"INFELICE."

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 August 1916, Page 3

"INFELICE."

After thousands of requests and waiting nearly six months, wo arc pleased to be in a position td announce the arrival of the people’s favorite drama, “Infelice,” says the management of McLean’s Pictures, which will ho screened next Wednesday and Thursday, 16th and 17th inst. “In* felice,” a pictorial adaptation that has the approval of Augusta J. Evans Wilson, the authoress, who wrote “St. Elmo” and “At the Mercy of Tiberius.” The story of “Infelice ite as follows : When all the world seems young and fair, Fate brought three youthful beings together and formed of them that ancient symbol, the eternal triangle. Cuthbert Lawrence was a handsome boy eighteen, finishing his scholastic education at the big college situated on the outskirts of an English village. It was during his 'last,term that he graduated in that larger school of “the heart,” with love ns his tutor. He met and loved pretty Minnie Merle, an orphan, and socially far beneath him, but socially only. Her heart was pure and her love true. She lived with her grandmother in a quaint and old-time cottage. Pelcg Peterson, a rough country lad and carver of wood, completed the triangle. He loved Minnie, too, with a deep passion. This, however, he kept to himself and brooded over it. Pcleg was sure of one day wedding Minnie, but his slow country nature never suggested to him ho should attempt to woo her. Something always stopped him when he and’.'Minnie were alone. “There’s

time enough yet,” the inner voice won id sav. But that verv afternoon and almost within earshot of Pclcg’s shed, Cuthbert, the College student, met Minnie for the first time and both fell hopelessly in love. Lover’s secrets do not live long in a village. The next Sunday evening Pelcg, who had a feeling growing within him that Minnie was not quite the name these days, saw her in Cuthbert's arms and the lover’s kiss and close embrace left no doubt in his dull mind that he had dallied too long, and so lost his love for ever. That night in the cottage kitchen was enacted a scene that w r onld never ho

blotted from the memory of Minrtie ot Cuthbert Lawrence. Peleg had told the Grandmother of the lover’s Later when Minnie and Cuthbert returned to the cottage, Peleg gave full vent to hi? rage and hate, Cuthbert protecting Minnie from the goring man’s scorn and abuse ,asked the grandmother for Minnie as wife, the old country woman seeing a chance of her grand-daughter becoming a lady one day, yet mistrusting the boy, made him take an oath on the old familv Bible and premise to be always true and faithful to the tender and innocent girl he desired to wed. A happy month passed, all too quickly. One morning Cuthbert received a letter from his father, General Lawrence, that broke the spell and brought the boy back to realities. He read that his father wished \him to marry Abbie Awes, an heiress, whose social position was eqiuu to his own, and as the vacation was drawing near the General looked forward to meeting his boy, his only sou, very soon. But Cuthbert’s love for Minnie was very strong. His heart controlled his head. He knew his father would never accept the

little country girl as his daughter-in-law. To Cuthbert, however, marriage _ with Minnie was inevitable. That night in the cottage kitchen all was arranged, and next day at the village church, Minnie and Cuthbert were made man and wile. Whether a presentiment-of the approach ing cud of all her happiness caused her to act. as she did, Minnie for some reason best known to herself, asked the Vicar to keep the marriage -certificate for her and put it away in some place of safety, and much against her grandmother's wish the wedding ring was removed from Minnie s finger, and the symbol that should have meant so much "happiness for her was hidden in her bosom and the marriage kept a secret from everyone. Peleg, when Minnie’s birthday came round, brought her a nosegay. the flowers represented his hope that Cuthbert Lawrence was only a passing fancy. The country lad, growing bold and hungering for a word of love, embraced the pretty girl and in the slight struggle of Minnie's resistance the wedding ring was brought ’to light ,the secret was out. Scattering the lowers on the- ground, the unhappy youth left her side a changed being from that hour. Next day. Peleg visited Cuthbert’s father, General Lawrence, in his home,in London. Revenge on Minnie for a broken heart was uppermost in his mind. He told the General that the Grandmother and Minnie tricked the boy into a marriage, knowing he wa slieii" to a fortune. Peleg left the father almost stunned with the shock of his son’s deception. He at once set about to remedy the blunder and separate the young people by every means in his power, whether fair or foul. The same afternoon Cuthbert received a telegram from his father to the effect that he was to come home at once. Minnie and her youthful husband parted without a thought for the future, trusting in each

other’s love. Cuthbcrt a few hours later found himself in the power of an autocratic parent, who did not hesitate to make good use of Peleg’s story and so Uind the boy to the real truth, and a few days later father and son crossed the' English Channel for a lengthy stay abroad How fared it with 'Minnie? She waited fourteen days, with a heart yearning for her mate, and then a letter came. Cuthbcrt told his girl wife, the whole story, and that for two years more he must 'obey his father when the day dawned m which he reached the ago of 21 he would claim his little wife and acknowledge her before the world. Peleg, who had kept his eye on the cottage, watching for the fulfilment of his plan for revenge, stood near the silent girl. Going close to Minnie he whispered ,in her ear: /‘So he soon got tired of his little wife, eh?” Tears refused to come to

her eyes as they seemed to gaze across the years to come, looking for a ray of hope and love from the gathering gloom. A year later Minnie found herself alone ■ in the world with her baby. The grandmother had died and it was necessary for the young mother to earn to support herself and bring up her little girl. Regina, for so she was called, was left by Minnie in Hie tender care of some nuns, and for two years Mrs Lawrence earned a scanty living as housemaid in a London mansion. It was towards the end of the year that Minnie received a terrible shock. She read an account of her husband’s marriage With a well-known hpiroea AFioa Alit.rm

Ames, in the South of France.' Through the kindness of her mistress and master she obtained ail introduction to a rising young solicitor, Erie Palma, who became interested in the story, and proved afterwards to be a valuable and true friend to the -almost defenceless young woman. • I 1 if teen years go by—Minnie Lawrence has developed into a new personality and 1 sknown as Odellc Orme, a famous actress and the reigning favorite of the eeason in Paris. Her daughter, who knows nothin gof her origin, lives in London under the guardianship of Eric Palma and his mother. One morning Minnie hoars from her friend Palma that Peleg, before dying, in America, has confessed that ho sold the stolen marriage certificate to GenoraT Tjfiwrence, and the General is now m Paris with his son Cuthbert. Minnie at once thinks out a plan that will restore to her and her daughter their . rightful name and honored place in Mcioty. General Lawrence, at a big , a theatre, witnesses a performance by Minnie, of Amy Rosbart. She is of course known to him as Ordelle Orme, the popular actress. He falls in love with her, obtains an introduction, and shortly . afterwards declares his love and offers his band and name, little dreaming that the beautiful woman standing before bim is in s realitv his son’s deserted wife. Minnie to complete her plans accepts the General’s offer on terms that he and his son attend the first performance of the new play entitled; “Tnfelice.” The General readily accords what to him becomes a trifling' condition. Minnie sends to London for Regina, who is bromrht to Paris, and her mother’s arms, by Erie Pnlfna. The night, of the play arrives. Prologue of “InfeUee,” General Lawrence and his son occupy a box. Regina and Erie Palma are in the stalls.y Then is unfolded before these people, so deeply concerned.-the whole storv of the love of Minnie Merle, her desertion bv her husband Cuthbert’ the revenge, of Peleg, arid the doubly de-

ceitful part played by General Lawrence in separating the young couple and his intrigue to obliterate the marriage and Minnie’s right to the name .of Lawrence. As scene by scene is played the conviction grows stronger and stronger in ‘he minds of General Lawrence and his sop o* r the inner meaning of the play. As the veil is lifted from Cuthbert’s eyes and he knows the story of his father’s deception, the General bows to the inevitable—the whole performance has been a terrible shock to him. His son refuses forgiveness. Late that night Mrs Lawrence receives her- husband and his father. He implores her forgiveness and Regina for the first time. The General is deeply moved at the eight of his grandchild. _ Ho is an old man now, aged in am evening. Suddenly a stroke seized him and he falls on the floor and his spirit passes away. There is not much left to be told. vear later Regina becomes Mrs Erie Palma, and with the help of her husband brings her father and mother together again. Cuthbert’s second wife, Abbis, who had always been an invalid, having died six months after the death of the General. Although youth has gone and the past caii nevqr ■be forgotten, when Cuthbert with wildly beating heart is led into the room by his daughter and sees again his beautiful wife. He “Minnie, my wife; forgive and forget.” Memories of those village days now so long ago, each filled with love and tenderness, ilnod her mind, with open arms she receives her husband, their lips meet and in that moment life commences anew'. Love has bridged the river of fidelity and deception, and once more they stand busbond and wife, heart to heart, and the long straight road of happiness before them. —Advt. .*