington flew to respond to that
mysterious summons. She opened the door
md admitted the servant William; but the
man recoiled as he looked at her altered
lace.
"What is this?" he exclaimed; land where
is Miss Maud?"
She laughed low, silvery hugh, and put
uer finger on her lip.
my disguise must be indeed completed"
she said. II am ready. Is all sate?'
Quite safe, madam. The servants have
been in bed half an hour
And my father"
"He went to his room at ten o'clock"
Lead the way then; am ready"
She fastened the door of her bed chamber
Al. L L Il Al. I.
her dressing-room door and locked it upon
the outside, atterward putting the key in
her pocket.
The servant William walked before her
along the carpeted corridor till he stopped
before a small door. This door opened
upon the servants staircase, which they
both descended.
At the foot of this staircase they found
themselves in a.parrow passage at the end
of which was q low wooden doorway, lead
inc into the street.
William locked this door behind him,
after having passed ont into the street with
Miss Oyineton.
"you ap. verv cautious. Wil]iam! OBJ
served she.
Thanks, madam. I am glad you appre-
cate NV Services" replied the man, as he
mounted the steps leading from the base
ment
This man did not speak like an ordinary
servant. His pronunciation was correct
He smoke like q person who had been toler-
ably educated.
He conducted Miss Ovington through two
or three narrow streets, and out on to Broad
way, where they came to coach stand,
upon which were two or three vehicles,
which did night duty were stationed He
selected the plaiuest and darkest of these;
onl ,Ftar HAVING oiyen some directionS TO