The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1900-08-02

Count Devas. the Italian singer who
had already won universal applause
for his wonderful rendering of Othello,
faced her. the madness of rage that
was consuming him portrayed wildly
In every feature OF his face, In every
movement of his tense, nervous fingers.
There was silence, intense, dead 81
lence. for an instant as Eva's last note
died away. and then, as she covered
her eyes with her hands, the count,
with one swift step, was at her side,
pressing with ruthless hands the cush-
ion on her upturned face, and the cur
tain began slowly to descend on the
death scene.
An electric thrill ran through the au-
dience, the horror and despair of the
tragedy before them seemed suddenly
real and tangible, the scream, stran-
gled in its birth, that came from the
beautiful singer seemed an appeal to
them for help, and then an amazing
thing occurred.
In the excitement of the scene no one
had noticed the sudden arrival in the
hall of Dr. Harrowden, who, pale and
DTpdlulpSSs HtOOu Watching the utSCenl
of the curtain, until, apparently over
powered by impulse. he ran up the hall,
leaped up to the stage and, springng
across the footlights, threw himself
upon the count
In the desperate struggle that ensued,
momentary as it was, before the para
lyzed onlookers rushed to Separate the
combatants, no one noticed that Eva
herself had not moved and lay still
under the cushions.
There was the flash of a knife, an
exclamation from DR.. Harrowden. and
then, as he dropped, stabbed in the
shoulder, a dozen hands were on the
count, and, though he fought with the
llmitless strength of a mailman, he
was oyerpowered at last by numbers
and carried off the stage, bound and
helpless.
DR.. Harrowden, whose faintness was
only temporary, had risen already and
disregarding the help offered him, hur-
red to the couch and raised the
cushions.
Eva lay there insenslble, with the
marks on her white neck where the
counts fingers had gone near to suffo-
eating her.
DR.. Harrowden bent and laid his ear
to her lips and heart.
"She is not dead" he said briefly.
Garry her to her room. l will attend
to her.
Wondering EXPLANATIONS broke out
on all sides. What had happened? Had
the count really attempted Eva's life?
How had the doctor been aware of her
danger? and thousand other ques-
tons and surmiSeS. Later. when Eva,
very weak and i'll, had recovered con
seriousness, she told the story of the
counts strange. wild love for her an
infatuation which had seized him when
they first met in the opera house at
Milan. of her inability to shake off the
influence which he exercised over her
in spite of her dread and dislike of him,
of his appearance at the castle when
she was arranging the cast of "Othel-
To- and imperous demand to be al
lowed to remain there and to play the
title role.
GLOW can | ever thank you enough?"
she said to DR.. Harrowden when. after
many days of suffering from the
counts stiletto wound, he came. at
her request to see her. 1T was a mira
Gle that you should have saved me as
you did. a moment longer and it
would have been too late. How did
you guess that his acting was reality?"
ghrlNhn nj duo 70
self" he said gently. Your kindness
In singing to that poor little child was
the cause of your preservation. went
to see her that evening and found her
just awakened from a strange dream
of you. which had left the impression
on her mind that you were in danger.
The beautiful lady with the angels
voice she called you. She would not
be comforted until promised to go up
to the castle and assure myself that no
harm threatened you. Her persistence
gave me touch Of anxiety, and 1t
came to me with a sort of intuition as
| watched the count that he was mad.
| felt sure he meant mischief 1t seems
almost as If the child had second sight:
but these Condolences do occur some
times"
And still" said Eva, at is to you
owe my life. You rlsked yours for
mine. Oh tell me how to thank you
81 dare ask nothing" he said, "since
/ dare not ask too much"
And they were both silent
But in their silence a hope and a
promise lay. And there are some who
say that the most beautiful. singer of
the day will exercise the prerogative
that her preeminence gives to her and
will make a romantic marriage entire
ly for her.-Penny Pictorial Magazine.
Tales of the Nose.