Smyrna times., 1910-07-27

some gallant became too friendly or
attentive to the lovely Arabelle.
Jealous? OF course, and the poor
fellow suffered atrociously, for his
companion, as coquettish as she was
beautiful, seemed to take a malicious
pleasure in exasperating his passion.
The director of the Alcazar
d'Automne had observed this, and
had said:
"Take care, mademoiselle. That
man each night holds in his hands
your life"
Arabelle laughingly replied, as
she raised her beautiful shoulders:
"He kill me? No; he gets too
much gold from my head to ever
think of spelling it..
Each night she stood before the
pistols muzzle with the same calm
tranquility, her soft glances calming
the revolt of her lover as the eye of
the master subdues the rage of the
animal.
One evening, scarcely eight day s
after the arrival of Ventura at Paris,
gentleman of elegant appearance
entered the green room and went
toward Arabelle, who, with a slight
cry of mingled surprise and pleas
ure, seized the extended hand and
kissed it passiOnately. Guido Ven
tura, who had been conversing with
the director, turned about upon the
entrance O. the stranger and wit
messed this tender reception. His
face assumed a deathlike pallor, and
his eyes flashed with fearful rage.
The new arrival was a rich Amer
lean, whose attentions to Arabelle
had caused some slight scandal dur
ing the time which they had re-
manned in New York. 1t was to
avoid this man that Ventura had
cancelled his engagement there and
come tc Paris. And now behold him
here! Who but Arabelle could have
informed him of their destination?
That night, upon their return to
the hotel, violent quarrel took
place between Ventura and his COM
panion. But the most terrible scene
of all occurred eight days later.
During that week the American was
lavish of his gifts and attentions to
Arabelle. Ventura endeavored to
induce the director to refuse the
American entrance behind the scenes.
But to no purpose.
On the evening in question, as
Arabelle was preparing her stage
costume, Guido saw note fall from
the corsage of her dress. He picked
it up unobserved, and perused it
eagerly. 1t was from the American
filled with expressions of endear-
ment, and proposing flight on the
morrow.
Five minutes later the call boy
announced their turn. On their way
to the stage, Ventura beheld the
American leaning negligently against
a scene. Ventura glared at him and
hesitatet, but at that moment Ara
belle, who had made the entrance in
advance of him, stood prepared, the
arms crossed, the glass ball in posi-
tion on her head. With a bitter
oath, but half suppressed, Ventura
turned and strobe upon the stage.
Ventura was in position, the muzzle
of his pistol covered the mark. a
stillnes of death reigned in that
dense mass of human beings in front.
Arabelle smiled. On whom was she
smiling? On whom save the man
who rivaled him in her love? She
could smile on a man who dared to
make such proposal Heavens she
would perhaps assent to it!
The silence was terrible, but it
was soon broken; a quick, sharp
report rang out. Arabelle tottered
and fell heavily on the stage; the
bullet had pierced the centre of her
forehead.
When the arms of Ventura were
looseed from the corpse which he held
with an iron firmness to his breast,
he was raving mad!
Crime? Accident? One knew not
how to decide. At Paris sensations
pass quickly, and after the first ex-
citement had subsidized the characters
of this tragedy were soon forgotten.
Since that time he has passed
most of his days of confinement here,
before his plaster mask. Once and
once only his aim failed, and the
head was shattered. Fol- eight days
thereafter he was violent, but other
wise he has been harmless and in
offensive as you see.
We returned to the pavilion, and
found Ventura cleaning his weapon.
"You have not missed, today,
Ventura, 'saii the doctor pleasantly.
The man raised his head, and,