The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-12-04
THE MYSTERIOUS ACTRESS.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK. ]

WIS llO tldllHts ~ Ahop NoAhS eAAS
closing week of Speranza's engage
ment. In two weeks she would |
leave for st. Petersburg. One night
the dird appeared more radiant than
any had ever seen her. The slight
shade of melancholy that sometimes
clouded her brow when in repose
was gone-she was brilliant as a
sunbeam. Her acting was glorious,
and garlands of laurels, bouquets
and baskets of flowers were shower
ed upon her. From them all she
singled out the wreath of laurel and
roses that had been thrown by Lord
Darrell She raised it to her lips,
looked straight at him where he sat
and bowed and smiled.
He understood the sign the OBJ
stacle had been removed. He has
tened to the carriage to speak to her.
"Come Tomorrow" whispered her
thrilling voice.
As early as etiquette would per-
init on the next morning he was
with her.
Am l to be happy?" he asked.
For answer she put both her hands
in his, and looked at him with a
smile full of tenderness and grace.
Then she drew him to a divan /;
and embraced by his arms she told
the story of her life. What wretch
ed story it was
The child of a superannuated ac-
tress, broken in health and sunk in
poverty, she had been sold before
she was quite fourteen to the mana
ger of provincial Italian theater-
who wanted her partly because her
budding charms pleased his coarse
passion, but chiefly because he saw
in her talents and beauty "mine Of
gold" as he called it. Her mother
died and the child's married life was
one of bitter slavery. Made to act
whether well or ill, treated like a
chattel, her previous poverty thrown
It up to her daily, watched jealously
A. and coarsely abused, beaten, SANDER
d ed by her brutal keeper, her exist
e e ence was a burden, only relieved by
e genuine love for her art.
=, A boy had been born to her, anC
he had taken it away at once-wher'
i1s she never knew he had told her i
50 was dead, but this she did not be
lieve. Finally, his cruelty became
SO terrible that she had left him bu
> he followed her, dragged her back
forced her once more ON the stage
spent her earnings in wild orgie
and dissipation, giving her only
es stage wardrobe, and forcing her t
lis always stay within doors, because il
. spite of her rich earnings she ha'
not decent clothes.
Again She 6SftsS' flis' him he pursue
her, but she eluded him, change,
her name, came to England, hire
two stalwart defenders and live
fortified, as it were, in her prett
miniature castle, fearful of the reaI
pearance of the madman who woul
wreak his malignant revenge upo,
her, if he could do nothing else.
Mad she believed him to be, bu
he hid it cunningly and suppresse'
the proof of his condition.
This was the secret of her seclul
ion, of her armed attendants, he
m walled dwelling, her refusal of tn
man she loved.
But change had come +; she wa
free death had had liberated he
'i' from her burden of fear. Yesterda
she had NeApolitan paper amour
. cling the death of this tyrant. Sh
p was free to give herself to the ma
ca she loved, "if he still wishes to r'
IT, ceive me after he has known all,
she ended, looking at Lord Darrell.
10 "Your misfortunes only max
&C. you more dear, my beautiful p wa
We his answer as he tenderly presse
lr- her in his arms.
1t was settled that they should b
,d married as soon as her engagemer
expired.
Never had she played so well q
- in these last days of her performanc
for loved and joy were now her il
spiration.
, Lord Darrell came every day to Sc
by her. She saw no one else, nor care
lis to see any but him. One evening
however, he persuaded her to receiv
two of his best friends. They cam
and were charmed by the grace an
divine singing of the beautifl
fancee.
Later in the evening damas
curtain was drawn aside by its gol
colds, and an exquisite little banqu,
was disclosed to view. Rare frui
purple and amber wines in crysti