INFELICE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 October 1917, Page 3

INFELICE.

--- FARLAND'S ON THURSDAY Augusta Evans Wilson's worldfamous story, " Infelice," is to be screened at a spccial showing on Thursday evening next. The screen version of the novel has been well received in other | centres, and there will be many ' admirers of the writer who will desire to follow the lortunes ol the characters in the book on the screens. The story of " Infelice" is as follows : — When all the world seem 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 of 18, 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 as his tutor. He met and loved pretty Minnie Merle, an orphan, and socially far beneath him, but socally only. Her heart was pure and her love true. She lived with her grandmother in a quaint and old-time-cottage. Peleg Peterson, a rough country lad and carver of wood, completed the triangle. He loved Minnie, too, with a deep passion. This, however, he kepi; to himself, and brooded over it. One summer afternoon, 17 years ago, Minnie, whilst taking some laundry to the college, passed the sma;l shed in which Peleg Peterson earned his livelihood, carvingcurious figures out of blocks ol various coloured wood. She, smiling, passed the time of day and ran on her way. Peleg was sure of one day wedding Minnie, but a few days later saw her in Cuthbert's arms, and this 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 seene that would never be blotted from tne memory of Minnie or Cuthbert Lawrence. Pelig had told the grandmother of the lover's meeting. Later, when Minnie and Cuthbert returned to the cottage, Peleg gave full vent to his jealous rage and hate, Cuthbert protecting Minnie from the young man's scorn and abuse, asked the grandmother for Minnie as wife. The old country woman, seeing a chance for her daughter becoming a lady one day, yet mistrusting the boy, made him take an oath on the family Bible promising to be always true and faithful to the tender and innocent girl he desired to wed. A happy month passed all too quickly._ Orn., morning Cuthbert received a letter from his lather, 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 equal to his own, and, as the vacation was drawing near, the general looked forward to meeting his boy —his only son. To Cuthbert, howeve., 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 wife. Whether a presentiment of the approaching end 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. The wedding ring was removed from Minnie's finger, and the symbol which should have meant so much happiness to her was hidden, and the marriage kept a secret from everyone. 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 had tricked the boy into a marriage, knowing he was heir to a fortune. Peleg left the father almost stunned with the shock of the 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 that he was to come home at once. Minnie and her husband parted without a thought for the future, trusting in each other's love, and a few days later father and son crossed the English Channel for lengthy stay abroad. Cuthbert told his girl wife the whole story, and that for two years he must obey his father —till he was 21. A year later, Minnie found herself alone in the world with her baby. Regina, for so she was called, was left to the tender mercies of some nuns for two years, while the mother earned a scanty living. She was shocked two years later to read an account of her husband's marriage in the papers. Fifteen years later Minnie has developed into a new personality and is known as Madame Orme, a famous actress, and the reigning favourite of the season in Paris. General Lawrence witnesses a performance by the popular actress, tails in love with her, proposes, and is ac- | cepted, conditional that he and his son witness the first perform- 1 ance of a new play, in which she takes the leading part. The general readily agrees, and a.s scene after scene ot "-Infclice" is played, Cuthbert knows the story, of his father's deception. The general is deeply moved at the sight of his grandchild. He is an old man now —aged in an ■; evening. Suddenly, a stroke seizes him, and he falls on the floor and expires. Cuthbert's second wife died six months after the general and the daughter is happy in bringing her father and together again.