Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-04-27

Yes, she replied. Il never had
anything to do but read. know Wal
| ter Scott almost by rote."
Nothing could be better than a
scene from Ivanhoe,' said Allan. miss
Agatha, you will be a perfect Rowena,
and you, Miss Lynne, a still more per-
feet Rebecca."
mo" said Inez; Il do not think |
could look like Rebecca. Let me have
something I feel at home in. Certainly
l shall not do so in any attitude of
patience, of self-sacrifice, or resigna-
ton. l do not like to be Rebecca. l
should like to be prosperous, happy.
and beloved. I do not think I
should look at ali patient if any fair
haired Rowena took all I loved best
from me-
She spoke rapidly, with a curious
ring in her musical voice, and her
listeners gazed at her in surprise 1t
would have been easier for that proud,
beautiful girl to die than to enact
Rebecca to Agatha's Rowena, while
Lord Lynne was Ivanhoe.
81 see what style of character you
like" said Allan. What do you think
of a scene from Kenilworth? Miss
Agatha would make an excellent Amy
Robsart."
"And | could take the part of
Queen Elizabeth" said Inez. Eyes
| could look as she did before she
knew who Amy Robsart was
THAT will do excellently for one,
then" said Lord Lynne.
do let us have the balcony scene
from Romeo and Juliet" cried Agatha
'Inez would make a better Juliet
than the real one, i believe. You
might be Romeo, Lord Lynne"
eve must have some rehearsals, -
said Allan. 'I think it would be very
nice to have the tableaux as a sur
prise, not to let any one know Of
them. But we shall want a little
more assistance. My sister Evelyn
and Miss Dacre, who is visiting her,
would be happy to join our company.
We might ask BERTHE Bohun to help us
also. We could manage some very
effective atbleaux then, and. the sur
prise would be pleasant; better than if
people came all ready to see and
criticise."
SO it was arranged. Allan Leigh
undertook to bring his sister and Miss
Dacre on he-morning following, and
Lord Lyme wrote to ask BERTHE Bohun
to join them.
4 Il 4
The sound of silvery laughter and
gay words was now heard in the old
hall of Lynewolde Inez was trans
formed; she was queen of the revels.
Her ready wit, her brilliant repartees,
her genius and gift of song made those
meetings or rehearsal scenes of never
to-beforgotten gaiety. She was uni
versally admired. People did not
quite understand her; they were not
accustomed to that rare mixture of
gay insouciance and imperial hauteur.
Whatever seemed strange or unusual
in her, they ascribed to her foreign
education. In the whole county of
BarfOrd there was no one so admired
as Miss Lynne Her unusual and rare
style of beauty, her wonderful voice,
were talked about wherever men and
women congregated.
The rehearSalS took place in the
library-they were pleasant to all;
but to one they were dangerous as an
intoxicating draught, or sweet
honeyed poison. 1t was so easy to
play Juliet with Lord Lynne as
Romeo; it was so delightful to know
that his eyes were dwelling on her
face with a look of rapt love and de-
vOtion: to stand for that one moment
and know that his very soul was in
the look bent upon her. One of those
rehearsals they never forgot.
Scene the Third" cried out Allan
Leigh-"Romeo and Juliet and
Lord Lynne took his place, and Inez
hers
'Capital," exclaimed Allan; "only,
don't you think,-eXcuse me, Miss
Lynne,-should you not look at
Romeo? Those downcast eyes are
very effectiveT but I think the other
would be better STILL
Yet the picture-the shy, loving,
| beautiful face, the downcast eyes,
their long black fringe resting on the
cheeks-was so perfect, it seemed
wrong to alter it.
Try" said Lord Lynne,-"look at
me-"
Timidly enough she raised those
| dark liquid eyes. Lord Lynne never
forgot her face as she did so. When
she saw the expression on his, the
earnest, almost adoring love that he
tried so hard to represent, a crimson
flush seemed to scorch her cheek and
brow. For one moment her lips
| quivered like the lips Of little grew
ing child. In that one look Inez
told her secret. 1t was well for her
that no one read it.
4 am tired" she said. impatiently
Il have been rehearsing all the morn
ing. Let me go now, Lord Lynne:
we shall manage it, I'm sure; and
Mr.. Leigh, you may be a connoisseul
in such things, but it does not seem tc
me that young ladies usually stand
with open eyes to hear such speeches
as Romeo made
But this is not real" said Allan in
self defence, ''it is only acting" anG
his words, although true, were like
a sharp dagger to the passionate hear
so nearly betrayed.
1t was only acting" and yet it wa:
all strangely real to her. She lulleC
herself with sweet dreams, she cheat
while Lord Lynne was only Waitins