Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-07-29

alone knew the fatal direction of her
steps.
Till this moment had rever known
/ loved her. All unquestioncd | hHd sui
/ fcred ny heart H. cherish and game mp a
/ hopeless passion. | was ptrslyzed, body
and mind-pluugcd into dreamy wilder
ness Of grief, without the p,wer To think
or act.
The time piece in The blessing room
struck scycu. In another hall hour Size
would he AGAIN upon the 'taac dc'ightng
all hearers with The last inspiration of her
genius. | started up
Perhaps even now ! may rescue her
from the fatal excitement Of performance,
perhaps even now prevail upon her to
return ~
Ny foot was already al the thre. hold,
when mcicd, rs my glance just rested
on The bed that saw a paper lying be-
side her pillow, stopped, turned back
and dew folth "a crumplcd letter, all
b'otttd and bhstered ever With tears,
These words were written upon il ian Il
bold firm hand and we've, in some place,
almost llepihle.
"Cacstc Berlin. You atc mistaken in
the Prince dc c.. lie docs lot meaa
to we'd you He is engaged to another
The king and the court will bc IN lh,
theatre tomorrow evening and she viii hC
among them, You Will perceive "A dark
handsome woman, 10 whom viii ac eiyer
a seat at the night hand Of tie queen
That is the Duches,a da C., am Italian
OF birth aud fortuuc--your rival. WIetchc,
woman. why were you not content will
one faithful lover? Victor does love you
The Prince dc c. owes you also-as h'
would horse, hound or falcCn-for hi
amusement Watch them narrowly to
morrow night. Convince yourself of tn
truth and break your heart, if You will
Celeste Berth, how did you dare to for
get that you were only an aot-o,s?"
Here then was the secrc. Hence he
agitation, her illness, her frantic dc
termination To perform IN anonymou
and cruel leucr-a secret low ,fIan keI
hidden from her father and her helrothet
husband-a resolute intention to Judge 70
herst ii and know the worst
In i've minutes was at the s,age.doo
of the Theatre Porte ST. Martin, urgin!
the official, to let me speak with Mdn
Bertn.
"impossiblc-Madcmolsclle is in he
dressing-room,'
But must see henry business is o
the utmost importance"
AT the end OF the FIST act ! will de
liver Monseur's request
at must be now. Go to her say that
is M II, her physician. am sur
: that she will speak with me.
The man hesitated and was about +
, seek her when well-lressed perso
stepped from behind desk and addrcsse
me
IN. H" here he referred to a pape
in his hand-"NIdlc Berlin desired pal
tcularly that if gentleman Of that nam
should ask to see her he should on n
account be admitted. | am very sorr
monsieur, but such were maicmoisclle
commands.
But tell you that ! will enter-sh
, will die without you admit mt, nay, she
dying even now"
They smiled and closed the door in m
, face. | know not how | got there, bui
next found myself in the theatre 1t wa
crowded, there was scarce room for me t
, stand, the last notes were thunderin
, from the orchcstra-the curtain rose.
The play was one that had been write
, for her by NJ. Victor and this was but tn
. second or third time of It's Performance,
/ Strangely Appropriate in plot, it painte
/ the career of an actress beloved by
, noJleman, whom she, in return loves wit
all Der heart and her genius, tbs nobl,
, man Is also loved by princess Of III
: court and who MORALLY detcsts her riv'
in his affections. The princess is a ma