Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-08-07


full Heaven" he murmured, rs she
stood before him TO be criticised.
Shall I do, Gerald?" she asked
saucily.
Need you my poor praise?" he re-.
piled sadly, taking in with jealousy the
witching grace and power of his diVin-
ity; you will have plenty of worship
pers at your shrine, who will load you
with empty flattery and baubles. You
need not fear; your conquest will be
complete this bitterly, as he turned
awav gloomy end wretc.h;
Naughty unkind old bearr' she
said wistfully; ''you are as jealous as
the veritable Moor we are rehearsing.
Cannot you see that l want to make a
name and shine for your sake?"
Juliet's debut was hailed with storm
of rapturous applause, and Gerald and
his lovely companion had to appear
again and again before the curtain at
the finish.
One gentleman in the stage lower
box never took his eyes off the lovely
Juliet; his gaze seemed riveted to the
spot, and he murmured when the drop
fell:
How divine she is, as beautiful as
an angel She must be mine. | will
move Heaven and earth to possess this
queen of hearts-yes, even if I make
her my duchess. 1t is not the first
duke who has married an actress with
far less excuse"
The Duke of BroughtOn was man
who would carry out any project with
energy and perseverance when once
his interest was aroused, and he sat
about making rigorous enquiries the
next morning concerning the history of
the debutGnte, and learnt her whole
past, also the engagement between
Gerald Ayling and herself.
But the duke being of an utterly sell
fish nature, it never altered his resolve,
but Whetted his desire only the more to
win the prize away from the eminent
actor by fair means or foul.
Where did you get that ruby brace
let, Clarinet" demanded Gerald
huskily.
IL received it this morning with
letter." she replied nervously.
81 ask you where did it come from?"
he continued, now white with jealousy
and rage.
''How savage you speak and look!"
she said, trembling.
81 shall be more presently, if you,
who are to become my wife in less
than q month, do not answer a simple
question" he said furiously.
ut was a present from the Duke of
Broughton, she faltered.
''How dare he give you presents of
this Value?' he continued wrathfully.
Come, give it to me, before / tear the
accursed bauble from your arm"
'You are 4 tyrant!" she exclaimed,
out the snowy rounded arm for him to
unclasp the glittering thing, now thor
oughly afraid to disobey him.
My future wife will not require the
Duke of Broughton's gifts, or any
other MANS" he said, somewhat APP
peased at Clarine's compliance. This
will be returned at once with our
united compliments"
''Will you be SO mean as to send it
back?" she asked angrily. s'Why,
that will be an insult"
''Can it be worse one than sending
you this bauble-you, who can earn bV
your own talents alone, carloads of
such trash?"
at was a tribute to my genius, moth
ing more"
"A trap set to waylay my darling,
who is too trusting. Come; you, I
see, cherish this bracelet because YOU
are q woman, and like pretty gewgaws.
Your desire shall be gratitied. [ will
go out at once and buy you some OF
the rarest bracelets and rings that
Bond street holds; will that satisfy my
Clarinet"
You need not do that to make me
happy" she replied coldly, though,
of course, with, as you say, woman's
natural vanity, do like pretty trink-
cts. I only have one very great de-
sire"
What is that? will grant it, dar-
ling, if | cam" he said tenderly.
Not to be SO jealous, especially in
the profession we are in. Come" this
coaxingly, Twill you promise, Ger
ald?''
Il cannot; mine is the nature of the
South, that is the reason [ pleaded SO
hard for you not to enter it, knowing,
as did, my absorbing love for you,
and the shoals and quicksands that
Turk about theatres for lovely women"
Then you don't trust me?''
Il do; [ trust everything that's pure
and holy: but it is others whom I c.; l.
not. Besides. praise is salt to wo-
mans very nature; men know that,
and that is the beginning of the end. -
Il suppose you are right, Gerald"
she replied testify.
But all was made up again, and
some magnificent jewels flashed upon
her arms when she performed that
evening, but not the dukes.
A few days after the episode about
the bracelet, when Clarine had finished
her part, she said:
"Will you mind me going home
now? have sick-headache, and to
wait for you to accompany me would
be pain.
Certainly, sweetheart. The cab
will bowl you home in no time. Go to
bed directly you arrive. l will come
the first thing in the morning."
EaaliuCr very anyioJS q bo1t hoY Cor