The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1883-02-10
CHAPTER VII.
MISS Ov1NGroN PLAYS ACTRESS,

Upon the night Of the tenth of October.
Miss Maud Ovington retired to her apart
ments complaining of headache. Her
maid, Frenchwoman, called Julie Mainte-
non, assisted her to undreSs, and drew the
silken curtains round her luxurious couch.
She offered to sit up with her mistress, or
read her to sleep, bat Miss Maud dismissed
her.
You are very good, Julie" she said, with
that afable gentleness which characterized
her manner; ''but am very il-rest is all
require.
julie Maintenon placed the shaded night
lamp upon its alabastsr stand and softly left
the room,
No sooner had she done so than the silken
curtains were dasha3 aside by two small
white hands, and Maud Ovington spraag
from her couch.
"It is impossible to restv' she exclaimed;
I can take no repose until l know all!
How long the hours are and how many
weary moments must pass between this and
:nidnishtr'
She took the night-lamp from its pedestal
and passed into the adioir ng apartment,
Which was the dressing-roon, in which she
ha,i received the man William 4 few nights
i,Afcrc
She locked the door Of the Chamber
lighted the wax tapers upon the toilet table,
and seated herself before the lookinc-glass.
She unlocked q small casket. which, among
other elegant and costly trinkets, adorned
her dressing-table From this casket she
took a small bottle. containing da.k, but
transparent fluid, which she poured into q
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 ct the back
of her head.
snow for transformationw 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
lightly over her beautiful face. As she did
So her delicate skin changed from the hue
OF alabaster to dark, sallow tint-such as
is seen in the complexion OF an Indian.
When she had completed this change, she
opened a drawer in her toilet-table and took
from it wig OF wavy black lair. She drew
ta.s wig over her own yellow tresses. and
fixed 1t firmly upon her head. This change
IL, the color Of her hair and complexion
made her an utterly different being to the
lovely Maud. whose beauty had made her
the belle Of the previous season.
With canaels-hair pencil she painted her
eyebrows and lashes OF the same hue as her
false hair; then, rising from the toilat-table,
she went to a wardrobe, from which she
took some shabby garments of rusty mourn
ing. She dressed herself carefully in these
garments, among which there was q widows
cap.
When her toilet was complete, she ex.
amiEed 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 dressing-room open, and
seated herself close to the hearth
''It is cold!' she muttered, s'and I shiver;
but do not fear. I will go through with
brother Georges plan to the end!'
The ormolu time piece in the adjoining
room struck ten.
''Two hours to waitr' murmured Miss
Ovington.
She listened to all the noises in the large
house. She heard every step in the corri-
dors and upon the staircase without, as the
family retired to rest.
Before eleven o'clock all was still.
A little after eleven, o cautious hand
knocked at the door of the dressing-room.
Maud Ovington few to respond to that
mysterious summons. She opened the door
and admitted the servant William; but the
man recoiled as he looked at her altered
face.
"what is this?" he exclaimed; sand where
is Miss Maud?"
She laughed low. silvery laugh, and put
her fngex on her lip.