Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-02-12

1>~~ AAN ~~S e~A SASeAS
 ton. myself never saw such a change. such an extraordinary development in any one.
 How was it that you and did not sec fur ther into hers see now, as look back upon
 her old self, that the new self was there in germ. But think perhaps it may have been the vast disproporsion of her celebrity to her performance that blinded us to the promise in her; it was irritation with the public that
 made us deliver an over nasty verdict on her.
 However that may be, have been mak- ing up my mind for some days past that the embassy on behalf of Elvira which thrust upon you, and which you SO generously undertook, was blunder on my part which it would be delightful to repair, and which no artistic considerations whatever need pre- vent me from repairing. You cannot think how divine she was in Juliet the other night
 Imperfect and harsh, of course hero and there, but still creature to build many and great hopes upon, if ever there was one. She is shaking off trick after trick; your brother ln-aw Is merciless to them whenever they appear, and she is forever working with a view to his approval, and also I think, from two or three things she has said, with a memory of that distant standard of criticism which she believes to be embodied in you!
 "M. de Chateauvieux has devoted himself to her; it is q pretty sight to see them to- gether. Your sister and she, too, are in separable, and Mime. de Chateauvieux's quiet, equable refinement makes good contrast to Miss Brethertons mobility. She will never lose the imprint of her friendship with these two people; it was happy thought which led you to bring them together.
 Well, we went to Torcello, and I.watched for an opportunity of getting her alone At last Mme de Chateauvieux gave me one; she carried off her husband, Ruskin in hand, to study the mosaics, and Miss Bretherton and I were left sitting under tho outer wall of San Fosca till they should come back. We had been talk ing of q hundred things-not of acting at all; of the pomegranates, of which she had a scarlet mass in her lap; of the gray slum- berous warmth of the day, or the ragged children who pestered us for coppers-and then, suddenly, I asked her whether she would answer me a personal question: Was there any grudge in her mind toward me for anything had said and done ill London or caused others to say and do for mel
 'She was much startled, and colored Q good deal, but she said very steadily: T feel no sort of grudge; never had any cause Well, then,' 1 went on, throwing myself down on the grass before her that might really see her expression, if you bear me no grudge. if you feel kindly towards me, will you help mo to undo a great mistake of nlineP
 ''she looked at me with parted lips and eyes which seemed to be trying to find out from my face what meant. 'WiN you,' said, hurrying on, will you take from me "Elvira," and do what you like with itg And then, do you know what happeneda Her lips Quivered and I thought she was on the point of tears, but suddenly the nervousness of each of us seemed to strike the other, and we both laughed-she long and helplessly, as if she could not help herself.
 Presently she looked up, with her great eyes swimming ill tears and tried to impress on me that was speaking hastily; that had an ideal for that play she could never prom ise to reach; that it was my friendship for her that made me change my mind; that there might be practical difficulties now that so many arrangements had been made, and so on. But would not listen to her. 1 had it all ready; had an actor to propose to her for Macias, and even the costumes ill my mind, ready to sketch for her, if need were Forbes, suggested, might and would direct the setting of the piece; no one could do it with more perfect knowledge or a moro ex- quisite taste; and for her, as we both knew, he would turn scene painter, if necessary. And so rambled on, soothing her shaken feelings and my own until she had let ne be- guile her out of her attitude of reluctance and shrinking into one at least of common interest.
 "But by the time the others came back l had not got direct consent out of her and all the way home she was very silent I, of course, got anxious, and began to think that my blunder had been irreparable; but, at any rate, was determined not to let the thing finger on So that when the Chateauvieux oc tn ctou nI wit tfo,,, Co,. supped, and afterwards in the garden boldly brought it out before them all and appealed to your sister for help. 1 knew that both she and her husband were acquainted with what had happened at Oxford, and supposed that Miss Bretherton would know that they were, so that it was awkward enough. Only that women, when they please, have such tact, such an art of smoothing over and ignoring the rough places of life, that one often with them gets through a difficult thing without realizing how difficult it is M. de Chateau vieux smoked q long time and said nothing, then he asked me a great many questions about the play, and finally gave no opinion. was almost in despair-she said so little until, just as l was going away with 'Elvira's' fate still quite unsettled she said to mo with @ smile and warm pressure of the hand: Tomorrow come and see me and will tell you yes or no!'
 And today have been to see her, and the night has brought good luckl For 'Elvira,' my dear Kendall, will be produced on or about the o0th of November, in this year of grace, and Isabel Bretherton will play the heroine. and your friend is already plunged in business, and aglow with hope and expectation. How wish-how we all wish that you were hereI I feel more and moro penitent towards you. It was you who gave the impulse of which the results are and you ought to be here with us now playing in the body that friends part when wo all yield you so readily in spirit Tell MT. Kendall were almost her last words to me, that cannot say how much owe to his influence and his friendship. He first opened my eyes to 50 many things. He was so kind to me even when he thought least of me. hope shall win word of praise from him yet!' Therei l trust that will rouse a little pleasant conceit in you. She meant it, and it is true I must go of and work at many things. To morrow or next day, after some further talk with her, shall set of look up Forbes and begin opera tions She will be in town about three weeks from now-as you know she is going to stay