Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-11-21
The Concert Singers Story.

u aup tuSb, iOOhihS up "ipA oUN~
den sparkle in his eye, exclaimed
But you should have hetsd Constance
And who IVES she = asked.
'Ah, forgot. She died before you
were born. 1t IS a sad story, and yet
can tc.l Il, if you wish"
drew my chair nearer, and prepared to
listen.
"Somc thirty years ago." to said, 81
was the manager Of troupe Of concert
singers, called by my own name. We
travelled over the Union, stopping oftcnest
in country towns and small cities, AT one
Of these, was detained by the illness Of
my chief female singer. She left us, af'cr
few days; and while I was at my wits
end, not kno wing whore toi lock for another,
received a note, stating that a lady, with
very powerful and highly cultivated
voice, had heard of my dilemma, ard wish
ed to offer herself for the vacant place.
OF course, I called on her at once.
~ was astonished when she entered the
roon. where was waiting for her. I can't
tell what or who I expected to sec, but
when little, pale, sad looking creature,
almost Guild, glided in and stcod before
me. rose from my seat and bowed, with
as much awe as if the Queen CT England
had been there. She wGs far more self
possessed than aud making merely
business affair Of it, soon turned to the
piano, and began to sing. What a voice
she had Strong and powerful, yet at tue
same time liquid and sweet as a BIRDS
You may well believe lost no time in
securing her services, at liberal salary.
And then, for the first time, saw faint,
pleased smile pass over her wan little
) face.
"Her first appearance was an immense
; success. She gave no other name than
Constance, even to me, and the mystery
that surrounded her, made every one curious
tn see her, The little, graceful figure stood
alone upon the stage, at TIE end Of the
concert, with bouquets showering around
her. but though she courtescd and smiled
her dark, blue eyes wandered impatiently
around, as if seeking for one who was no.
there, noticed this in her every evening
and when the concert was over, she would
60 into her dressing room, and sob and
cry like a l;tac child
"Of course, all this mystery made Us
feel a deep interest in her. But she was
so quiet, so digniicd, and said so little to
any oil the troupe, save in the way of
business, that we could ask her no ques-
ton.
She had lavoritc soug-a pcnsivc,
touching thing, supposed to be addressed
By dying wife to stern husband, which
she was fond Of singing, when alone, though
never On the stage. But one night, when
in the city of New York, the audience
applauded her rapturously, and the cries
of "encorc" were so loud, that she was
forced to appear again. She did not repeat
the song, however, but after moments
pause, began that sad, though dchco GUS
strain. The audience held their breath,
and as looked cautiously through the
curtain, | saw gentleman who had just
entered a side boz, close beside the stage,
start, and lean forward towards her His
face was pale as death, and he seemed to
trcmblc in every limb. Suddenly she
looked up-her eyes met his = she faltered,
and the song died upon her lips.
He loaped from his box, str light upon
the stage, while the au :ience looked on,
dumb with wonder.
Constance, is it thus find you?" he
asked, in tone of anguish. "Oh! my
husband, you little know-' she falterod,
and then he caught her in his arms for
she was just about to fall. lie knelt upon
the stage and held her. The audience rose,
to man, and looked on with pity and re-
spect. She looked up in his face with n
glance of unutterablo love, and placed her
white arms feebly round his neck. He
bent to kiss her-I was kneeling by her.
then, and as their lips met saw she
died"
He paused and wiped away a tear.
And is that all p asked, with bgeatl-
less interest.
"All that | can tell you" he rcplied.-
"Her husband was almost broken. hearted,
but never cleared up the my stery that hung
around her, Her grave Il have often seen
1T is in beautiful country churchyard, but
the marble monument has only that ono
name-'ConStanee-upon it. A mystery
she seemed and such she must remain to
me through lite. But soqe day ! shall
hear her singing among tho angels" he
added quietly. 81 shall know hor by the
sweetness Of her voioe-and then-ail will
! be made rlain,"