The Irish standard., 1888-02-11

Wv SASAsDy OSSAAAS1
cleared at last, gave our horses sharp cut
with the whip and we were whirled away,
leaving Miss Armund, who had alighted,
looking after us with vacant stare.
Mrs. Iceberg was too well bred to ask
questions, but saw that she had noted the
whole occurrence and was full Of con lecture
as 10 who the Strengthening woman could
have been who had evidently recognized me
at sight. But 1 did not enighten her. /
could not, without giving details L did not
care to disclose, for had hitherto passed as
an orphan, friend of Mrs. Kent had left,
and whom she had adopted, and nc one ever
dreamed of my being founding, reared by
charity; and, though they were kind and
generous people, I dared not trust to their
aristocratic ears the true story OF my life:
hoping I could hold my place, as before,
among them. Mrs. Kent, too, had thought
It best to say nothing in regard to my pa
rentage, though she as well as myself
would have scorned to have told a falsehood
concerning it. We merely kept silent,
thereby not committing ourselves tc our
friends.
Our drive home was silent and depressed
evidently Mrs. Iceberg expected an ex-
PLANTATION, and was somewhat angry because
IT did net come. And [ was embarrassed
and vexed that could not give it, and so we
arrived home and betook ourselves TO ou1
respective tasks, each feeling hurt at the
ather, yet without cause.
How it would have ended 7 know not,
Whether should have confessed to Mrs.
Leiberg the strange circumstances that sur.
rounded my intimacy with Miss Armund, or
whether should have preserved a sullen
ana discreet silence On the subject, [ can
not say. But fate had arranged different
explanation for all these petty difficulties,
one of which we never dreamed.
We had arranged TO attend the opera that
evening; yet little thought what a strange
chain Of events wero being forged for me-
as I finished my toilet, and posed an unnec-
essary length OF time before the cheval
glass, viewing the effect Of q new costume
OF cnerry and cream satin whose iustrous
folds glistencd in the gas light Of the pretty
room where I stood. A vain and thought
less girl after all my hard lessons Of power
ty and scc!usion, often found myself Won
dering that could be SO happy, [, who had
once scea1cd only born ior a drudge or to
be {, perpetual nuisance ever in somebody's
way.
sat down idly after dressing, and it be-
ing carly, { took up a paper and began to
read it carelessly at frst but finally aname
struck my eye that made me at once won
derfully interested 1t was the name OF
Irving Barrett. For years I had scarcely
Thought Of the boy, for however his sistez
might interest me in regard to her friend
ship with Oliver Dudley, had never
thought in common with her brothers.
But imagine my surprise and horror at
finding his name at tho head Of the criminal
cc11c ~t,,
dent fatally while engaged in a drunken
ca~ouse. He had fought the officers, so the
paper stated, like q wild beast, but had
finally been overpowered and lodged in jail,
where he now lay awaiting trial
7 read the account oyer twice before I
fairly comprchended that irving Barrett
was an accused murderer, and very likely
to suffer the full penalty Of the law, as pub
hc opinion seemed much against him. Twas
shocked aud grieved at this, for, though
Irving had ever been my enemy, and his
proud sister had scorned me as she would
lcpcr, could not but feel this must be a
terrible blow to her and her naughty mother.
And Bertie, dear, brave, manly little Bertie,
how this keen disgrace would wound himl
My heart acted for him.
But my naeditations were brought to
clcso by the entrance of the servant with
word that ali were ready and waiting for
me. ] hastily dcnned my cloak and hat and
descended, expecting to find my escort, MIR.
Balfour, waiting for me; but, instead,
note mad been sent saying he had just re-
ceive0 a telegram from homo announcing
the dangerous illness Of his father and ask
ing his immediate return; SO must excuse
him from attending, though to forego this
pleasure, he said, was a disappointment -
yet duty TO his father came first. And
then he had hastily scribbled goodbye
and a strict injunction not TO forget him,
though in the exciting scenes that followed
it is doubtful if thought Of him ever
crossed my mind.
The operahouse was filled 20 overflow.
ing. The elite of the whole city were there,
il seemed, and I g;lzed ever the brilliant
scene where the brig flashes of diamonds,
the soft glow of silks and satins, waving
pluncs, bright faces and lovely forms,
seemed to give it the likeness OF fairy land,
with 81 strange dreamy restfulness, as If all
care and suffering were lifted for a little
while from my heart. 1t was the lull be-
fore tho storm, it seemed to mo afterwards.
With q crash the music broke forth, and
all eyes were turned instantly to the stage,
for q new star was to sing, and the music
loving WCTlQ WIS Oh tIle gHt UeV". Ing AiISt
part was over; there was q lull, and then
the curtain, Slowly rising, revealed Madam
l,----, the celebrated singer whose beauty
and music world applauaed, standing be-
fore us. To the day of my death I shall
never forget that scene. The beautiful
woman liz her sill1cn robe glittering with
jewels, tho gay bright company who fol-
lowed her every move, are figures that are
stamped on my memory in characters never
TO be obhterated. The band played softly
a lovely prelude, sweet and soft as the
breezes on banks Of violets, and then Mad
am IL began to sing. Slow. soft and
sweet her voice rose, filing the whole vast
room, when suddenly there was hutter, q
1aur7nur on and near the stage; it grew in
strength, The singer paused, then went on,
but ia an instant man sprang on the stage
screaming fire at the top of his voice.
For an instant the crowd wavereds q
aing gle tongue of flame like an evil eye darted
out from q screen that decided them. With
= wild cry the people were On their feet in
an instant; tho next rush, q jam, @ furious
battle for life and escape, and the scene
beggars description. 1t would be quite I'M
possible to describe the horrors OF that hour.
The building was really in flames before the
.S,-r,1 I,,l ho1f ocoo,,o.7 f,>o,,, r.