The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-04-14
lCONTINUED.l

When the applause had srbsided there
was n pause, and the prima donna per.
ceived with beating heart that every
body's eyes were fixed upon her, as If ex-
pecting reply. She cast dismaycd
look at Bellngham, but his eyes were
cast down. and an expression of GOODNESS
had suddenly overspread his face. She
drew II long breath. and rose. with II soft
rustic of her white dress. and glanced
down the table She heard the clapping
Of hands, and saw Jocelyn smiling and
nodding encouragingly. and lingo ham.
mering the table and beaming unctu.
ously The thought passed through her
mind II am not myself; they are ap.
plauding some one else" Instead of dis
conccrtng her this thought gave her
self possession.
Ladies and gentlemen" she began
II did not learn Il speech; where came
from we did not make them Some time
shall sing you my thanks. But | feel
now how kind You are. \ little while
ago knew nothing of you, and now we
art friends Your belief in me will help
me to deserve it. All this seems hardly
real to meas if it were not possible. II
is not who speak to you, but the music,
that is the reason of my being here. And
yet should like to have you like me for
myself--else | should feel very lonely.
have only my music to take the place of
my mother and my father. II is great
deal. know. but not quite everything.
And cannot help feeling almost rs If
1t stood between me and you. II is n
disguise that | must wear. and | know
that the disguise is better than what is
beneath 1t.
Here nrr eye happened to encounter
Jocciyn's He WINS gazing ut her nppar.
seemed to be forming some voiceless
words The prima donna did not know
what he meant, but she stopped and re-
hected that she was thinking aloud in
stead of making n speech. and that what
she vs,s thinking had more reference to
the blue eyed man with the brown beard
who sat on her right than to any one else
in the room; whereupon n blush rose to
her face, she murmnred something hardly
Rrticulate, and set down. Everybody
smiled and applanded and seemed to be
much pleased
%'My God, wbaJ an actress-' muttered
Mr. Beaufort to his neighbor, Mrs. March.
"Tbe delicious andacity of that last sert-
tence was inimitabler'
''She must be very clever returned
the lady, yelling her business mouth
with the bouquet she carried; 'but how
very noticeable her foreign accent isr'
-'Ach. well, my dear. it has been 4,
long time befor. could come to dalk 80
asone would not know was German
prrt in Miss Korner charitably. Made
, inoiselle shpeaas very we'll for IN,
, gipner."
-'They say rhe Russians are OEy
superstitious people" remarked Mr.
Planter putting up his eye glasses; -
melst remember to ask Miss MarGn,
whether she has ever Investigated an,
OF the phenomena. She looks like
medium herself: | should like to investi
! gate. under vigorously scientific tests
the range and quality Of her abnorna
capacities"
-S5ince meeting Mile. Marana," snit
Mr.. Knight, addressing Wallie, but gra
ciOusly pitching his voice so as to be over
heard by the diva, 81 no longer marHe
at Russian despotism. 1 should be
slave myself were her ssountrymsI -
nay, my slavery has begun even as ii i'll.
"By George! old fellow" whispene'
JOcelyn aside to the general, changed /
o didn't think for momert the girl VIA
going to give us sawayr'
"DAn't you believe it," the genera
mumialed in reply "She amt going {,
give ms away, nor give herself away
neither-not to Fou. anyhdw. and doEi
, you forget it,"
The dinner came to an end, the ladie
withdrew, and the gentlemen present.;
followed them to the drawing room
People we're already arriving for tn
reception. and the room uas gettin;
; crowded. A number of immaculat
young gentlemen, in tight fitting even
ing dress, were reaching over their shir
collars to get glimpse of the notoriou
Mariana. There was an unintermitten
buzz os talk that made it difficult t
!, hear anything that was said. The Ia
dies were numerous and brlliantl
dressed, but many Of them looked
little uneasy, as if they suspected the
were assisting ut n somewhat hazardou
enterprise. The prima donna wore O
: her breast a locket set with diamond
that had belonged to her mother.
= "Say, Witman." said one of tn
young gentlemen above mentioned t
another "did you notice the lockety'
Haven't been able to get up to he
T. yet, confound it! Does she speak En-
> glish?'
= "Pretty well, [ believe; spols
French with her. Full Of the devil"
"What about the lockety'
"Given to her by the czar of Russia
Il before he came into the business"
= "By Jove! Say, does fellow have {