Beautiful Rienzi; or, The secret vendetta — page 37: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

32 BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. home from our first rehearsal, delighted with the promise of success which the manager had predicted. A letter and acard were waiting on the dressing-table for us; the letter Sophie gave to Isolina, the card to me. - With some surprise I read the name, ‘‘ Cecil Beaumont,” and turned to the girl. © Was this card left for me, Sophie?” “Yes, Miss Iva, and he has been waiting down stairs for you to come back half an hour.” ‘Shall I go, Isolina?” I asked, timidly. She looked up from her letter with a rather scornful Jangh. ‘Poor boy!’ she exclaimed; ‘‘yes, go, Ivanilla, and pre- pare him for the bliss which to-morrow brings. Miss Mere- dith writes that she is coming on the 29th. Do your best to put him in a fitting frame of mind.” ‘*T don’t think I can,” I cried, despairingly. But I went down stairs, nevertheless, and reluctantly ad- mitted myself into the drawing-room. Indeed I was not glad to see Cecil Beaumont. Slowly I advanced until I stood close beside him before he noticed me, and, in a voice of cold constraint, I bade him good- evening.” He started, and turned toward me. ‘‘T could almost despise myself for coming here, but you said you would be my friend, and I have been building upon your friendship,” he said, in a low, husky tone. “* Tt is useless—oh, it is useless,” I cried, with a sudden flood of tears. ‘‘ I have tried and I have failed.” << What does that mean?” he exclaimed, catching my hand, and chafing it between hispalms. ‘‘Does she love another?” ‘‘T cannot tell,” I sobbed; ‘‘but this I fear, my friend, my poor Cecil—that she does not love you.” ‘She does not love me—she does not love me!” he re- peated, with a wild smile. ‘I feel quite stunned—quite stunned!” | How should I begin to prepare his mind for the coming of his betrothed? I felt it to be such a wretched farce that my manner was dry and almost contemptuous as I alluded to the subject. : ‘You betrothed yourself to a very amiable lady,” I said, ‘vou had better—your duty is to go back to her.” “T need not ask if this is the course your heart would suggest,” he answered, keenly, ‘“‘I only ask you if it is at all CORNUCG OOO S (©)