Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1890-01-04

that l went to Isabel and sought to
dissuade her from having the scene.
1t will be too murderous looking,
Isabel, was all the objection l could
feebly utter, for dared not give voice
to the terrible thoughts that had come
to me, that were, after all, but mere
suspicion.
Foolish Edna, was Isabei's laugh
ing response; chow absurd for you to
imagine that will give up my best
scene for such a Puritanical objec-
tonI'
TOO murderous looking2" she added,
still laughing "Why, that is Just what
we want; something that will thrill
the hearts of our audience and cause
them to long remember the scene"
Having no more that | dared say, l
soon after went to my room to begin
making my toilet
Finding it to be more early than
had imagined it to be, decided, be-
fore dressing, to take short stroll in
the beautiful grounds without, to try
if the cool night air would take away
some OF my nervous headache.
Once without, l made my way to-
ward my favorite retreat, a little sum-
mer house heavily draped with vines,
that commanded a most charming
view of the sea beyond.
| had gone about half way in the
path leading to it, when the sound of
voices attracted my attention.
l recognized them at once as those
of Cecil Vernon and Madeline Har-
leigh, and, scarce knowing what did,
stood as one rooted to the spot, while
Cecil, in a voice thrilling with pas
sion, poured into the willing ears of
Madeline the story of his mad, ador-
ing love for her, and | beheld the
white, wrathful face of Inez, that re-
sembled that of some fend incarnate,
all unperceived by the lovers, peering
in upon them through the heavy vines
that draped the summer house.
1t was a fitting night for that fatal
betrothal of Cecil and Madeline, for
she, after listening to his impassioned
tale of love, had crowned it with her
promise to become his wife at an early
day.
Dark clouds crept over the sky and
yelled the silvery glory of the moon,
and the rising wind walled in the tree
tops like some doomed spirit, while the
sea waves rolled higher and higher
toward the shore like a mass of inky
blackness, now booming with sullen,
laundering roars and then dying faint
ly away, as if chanting a requiem for
| the dead
Keeping in the dense shadows of the
trees, with wildly throbbing heart, |
made my way, silently and undetect-
ed, back to the house, and hastily
sought my room.
Summoning my maid, l babe her
! haste with my toilet, and when at last
| it was completely went Iranoiingif
through the long, softly carpeted cor
rider and knocked timidly at Inez's
door.
When | entered | found her stand
ing before the long mirror, while her
maid put the finishing touches to the
superb dress of amber tinted satin,
with its draperies OF richest black lace,
caught here and there with gold and
crimson roses that set off her dark,
glorious beauty as a golden frame
does rare picture, and that she was
to wear in the tableau
Surely" | thought, with a shud-
der, as gazed upon her marble white
face and wildly burning eyes, with
their lurid lights, she looks every
inch the character she is to represent,
and, if she continues to do so during
the tableau, she will, indeed, thrill
with horror the hearts of all who gaze
upon her and make her acting appear
to them for the time reality"
"Oh, Ednaw she exclaimed, as she
caught sight of me and turned from
the mirror. II feel as if | cannot take
the part assigned to me; but" she
Kissed the next moment, more to her
self than to me, "do it | must and
willi"
I was about to persuade her to make
some pretext for declining to take the
part allotted to her, but just then |
heard the impatient voice of Isabel in
the corridor without, and the next mo-
ment she had burst in upon us, eagerly
asking if we were not nearly ready,
and with that same strange feeling of
terror which | could not define, but
which grew stronger within me each
moment, | was forced to leave Inez
with my words of entreaty unspoken.
A little later, when beheld Inez in
the stately drawing room, where in
vited guests were assembled, she be-
trayed no trace of her past emotion,
for excitement had given a rich hue
to her face, before SO marble like, the
lurid lights had all faded out of her
eyes, and she passed from one to
another and paused at last beneath
the blaze of the great chandelier, where
| Cecil Vernon stood with Madeline
| Harleigh, her red lips were wreathed
only with the sweetest smiles.
What superb actress she isl" ]
mentally decided, knowing as l did
the fires of rage and hatred burning
within her heart, that the beautiful,
smiling face so artfully concealed.
At last the other tableaux were over
and duly appreciated and applauded,
and the curtain rose slowly on the last
and most beautiful, 1.-The Jealous
Wife"
A hush of admiration came over the
audience as the beautiful picture pre-
sented itself to their view.
Madeline Harleigh, robed in dress
| of palest blue silk, with draperies of
frosty lace looped with white roses and
| pearls, reclined on luxurious couch,
| and bending over her with world of
passionate love in his eyes, that were
| fastened upon her face, while he ca
ressingly toyed with the rope of the
same cool, white cleaning gems and
fragrant flowers that were twined amid
the heavy waves OF her gold bronze
hair, was Cecil Vernon, while lnez
gazed upon them through the heavy
draperies with a cleaning, jeweled
dagger held aloft over Madelines heart.
It was a strangely beautiful yet aw-
full picture, and it held the brilliant
assemblage that gazed upon it breath
less with alternate admiration and a
sort of horror.
For the fearful beauty of Inez was
one that Mortified while it fascinated,
and never while life shall last can l
forget her as she looked at that mo-
ment.
"What superb actressl How real
| she makes it seeml She would make