The Dickinson press., 1893-09-30

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"Of conrse she is putting forth all her
force, all her pathos, and all her talents to
night" continued the willy Margot; and l
don't wonder at it, since l see so many
OF her admirers in the boxes. The
Count de Brandcnhurg never once removes
his eyes from the Corona while she is act
ing: but the moment she makes her exit,
he turns his back upon the stage, and like
wise upon wlloInsucver she may leave up.
on it
Did you see him do as much, MAIDEN.
oiselle:." asked Paul Favarg,. uneasily.
Yes. over and oyer rgain," replied the
actress.
AT this moment, Corona, flushed with
success, let the stage. aud entered the
green-room. followed by the Count de
Brandenburg, who had Just quilted his
box. and rushed behind the scenes. to coIn-
pliment the actress upon the wondrous
powers she had but now displayed.
Paul Favarge looked annoyed; and
madcmoiselle .!.udrc took possession ofthe
unoccupied seat by hi. side.
What supreme felicity it you'd be to
be the husband ufa woman thus ever flat
tered by titled ari>tocrats!" sneered Mar
got Iadre, glancing towards the Coro-
ma. II would not envy the lot of such a
The actor WINGED nj these Ito him) sting
ing remarks; but remembering that his
engagement to Corona was not genera ly
known. and that Madcmoiselle Ladre
might be in utter %ignoraace of it, lie for
bore making My reply.
The Count was taking to Corona, bend.
ing over the chair on which she had just
seated herself. His face was full Of anima-
ton, while her, was calm and ~listless.
She did not care or his ti.ttering speeches.
nor Tor the love-words he contrived to
minglc with his syll bles of praise.
AT length he drew forth a diamond brace
let, and pre- en,ed it. For the Corona.
from the Emperor, whose manager am II
he said offering to clasp the costly circlet
OH the actresses arm.
From the Emperor! Corona dared not
refuse the valuable gift. so she permitted
the Count to iasten it around her wrist.
Mademoise!lc Ladre's eyes were at work.
She saw the glitterins bracelet placed on
Corona's arm: and her cnvious Heart was
well-nigh bursting. She looked around at
her companion, malice cleaning i'll her
grey eyes; but Paul was looking Oh the
with his %bctrothcd. with himself,
and with everything about him like.
wise.
Paul Favarsc's temper was rutled to-
night. His really excellent acting had
been passed over almost without notice,
"llilC tilit VI SOlolu Iud USSI 1CNuluctt
with dcatening shouts and braves. He did
notlike this treatment; and his spirit was
CALLED at that which should have most re-
joiced it, namely, Corona's success.
Presently Mademoiselle I.alre touched
Paul on the shoulder and tlirtel me full in
his face.
Paul Fayarse, recognizing me, flushed an
angry scarlet.
Pardon mr," he said. pointing to me.
SIS not this Corona dc Marncy's tan?"
"As>urediy it is, Monsieur F%avarge,' an
swercd Mademoi~,llr I.adre, quickly" and
using me very freely u she spoke.
He made no further remarks: but he
moane'i inwarlly at finding his costly love-
! token to Corona III the hands Of another
woman.
Margot I.a,irc understood something of
his tcclings-tur she guessed it was he who
had given Inc to the ~Corona-Dut she
looked quite innocent, and went on as be-
fore.
Its n pretty tritle. isn't it," said, she
wa ting me to and fro. ~ call it a trifle,
because it must be such to one who re-
ceivcs diamond bracelets from the Count
dc l5randenbur..
Corona has received no bracelet from
the Count" flushed Paul Favarge. Mad
cmoisellc must have been misinformed on
the sub, cct.'
use our W eyes, Monsieur Favarge,"
Margot rejnined, lightly Struggling her
white shoulders, and nodding towards the
noble adllircr i'll Il iar-otf corner Of the
room.
Paul F'avarge's gaze fell on the glistening
jewels on his betrotled ones arm, and u
sickening sensation crent through all his
veins. When. when did Corona become
wherefore hal she never mentioned it to
him. to him who had the right to know
her every action?
Corona. meanwhile, though apparently
listeleslg to her noble admirer. was narrow:
lv watching her lover. Pau! Favarge. and
Madcmoi>clle Ladre. Corona could see
that lady smiling on Paul. and di playing
all her many attractions: II certain
jealous fears crcpt into the Corona's heart
Presently she was summoned to attend
the business Of the stage; and the Count do
Bran;ienlurg. following the actress, Pau
gether.
Now Margot was very spec:ous and very
clever as we'll; and she had a tongue tina
could speak most iairly-that could beii'
the feelings OF her heart: and she could
smile and deceive every day i'll the week
and every hour o the day, when she fonnt
it was to her own particular interest to d.
so.
Margot Ladre. pcrceiving Pauls presen
humor, determined to take advantage Oft
Mar.ot was ambitious. She did not l,ket
stand in the second ranks when she i'm
i, agined she ought to ~bcsiamdirg in the first
, and she was longing to steal Pau Favarge'
drive her away from Paris. ii she could. j
order thai the field might be left entirel
to herself. Margot was we'll aware OF he
. own charms of person, and OF her rover
of fascination also; and she doubted not be
ing able to gain a certain influence over tn
unstable mind of Paul Favarge. He va
smarting with disappointment, and sll
sympathized with him, and fa,tered hin
and Paul was, at length. o to listen t
her-won to whisper back INTO her ear til
candied words she had just poured into hi
own
Thus encouraged. Margaret Ladre's eye
melted and dashed by turns, and her voic
, grew softer and softer in its tones, whic
tones begun to penetrate the actors to
susceptible breast.
Paul looked up into the beauteous fac
of the speaker, and became gradually en-
tranced by it.
Marquis accents, were o tremulo U
and broken; She was forgetting the mod
esty of her sex; she was conicssing-i
clcaked language, / admit-hcr lOng-ceal
ell passion for Pau! Favarse; and lie wa
hcarkclliny to her with evident attentiol
and pleasure, forgetting. nj that moment
the Corona and al her gentleness, and he
unseltish love.
While Paul and Mango. were thus enga
gcd in serious converse, unheed!nl OF Oh
servation, Corona, who hadjust quilted til
Stage paused before the open green-roon
door, and then stood trarsiixed-transtixe
with amaze!ncnt, Jealousy. and anger.
They (Margot and paul) did not see tn
rigid figure in the doorway, and still pur
sued theis theme, uttering to IN anothe
burning words, each one of which strucl
deeply into the Corona's breast. Present.
Paul stopped forward ana pressed his LIP
on Margot Ladre's white brow: then, wit
a shudder and a stitlrd cry, the wronge
. Corona staggered away. back to the stag,
: which was waiting for her.
Corona, now excited, and almost besid
herself. acted like one absolutely inspire.
ad electrifying her audience with her earne
and imprisoned voice and gestures. H,
jealousy OF Aldabella-hcr betrayal of b
own beloved husband--her outbursts
rage, entreAty, and despair-wcre thrillil
= in the extreme, aud burst after burst of a
= pause re-ech"ed throughout the walls
the theatre. But the Corona was deaf
the lou bravoe, re.ounding on every sic
she was thinking of one who was false