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

of her loyer's seeming rnhdelily and The
unworthy lovers seeming intidclny and
that goads the actress 10 despair. Final y,
by "a periidious stralagcm, she dies from
luhaling the fatal perfume of poisoned
bouquet nj the moment when her lover
explains all and offers her his hand and
fortune. During the first act | Jaw and
heard nothing. she did not play in 1t
The second act commenced aud wcicom-
ING burst Of applause Told me that she
had appeared upon the stage. ! did not
dare TO look upon her. For some IN Jmeuls
there was silence; then her voice, IN all
ITS depth and melody. fell upon my ear
aud J turned ny eyes toward her How
beautiful ANA plle she stood. Roued all in
white garments; her black hair pared ON
her brow; her hand grasping roll of
paper and . wild. bodlug illumination in
her eyes. which alone in all that house
could interpret,
During the first few scene, She was sub
dued and calm; several times she pressed
her hand To Der breast, as If in pam, but
still sne went on. Then doubt, then
jealousy began To possess her, 1t was
tcahul TO witness the workings of these
passions struggling with womau's gentle
ness and womans fath-to hear the low
Suppressed cry of agony-to sec the
quiYerine lip the bauched check, the
slow unwilling belief OF wrong ana in
fidelity
She contronts her rval--mecjs her face
to iace and the actress and princess read
each others souls. In "A recitation which
she Is requested to give, she pours forth
all her wrongs and her Ieproaches. nder
The vail OF fiction She lays bare the guilty
love Of the high lady, oyerwhelms hcI
with hatred and disdain,
fla, Celeste, thou art no longer acting
thou takest this scene to myself Thine
eyes diiate and burn; thy voice. gathering
IN power, wi,hcring with scon, uttcrs
sarcasm and defiance; whittier is that
terrible look directed?
TO the royal box. where sit the rulers of
the land. There sal the Duchessa de G.
interested, delighted, unsuspclous and
there, too, sat the Prince dc C, pale,
guilty, trembling Withdrawn into a
corner Of the box, conscious and abashed.
1t was no acted play, it was life. drama
"a true tragedy.
The last act commenced. Her voice
now seemed weaker, and her step
taltered but hectic color, that defed
even the garing stage-lar ps, suifused her
cheeks and fercer still glowed the dark
fires Of her eyes y strange air of exuta-
ton and triumph was apparent in her
voice and gestures; her tones had a thrill
ing, a penetrating significance that jmadc
itself felt in every breast. The -audienco
were breatheSs with suspense. ..sal
spel-bound and trembling The reconcile
ment came with what exquisite tender
what grace and deicacy accorded hel
generous pardon anu her gentle love
Where was now the naughty actress, the
Injured woman? All melted into love and
forgiveness.
looked Involuntary at the prince. II,
held hi, handkerchief TO his face; perhap,
his heart was touched-perhaps he wept
At last, she inhales the poison ant
slowly it begins to take effect. Nisibi,
first in the tremulous tones snd tn,
languid pastures; then in the failing
memory and the easily cheek; then in tn,
wandering mind, the extended hands, th'
seeking glance and the unseelng eye.
Could this be arl2
Hark' she speaks words that are not il
the part--broken, waling words of inten,
agony.
There is an cutlery IN the royal box
Help! help. she is dying
, 1t is the Prince Gle C, losing hi
presence of mind with terror and con
viction, stretching forth his hand
pointing wildly toward the stage, re
gardless of king or queen, or anything
but the terrible truth of what he see,
before HIM.
She sprang to her teet. Her face wa.
still beautiful, but convulsed with pain
lit with unnatural excitement. vivic
with the dawn of immortality. Sh,
turned that face, that look, upon hin
and so stood tor few seconds, ther
the light faded from her eyes, her lip
moved, her arms were tossed wildl,
above her head-she fell.
IN an instant the stage was coyered
gentlemen from the boxes, stalls
parterre, all crowded round Der il
consternation-and among them, my
self, pushed through the wondering