The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-06-06
LlONNE'S REVENGE.
ATRAGlc ROMANCE oFThELAsT
CENTURY.
CHAPTER XxviI.

the private box to the right of the stage nj
the-Theatrc. The house was brilliantly
lighted and we'll filed Ly Il fashionable aud
approaching audience. Mr.. Dcvillc's eyes
wandered over the crowd, turning from ii he
many beautiful women that grmmcd the
dress. circle. To rest Will, pride upon tho more
brilliant beauty oftl,r young girl ut his side.
He saw that this new splendid beauty wns
attracting general attention.
Never vet. in her short young life, had Per-
dta looked so brilliantly beautiful as upon
this evening.
And Orvile Dcvillr gazing in silent ndmirn-
tion, suddenly .or the first time in his knowl-
edge o her mir young liz sees II resemblance
which thcaccident of costume and oicmotion,
and oil light and shade, betrayed TO him.
Yes it was the Reproduced ant, living i'm.
age of l.ionne. as fourteen years br!orn lie
had seen her first in the gloom OF tho thunder
cloud and the glory oflishtning, on the brink
OF the ain prccipicc.
While he gazrd in something like amaze
mcnt. doubling his own senses and sanity,
Per,litn turned to answer some observation
made by Colonel Bingham. who WIS seated
upon hcr lett and by his change OF position
the accident oflight and shade wax reversed,
md the identity of resemblance ,lispcllcd;n and
before Colonial bingham could point ont to
Pcrita the various PERSONS present ,listin-
guisie,i fnrtalcnt. wenlth position. lenuty, or
fashion, rtr., the curtnin rose. and the attcn-
ton of ali was rivctcl upon the stage.
At first Periiia'S iaclitirs were II little be-
wiereh by the novelty of the whole scene.
Her eyes were dazzlcd by the glowing OF
gnu,ly roors. the gIttering of scwclS, the
cleaning o. steel. aud the flashing OF lights,
before she could we'll understand what was
M t.l f.In 81 ami val
her anxiety being to behold the expected
wonder o' the evening, the illustruiis Mel.
pumrnc.
oh, see; She comes!' exclaimed our young
FcrdIta, as lady lin II CLEAN of satin aud
glimmer OF pearls with her bright hair en-
circled by he golden round of royalty,
entered upon the scene "Scc, is that Mel.
pomcnc.'
Colonel bingham smiled mud whispered
NO, my dear that is not lh" star That
is only II ru>hligit. Not Eoxanu, but the
little Princess l'arisitns."
l!nt she il very beautiful and stately
a pretty and intelligent girl, well got up
the foot lights do he rest"
Tcr,lila watched the progress OF the drama
with the interest of n novice. The scene
changed.
Presently again Perlita rrasr,l the arm
OF the old riend. cxrlaimin.r hrrathlrssly-
"ol, there she certainly isl as II lady
and gold, with the royal din'i"m OF glory NJ
ON her brow. r,cr,Dlcd by music aud attend
cd by counters entered upon the S,rnc.
Colonel bingham laughed saying
Mistaken ngnln; this is only til" daughter
OF Darius, the Princess So'iri, iorwl,om Al
cNnn,irr lns iorsHkcn RoNaun"
"i.ut she is royalty beautiful, and walks,
and speaks and looks like - queen
"l'm-m-yrs. Mrs. West who plays this
part is Il tinc-lookinr woman, of COisi,iern-
be ,alrnt--sr;irlrt aud gold, rouge AMI ring
let's do the test.
rrr,iitu looked at him rcproachtully
why will you damp all my delight" she
asked.
1t do not wish you to waste cnt husasm
on these trumpery people. High. unnp-
pronrlahlr genius is III" only thing worthy
of such warmth. Wait. my little rustic, ull-
Ill You see Mrpomenr. ;,s EuNnna."
1T seems we ara never 10 see her. The
fist act is almost over, said Pcr,iitu impa-
ticntly
And the second act will lie quite over he
fore You see her These royal pcrsonngcs
are chnry of their presence. especially this
royal Mripomcnr, replied Colonel bingham
smiling.
The rising Of the curtain upon the third
NJ, restored lier good hnmor.
"Ol there she is nov: that is Mclpom"no.
that is koXnna that is the queen. rNrnitne,l
pcr,l,a, lin the low hustled tone % intense
feeling. ais she bent forward In gaze upon
the scene.
There sat II woman who never met tie e:,zc
otth"pullir. except beyond the hari'iero the
iuoti"hts. yet woman, who in bower or hall.
church or mart. must hnye drawn all eyes
upon herself. as the magnet draws steel.
courtier. II messenger, il seemed. of
heavy News. stood ut II respectable distance,
waiting ;or her words.
The spectacle represented that scene of the
drama in which Cussanlcr brings to tho
queen intelligence that She is iois;Iken hy
Alexander Tor the irrslcr charms OF the
daughter OF Darius, the Young Princess
Sta,ira. She the ioIs;lkun Queen, had not
yet spoken. She had heard the news and her
still white fac" wns that of n goddess stun.
ned into mnrl,le by astonislInl-nt. which is,
as yet. too inrredulouS to he mixed with an
ger or pain. Her words AMI her tone. when
she first spoke wcr. low. slow, measured. and
vain and in"relul"us as her look:
D.scrted'--ndst thou or II glrl aban-
duncd?.
4 puny girl. made up of watcry elements?
Shall She embrace the god OF my desire.
And triumph in The heart RoNam;t claims.
Yet. somehow. these words and that look
thrilled to he hearts of all xio hcuri and
snw them.
fcrdita's gaze remained rivrtel upon the
scene as itpro@rrssed. She WATCHED with in.
ana = soul. as her inrrcduIity was merged in
doubt nndhe doubt WAS lost in certainty
And then the stony stiffness of the deserted
wifi, and outraged tlurrn WAS brOErn as
startingly as II rork is blasted by an r.plo-
sion of gtlnpowder: and when throwing ur
her arms. she Numbered forth
Away! away! and give n whirlwini room.
the effect was almost terrific
With Il halt-sm otherc,l gasp. Per,litu sank
I,,,c 10
Colonel bingham, II "harkneycd piay.go-
rr,' smiled. and. STOPPING forward, whisper
ed to Mr.. Deville-
"Uur young rustic will expose us to ridi-
Guile if she be,ruys such acute feeling"
There was no answer. Colonel bingham,
nstonshct. fixed his eyes upon his silent
friend. aud started.
Well The might.
Urviilc Drvic sat motionlcSs. coloiless us
n statue gazing in sort of horror OF annze
M"nt upon the fury on the stage.
"DcvilIc! Why, in the name of all the fate.
that ails yon? Has this sorccrcss bcwitch
I'd you" inquired The Colonel
81 have just rccollrc,rd IL most pressing
| engagement, fon-yon will obi.e me by
taking charge Of Prulitn, aud bringing lrl
home nj the close of Tho performance" said
Mr. neville. in an ngitateh manner, as In
hnrrie'lly arose from his sent.
Are You going, l,apn::' asked Pcrdita
farming al the sound Of his voice
Yes, my hrnr. ,in engagement have just
remembered rDls ne away, You need not
leave Colonel bingham will take you
| home.
"Certainly: with pleasure" replied tolGn"
bingham. still i'll nma2emcnt. And before ht
| had recovered his presence OF mind Mr. Devil,
| had LETT the box.
| Prrdtn $ attention was once more drawn
| to the stage by til" entrance of Sta,irn, whri
rns,ied he celebrated stormy encounter he
| tween tho *Eival Queens"
| The intense interest and excitement of thu
young girl increased in proportion TO tn,
rising action and passion oi the drama. unit
ut last. nj the catastrophe where RoNnnn
overwhelmed with wrongs aud ius'llts an,
Irenzied with jealousy aud despair, destroy.
her rival, then the young i'rdirn. pale will
profound emotion, sank back and once NOR,
covered her face with her hands.
The cmrtnin fell umid th,inlcrs Of applause
''khali We wait foF the a!ierpiece:' inquire,
Colonel Bingham.
"Oh. no; let us go. murmurrG Perila.
"Weli. at least. perhaps you would like 1,
see the ballet between the prccs?"
mo no. nothing after this. Take III
home.
'El,husiast! Well, come then" said Col
onci Bingham. rising and placing the 81
mine mant le upon the shoulders olhis cl,;lrw,
The applause cnntinu"a--nnymcntrl
cries 0i 'RoXanu! Ruxnna! RoNnnu." file
the house.
They nrc calling her cut. viii YOU sto
/, m3mrnt TO SIZE li"r'' asked the Colonel
Eyes, yes murmurcd rcrtitn cagery
Her" Il grntirhar from the next box, benz
ing forward, said
at is NO llsr, Colonel. She will not com,
She never has done NO yet, and it is not likcl
,l.at she wilInow."
well see" said Colonel Bingham.