Lord Oranmore's Startling Communication to Leonard. - Rage of the Noble Father at the Proposed Alliance of his Son. The Unwilling Ambassador. The Chaplain's Visit to the Actress. A Disappointment. Elma's Declaration. Mr. Ruthven's Chosen Son. Unwavering Trust. Mortimer's Return to Dublin. - Enthusiastic Attachment of the Com- ven's Disclosure to Mortimer. A Vision of Elma's Future. Performance of Gisippus. - Mental Anguish of the Trage- dian. The Frantic Improvisation. -Lord Oranmore in the Displeasure of the Audience. Illness of Mr. Ruthven. Maid of Mariendorpt. The Tragedian's Return. - Singular State. Elma's Joy. Mr. Ruthven's Delight. General Rejoic- ing. Mortimer's Protestations. Contract between Elma and Mortimer. The Willing Signature. The Father's Project. Elma's Unexpected Consent. Restoration of the 375 Provincial Engagements. Mr. Ruthven's Dissertations on Represented Villany. Unpaid Performances in the Boxes of the Theatre.- The Surprise. Lord Oranmore and Mr. of the Tragedian. Elma's Disturbed Equanimity. Leon- A Lover's Perplexity. — Edmonton behind the Scenes. ma's Confession. Sudden Appearance of the Tragedian.. Parting of the Lovers. Mortimer's Inexplicable Conduct. The Tragedy of Bertram. Rehearsal. Elma's Astrologer. An Enigma. Performance of Bertram. Terrible Reality. The Contract Annulled. an's Closing Scene. - Mystery that remains 400 STELLA. We know what we are, but we know not what we may be. CHAPTER I. A Sheriff's Sale. - Faithful Mattie. · Stella.. The Sudden Project. — Ernest Rosenvelt, the Tragedian. A Mourner without Hope. · Stella's Startling Disclosure to Mrs. Rosenvelt. — Apathy of the Mother, and Fixed Resolution of the Daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Oakland. Stella's Visit to their Cottage. Mr. Oakland's Repugnance to the Theatrical Profession. Futile Endeavors to discourage his Impetuous Pupil. A Reluctant Consent. The Study of Juliet. The First Lesson. — Effects upon Stella's Highly-wrought Imagination. The Widowed Mother's Alarm. - Losing one's Identity. The Expected Letter. Disappointment. · Enthusiasm that Runs Riot. Genius and Mediocrity. "MUST you hang that red rag from the drawingroom window? Couldn't you choose any other? Mattie ventured to touch the elbow of the man whom she thus querulously addressed. He was in the act of securing the pole that suspended a scarlet flag in front of a stately mansion in one of the most fashionable localities in Boston. "It's a sheriff's sale!" was the brusque reply. "All the world knows that, without your reddragon token!" sighed Mattie. She looked disconsolately around the spacious apartment, in which the costly appliances of wealth were ranged, not in their customary order, but as best fitted their display for an auction. Thirty years before the period alluded to, Mr. Rosenvelt, an American merchant, visited London with his youthful wife. Mattie chanced to be employed by the lady as assistant dress-maker. The English girl became a widow one year after her marriage, and a few months before the book of her teens was closed. She had never contemplated entering service, but soon conceived a warm attachment for Mrs. Rosenvelt, and was induced to accept the situ ation of lady's maid. A year afterwards, the devoted attendant accompanied her master and mistress to America. Very great was her astonishment when she was first thrown in contact with the Boston "helps," who are so horrified at the word " servant" that they would gladly have the expression "thy man-servant and thy maid-servant " erased from the decalogue. Mattie was puzzled to comprehend how honest servitude could be considered a degradation. "Must not some rule, and some serve?" she would "It is my lot to serve, and I take pride in serving faithfully. If I begin to think myself too good to serve my mistress, I shall soon think myself too good to serve my God." say. The policy of leaving a tried situation for one more profitable-an idea of peculiarly American growth never found its way into her simple, uncalculating mind. She deemed herself grafted upon |
