Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-10-16
tead, proudly and passionately de-

stead, proudly and passionateiy de-
clared her innocence.
Count Devas, the Italian singer, who
had already won universal applause for
i 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 ST.
| 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, press
ing with ruthless hands the cushion on
her upturned face, and the curtain be-
| gan slowly to descend on the death
| scene.
| An electric thrill ran through the
audience, the horror and despair Of the
| tragedy before them seemed suddenly
real and tangible; the scream, strangled
in its birth, that came from the beauti-
| full singer seemed an appeal TO them for
help; and then an amazing thing oc-
Cured.
In the excitement of the scene no one
| had noticed the sudden arrival in the
| hall of DR. Harrowden, who, pale and
| breathless, stood watching the descent
of the curtain, until, apparently over
powered by impulse, he ran up the hall,
leaped up to the stage, and, springing
across the footlights, threw himself
upon the Count.
! In the desperate struggle that ensued,
momentary as it was, before the para
lived 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 knife. an ex-
| clamation from DIR. Harrowden and
then, as he dropped, stabbed in the
shoulder, a dozen hands were on the
Count, and, though he fought with the
limitless strength of mailman, he was
overpowered at last by numbers, and
carried off the stage, bound and help
! less.
DR.. Harrowden, whose faintness was
only temporary, had risen already, and,
disregarding the help offered him. hur
ried to the couch and raised the cush-
| ions.
Eva lay there insensible, 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 be 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 imperious demand to be allow
ed to remain there and to play the title
role.
How can ever thank you enough?"
she said to DIR. Harrowden. when. after
many days of suffering from the Counts
stiletto wound, he came, at her re-
quest, to see her. 1T was a miracle
that you should have saved me as you
did. A moment longer, and Ii would
have been too late. How did you guess
that his acting was reality?"
THE thanks are due really to your
self" he said gently. Your kindness
in singing 10 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 angel
voice, she called you. She would not
be comforted until promised TO so up
TO the castle and assure myself that no
harm threatened you Her persistence
gave me a touch of anxiety. and it
came to me with a sort OF tuition. 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. lit is to you
owe my life. You risked yours for
mine. Oh, tell me how to thank YOU"