Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-09-11

U1luuGu.
against her good name-not one. She
had a legion of admirers, none of
whom could boast of a favor; she an
swered no letters; she gave no inter
views; she accepted no invitations; she
visited among some of the most eX-
elusive circles, where she was received
| as an equal; she had had offers of mar
rage that would have made any other
woman vain; she refused them all;
she seemed to live for her art, and
nothing else. Such description nat
ilrally excited the curiosity of people,
and the result was a house so crowded
that it was almost impossible to find
room.
eve may think ourselves fortunate, y
said Lady Chandos. II have never
seen the house so crowded, and, do not
laugh, Lance, do not see a prettier
toilet than my own"
Lady Chandos was always well
mented her on her dress; if he forgot
it, she generally reminded him of it.
She looked very beautiful this evening;
her dress was of white satin, effect
lively trimmed with dead gold, and she
wore diamonds with rubies-no one
there looked better than the queen of
| blondes.
''I am quite impatient to see La
Vanira," she said to her husband 81
wonder why she has chosen this opera,
L'Etoile du Nord; it is not the usual
thing for a debuItante'
| Then the words died on her lips and
for some minutes she said no more.
The curtain was drawn UP and Madame
Vanira appeared. There was a dead
silence for some few minutes, then
there was a storm of applause; her
beautiful face, won it, her grand figure,
her eyes, with their fire of passion,
seemed to demand it.
Of all characters, perhaps that of
the loving, impassionate Star of the
North suited her best In it she found
expression for love, her passion and
despair. She stood before what was
perhaps the most critical audience in
the world, and she thrilled them with
her power. 1t was no more a woman;
She seemed more like an inspired sibyl
her audience hung on every note, on
every word from those wonderful lips
while she charmed all ears she
charmed all eyes; the beauty of her
magnificent face, the beauty of her
superb figure, the granduer of her at
titudes, the inimitable grace of her
actions were something new and won
derful From the first moment the
curtain rose until it fell the whole
audience was breathless.
Lady Chandos laid down her jeweled
opera-glass while she drew a breath of
relief, it was so wonderful to her, this
woman all fire, and genius and power.
Lance" she said to ner husband,
what wonderful face it is. Have
you looked we'll at it,
She glanced carelessly at her hus-
band as she spoke, then started at the
change in him; his whole face had al
tered, the expression of careless inter
est had died, the color and light died,
his dark eyes had a strained, bewild-
cred look; they were Swallowed as
though by some great doubt or fear.
Lance" said his wife, "are you not
we'll? You look SO strange I'M
like yourself
He turned away lest she should see
his face more plainly, and then she
continued:
eff you are not we'll we will go home,
dear; nothing will interest me without
YOU"
He made great effort and spoke to
her; but the very tone of his voice was
altered, all the sweetness and music
had gone out of it.
II am we'll" he said, "pray do not
feel anxious over me; the house is very
full and very warm"
What do you think of La Vanira?"
continued Lady Chandos; chow very
different she is to any one else"
He laughed, and the sound was
forced and unnatural.
81 think she is very wonderful" he
replied.
"And beautiful" asked Lady Mar
ion, with a look of eager anxiety.
He was too wise and too wary to
reply with anything like enthusiasm.
Beautiful for those who like bru-
nettes,' he answered coldly, and his
wife's heart was at rest. If he had
gone into raptures she would have
been disturbed.
eff she would but leave me in peace, :"
thought Lord Chandos to himself
He was bewildered and confused
Before him stood the great and gifted
singer whom kings and emperors had
delighted to honor, the most beautiful
anG brilliant of women; yet surely
those dark. lustrous eyes had looked
in his own; surely he had kissed the
quivering lips, over which such rich
strains of music rolled; surely he
knew that beautiful face. He had seen
it under the starlight, under the shade
of green trees by the mill-stream; it
must be the girl he had loved with such
,oooJ 1o,-o onJ bod Ys1ai Tod y1ooY.o no