The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-12-25


lation in oblivion. Forgive your erring child
"BERTHA."
1.-THE profiigater" cried, fully alive
to the mans unmitigated villainy.
NAY, hear me out. The sister re
ferred to in the letter returned to AS
nieres month later, but the shock tc
the old people had been too much, and
ere long they were conveyed to Pere Ia
Chaise Now, there was only one course
open to the surviving daughter-re
vengep'
Exactly. but did you discover you1
man? What proofs had you?"
Simply photograph of the man as
Hamlet, which he had given to Bertha,
but registered vow / would traverse
the continent-aye, the world itself
till l had discovered the destroyer Of
my family"
Again Bebe's emotions interfered
with her utterance, and she looked as il
she were going to swoon. sprang for
ward
BE seated, she said authoritatively.
began to wish myself some miles
from Treverton.
She paused moment and then re-
gained her composure.
My story is almost finished. / am
Bertha's sisterP'
"You?"
81, Bebep'
Here she drew herself up to her full
height, and her eyes positively blazed
with indignation. Crossing the room,
she clutched me by the collar and Kissed:
"You are her murderer
Then, releasing me, she sank back ex-
hausted.
My first idea was to escape, but ere ]
could put the plan into execution she
continued:
81 have prayed for this night to
come. Z"
am fain to confess did not coincide
with her devotional past wishes.
"But surely, madame, you cannot con-
meet me with this villain?"
mo connection is necessary. You are
the man. With this photograph in my
pocket / have visited nearly every thea
ter in England Early in the present
week took box at the Theater Royal
You played Hamlet. The moment you
stepped ON the stage was convinced
you were the man. Ny one object was
to get you in my power. l have succeed
ed. f"
"But, / urged, this is madness.
Any other actor might be selected as
your victim simply because he played
the unfortunate prince of Denmark. -
"Pestel told you have prepared an
entree with my own hands. Remove the
dish
l instinctively raised the cover from
the salver, and there, revealed to view,
were a couple Of revolvers. Heavens,
here was a predicament to be placed inl
/ rushed to the door. 1t was fastened.
Come, " she cried Historically, you
do not fear? 1t is the old story of re-
venge. Choosep
AS she proffered the revolvers there
was an air of determination about my
lady that certainly BODIED i'll for me.
Cannot this be settled some other
way?' / asked,
"Emphatioally no. 1t is duel to the
deathl''
By this time my opponent had de-
tached a diamond necklace that sur
rounded her neck, and christening her
dress displayed her bosom.
"You see, l am not afraidP' she
gasped hoarsely.
eosJ ftkhso 10 q aa1.i ono
matter. assure you know nothing Of
your sister, Or
In another moment she pushed the
weapon into my hand.
1--WE fire across the table. Will you
count?''
"NoP' l exclaimed as cheerfully as
could be expected of a man who expects
to either be shot-or hanged.
''Then viii give the signal.
may not be written down as brave,
but l looked hopefully toward the door.
"Are you ready9
"OneI
'Twol
"Threep'
Click There was no report
At this point the door was burst VIC
lsntly open, and three men entered.
EIer attention was at once diverted from
me to them.
In less time than it takes to write
Bebe was secured and conveyed down
stairs, where nurse and determined
looking man were in waiting. She was
guarded by the company till the follow
ing morning, when she was seen by a
surgeon and magistrate, and on their
certificates transferred to La Belle
France.
From information subsequently given
I learned that at least a part of her story
was true.
Her sister, after a romantic courtship
with a young English actor, had become
insane and committed suicide. This had
SO disastrous an effect on the mind of
Bebe as to impair her mental faculties.
She was placed in private asylum in
Paris, but eluding the vigilance of her
custodians had escaped, reached Eng
land, and with her sisters photograph
in her possession had resolved on hunt
ing down her old lover.
She had only been in England ten
days, during which time she had resided
a week at the Hotel Victoria.
Her conduct had been sans reproche,
but her eocentricities had not escaped
notice, and it was during her absence
that the proprietor Of the hotel -
thoughtful soul had ordered the car
tridges to be withdrawn from the reyolv-
ers in case of accident.
This thoughtfulness on his part had
saved my life. On retiring for the night
he had overheard the alteration and
promptly communicated with the po
lice, who had just received visit from
the keepers in connection with Bebe. It
may be superstition. but seldom look
at stage box now without remember
ing Bebe and box Good Company.