The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-11-27
THE MYSTERIOUS ACTRESS.

THE MYSTERIOUS ACTRESS.
The most wonderful actress of her
time (though she passed with mete-
or swiftness from the mimic world)
was known simply as "Speranza."
She appeared mysteriously in Lon
don, won the hearts oftheatre mana
gers by her exceeding grace and
beauty, and, without any interme-
diate nebulous phases, mounted at
once to the zenith of footlight fame
the brightest star of the stage. No
words can do justice to the grace of
her 1.-the form or the marvellous
beauty of her face. Her neck, her
shoulders, were models for a sculp-
tor, as were her beautiful head and
arms, so expressive in every move
ment. In truth, each limb and feat
ure spoke when she acted. Her
dark eyes melted with love, or trans
fixed with scorn, or flashed with
fury her very hair seemed instinct
with life and expression in every
lock of its multitudinous, ripping
tresses her voice ran the gamut of
all feeling-rich, deep, thrilling.
When was such voice known be-
fore?
She had worshipers by the score !;
but they adored her from distance,
as men admire the brilliancy of
comet,
Lovely, but lonely; flashing, but
far"
She came before them in the play !;
she dazzled and enthralled behind
the footlights. But when the cur
tain fell at close of the performance
men saw her no moreno more un-
til the next nights representation.
She received no visitors she per-
mitted no attention. An erect, sol
dierly old man, whose white mus
tache, keen eye, and stately bearing
gave him the look of an "Old Guardp
stood ready always to escort her to
the closed carriage that waited for
! her at the private entrance of the
theater. He wore short sword and
pistols at hir side. The driver, also
a powerful man, carried arms. A
military escort, certainly! They had
never been heard to utter word.
The old grenadier's manner was pro-
foundly respectful, nor did he ever
enter the carriage. He rode along
side it on horseback. He could not
therefore, be either the father Or hus-
band of the beautiful actress.
Her home was little bijou of a
house, but no singularly shut in as
to be inaccessible to the outside
world. A tall dark green wall sur
rounded it, along the top of which
was set Il row of spikes. The win
dows were strongly shuttered, and a
pair Of ferocious dogs guarded the
place. There was no lack, however,
of beauty. Clump and hedges OF
laurel and loburnum, terraces, and
fairy-like summer-houses beautifed
the Enclosures, flowers, bloomed in
ornamental pots and a marble Hebe
poured a silvery fountain from a
cup of wonderful shape and carving
No one could boast that he had ever
entered within these charmed por-
tails.
This mysterious scclusion enhanc-
| ed the the interest attached to the
! beautiful actress. Men raved about
} her, rained costly bouquets at hei
/, feet, wrote impassioncd verses in hei
honor, and sent her bMet-dour by
the basketful. They followed hei
persistently, but with no result
5 Their attendance was courteously
but firmly declined their flowers
and applause accepted as the need
Y of the artist, not as compliments tc
the woman. This difficulty of ap-
proach tantalized her suitors and
heated their ardor yet more. One
especially was more devoted than the
rest, and more deserving, for his love
was as honorable as it was ardent.
Yet young Lord Darrell was the
most eligible parti in London. Rich
young, handsome, noble and dash
ing, no wonder that the damsels OF
his aristocratic set bit their red lips
in angry disappointment, and that
5 their maneuvering mammas smoth-
5 cred Il feeling of rage under their
smiles at the indifference he mani
tested to every face other than the
one that shone in strange, starliko
beauty upon him when the curtain
rose and the diva bowed to the tenn
pest of applause that always greeted
her
Speranza could but observe this
young man, with his fine, high-bred
fnce. nlWnvs in his seat near the