Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-13

Lorelie's tragedy. 1t is to be acted tonight
and In this little place you and 1 will be
ao.e 10 witness the play unseen either by
actors or audience
Stepping forward she cautiously put the
curtains aside, an action which dis
Closed the fact that they were standing
On an elevated balcony that projected into
and looked down upon a grand gothic baiI
brilliantly illuminated with electric light.
Cnoer the manipulation of carpenters and
uphoisterers the place had assumed some
what theater-like aspect. The southern end
OF the hall was appropriated to the stage
which for the time being was hidden from
view by the folds of a heavy curtain The
pavement or the body of the hall was COW
ereo with velvet carpeting. Fauteuils
lounges, seats of every description. were
disposed here and there; and these were
TOW becoming occupied by number of
t tashionaDiy dressed ladies and gentlemen.
the ume hxed for the beginning of the
performance being close at hand
dare say said Beatrice, "you are
wondering whether it is reasonable on the
part OF Lorelie and myself to stop your vow
age ana to summon you here merely to
witness play? The sequel will show 1t is
something more than a play that you are
asked to witness; it is an experiment If
Lorelie were to choose a motto for her
drama Ii would be the words of Hamlet:
The plays the thing
wherein III catch the conscience of the king &"
Il am altogether in the dark said her
companion, lugubriously
BE patient, Cousin Idris, and you shall
have light anon"
cousin Idris again. Come, If we really
are cousins, shall exercise a COUSINS privi-
lege."
and turned her pretty face upward to his
own. And Beatrice, unable to escape. sub
mitted her lips to his. laughing, yet feeling
more disposed to cry, knowing full well that
there was another whom he would much
rather have kissed.
She broke from his arms and essayed to
hide her confusion in the study of play
bill printed on white satin OF the dra-
MATHS personae, four names only were IA
miliar to IdriS.
Rosamond Queen of the LOmbards). Lady Walden
Alboin king Of the T.ombards) Lord Walden
P Pann9 kng of the eepd n. g. If
THE earl among the actors?" cried Idris
in surprise
''The play, as an experiment, would be a
failure without him., returned Beatrice,
in 1t was a matter requiring very delicate
handling on the part of Lorelie and myself.
But we have gained our end, you see
AT this juncture there arose the twanging
of violin strings, the putting of wind instru-
ments and other sounds preliminary to Or
chestral music Then in a moment more
the overture had begun.
1dris, having drawn velvet lounge to a
point convenient for obtaining a clearer
view of the stage, seated Beatrice beside
himself. They were almost screened from
sight by the arrangement of the Silken cur
tainS, and by a profuson of flowers and
fernery that decorated the exterior ledge
of the balcony.
The overture was a really brilliant piece,
but Beatrice appeared to give little heed TO
1t.
There was once" she murmured, in
dreamy voice, there was once a son who
at the age of seven years promised his
mother on oath that when he became man
he would do his utmost to clear his fathers
tanned manhood; the opportunity came for
proving his fathers innocence and what
did the son do? Nothing! Abso iutely moth
mgr
would you have me darker Lorelies
name?" asked Idris, with a slight touch of
anger in his voice.
But without needing this interruption
Beatrice went on:
"And therefore, as you have failed in
your duty, Lorelie herself will perform the
act of justice to the dead At this very
hour two leading newSpaperS-the one in
Paris. the other in London-are setting up
the type of article entitled The Story
of an Almost Forgotten Tragedy an arti-
Gle that will bear the signature of Lorelie
will learn that Eric Marville was innocent
of the crime laid to his charge. And to-
night. here in this very hail. Lorelie hopes
to prove who Eric Marvile really was; and
her experiment. If 1t terminate as she ex-
poets, will depreSs her fortune in just the
same proportion as it will raise yours
And this she does by way of making
atonement to you COR her guilty silence in
the matter of Eric Marvilles innocence.
That silence was the only fault in a life
otherwise noble and good; how good no
one knows so we'll as myself. But see! the
play is beginning.
AS Beatrice spoke the music of the or
chestra stopped with a sudden crash. The
electric light was switched off, leaving the
body of the hall in semi-darkness. The
buzz of conversation ceased. and amid
silence
opening act of the tragedy of THE Fatal
Skull"
The first scene of this drama was styled
the playful IAN audience chamber In
the palace of Cunimund
Clad in barbaric splendor and seated upon
a canopied throne was the royal Cunt
mund, in the person of Godfrey RothweH.
On each side of him stood armed warriors
and venerable counselors, among the latter
being the earl himself in his character of
Bishop PaulinuS, a role for which his grave
and dgnitied bearing seemed naturally
adapted.
Idrs gazed upon the earl with consider
able interest. beholding him for the first
time. This was the man whom Lorelie-
oddly enough now 1t Seemed-had identified
with his own father! She had been COM
PEELED to admit herself in error, but was
there truth in her other theory that the earl
was the author of the deed done in Ormfell?
He turned from the contemplation of this
problem to listen to the words of the play.
The opening speech of King Cunimund,
cddresse1 to his followers, showed that he
had assembled them for the purpose of Civ
ing audience to herald from the Lombard
king. Albon. The messenger. being admit
ted, demanded on behalf of his royal mas
ter the hand of Cunimund's daughter the
fair princess Rosamond. From the herald's
address Alboin appeared to be somewhat
savage wooer inaSmuch as he was en-
camped with an army upon the frontier.
prepared, in the event of refusal, to raw
age the Gepid kingdom with fire and
sword.
ut is for Rosamond herself to decide the
question:. was the just arbitrament of
Cunimund when the herald had finished
his Grafton.
So a messenger was dispatched off the
stage to bring in the princess. Then. from
the right wing. to the sound of music soft
and sweet, Lorelie entered In the character
of Rosamond, the limelight playing with
enchanting effect over the curves of her
graceful figure and over the silken sheen
of her dress. In Idris' eyes she had never
looked more lovely. her natural beauty
being enhanced by the attractions of art
And Beatrice, watching his face. sighed,
for she knew herself to be forgotten.
(To be continued tomorrow)