Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-03-10

dAio IOScS aSdlA 0y lOAu SiiAiACs su'erDiy. and presses u second loan on her. From that moment her luck turns She wins, and wins largely. Her brother, tue baron, trying his fortune ill another room, hears of what Is going on, and joins my lord and the countess.
 Pay attention, if you please. to the baron. Ha 'ss aelneated aS> TemarkaDle and interest ing character.
 rms noble person has begun life with single minded devotion to the science of ex- perimental chemistry, very surprising ill young and handsome man with a brilliant l future before him. profound knowledge or Ihe occult sciences has persuaded tue baron tbat 1t IS possible ro solve the famous prob lem called The Philosophers Stone.' His own pecunlaly resources have long since been ex- hausted by his costly experiments. His sister has next supplied him with the small fortune i at her disposal; reserving only the family jew els, placed ill the charge of her banker and 1 friend at Fran fort. The countess fortune also being swallowed up, the baron has in a fatal moment sought for new supplies at the gaining table. He proves, at starting on his perilous career, to be favorite of fortune; wins largely, and alas! profanes his noble en- thusiasm by yielding his soul to the all debas- ing passion of the ganester
 'At the period of the play the baron's good 1 fortune has deserted him. He sees his way to a crowning experiment. ill the fatal search after the secret of transmitting the baser metals into gold. But how is he to pay the preliminary expenses2 Destiny, like mock ing echo, answers How
 "Will his sisters winnings with my lords money) prove large enough to help him! Eager for this result, he gives the countess his advice how to play From that disastrous moment the infection of his own adverse for ff,1 ccfo l,ol again-loses to the last farthing
 "The amiable and wealthy lord offers a l third loan, but the scrupulous countess posi- lively refuses to take it. On leaving the table | she presents her brother to my lord. The I gentlemen fall into pleasant talk My lord ! asks leave to pay his respects to the countess the next morning at her hotel. The baron hospitably invites him to breakfast. My lord accepts, with last admiring glance at the countess which does not escape her brothers observation, and talk cs his leave for the night
 "Alone with his sister. the baron speaks out plainly. Our affairs,' he says 'are in a desperate condition and must find desperate remedy. Wait for me here while make in quiIies about my lord. You have evidently produced q strong impression on him. If we can turn that impression iEto money, no matter at what sacrifice, the thing must be | done.'
 "The countess now occup pies the stage alone and inlulges ill a soliloquy which develops her character.
 ] "It is at once dangerous and attractive character. Immense capacities for good are implanted ill her nature, side by side with equally remarkable capacities for evil. It rests with circumstances to develop either the one or tue other. Being g person who pro- duces sensation wherever she goes, this noble lady is naturally made the subject of all sorts of scanslalous reports. To one of these reports-which falsely and abominably points to tue baron as her lover instead of her brother-she now refers with just indigna- tion. She has just expressed her desire to 1 leave Honaburg, the place ill which tue vile 1 calumny first took it's rise, when the baron returns, overhears her last words, and says to her. 'Yes, leave Homburg by all means; provided you leave 1t in the character of my lords betrothcd wife!
 "The countess is startled and shocked. She protests that she does not reciprocate my lords admiration for her. She even goes the length of refusing to see him again. The baron answers, I must positively have com nland of money. Take your choice, between marrying my lords income, i'll the interest of my grand discovery-or leave me to sell my self and my title to the first rich woman of low degree who is raady to buy me- "The countess listens in surprise and dis may. Is it possible that the baron Is in earnest2 He is horribly in earnest. The woman who will buy me- he says, lis ill the next room to us at this nronlent. She is the l wealthy widow of Jewish usurer. She has the money want to reach the solution of the great problem. I have only to be that woman's husband, and to make myself master of untold millions of gold. Take five minutes to consider what have told you, and tell me on my return which of Us is to marry for the money want, you or I.'
 'As he turns away, the countess stops him.
 "All the noblest sentiments in her nature are exalted to the highest pitch, Where is the true wonan.' she exclaims, who wants time to consummate the sacrifice of herself, when the man to whom she is devoted de- mands it"
 "She does not want five minutes she does not want five seconds-she holds out her hand to him, and she says: Sacrifice me on the altar of your glory! Take as stepping stone on the way to your triumph, my love, my liberty and my lifer
 "On this grand situation the curtain falls Judging by my first act, Mir. Westwick, tell me truly, and don't be afraid of turning my head. Am not capable of writing good playw
 | Henry paused between the HlSG ana SecONQ acts-refecting, not on the merits of the play, but on the strange resemblance which the in- cidents so far presented to the incidents that had attended the disastrous marriage of the first Lord Montbarry.
 Was it possible that the countess, in the present condition of her mind, supposed her. self to be exercising her invention when she was only exercising her memory?
 The question involved consideration too se- rious to be made the subject of 8 hasty decis- ion Reserying his opinion, Henry turned the page and devoted himself to the reading of the next act. The manuscript proceeded as follows:
 ''The second act opens at Venice. An in- 1 terval of four months has elapsed since the date of the scene at the gambling table. The action now takes place in the reception room of one of the Venetian palaces.
 'tThe baron is discovered alone on the stage. He reverts to the events which have l happened since the close of the first act. The countess has sacrificed herself; the mercenary marriage has taken place-but not without obstacles caused by difference of opinion on the question of marriage settlements.
 Private inquiries instituted in England have informed the baron that my lords chief