New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-12-19


shady banks and the gentle music of its rip
ping waters keep time to the sweet happi-
ness OF her soul, save when thoughts OF the
absent stranger disturbed It's easy current.
La Rose arrived in the city before the
opera season opened, and for weeks has
been drilling Marie for her debut before the
critical audience of New Orleans house,
and soon the gentle current of herli stream
is to be forced into the channel of the deep
and turbulent waters of the outer world
Who knows but that the light bark bearing
her SO safely along the little stream will be
swallowed up in those vast waters, leaving
no vestige to tell of her former sweet life.
No wonder that she shudders and draws
back as the little stream nears the broad
waters.
La Rose stands by her side pointing to
symmetrical, strongIvessel which is to bear
her safely through storm and tempest into
the haven of repose, found in the closing
years Of a successful life. The
night draws near when the untried
ship is to be launched upon the
tickle tide of public opinion who knows
but that upon that very night the tide may
prove false, recede back and leave the no
bic vessel grounded in its very outstart
Marie's name has been brought before the
New Orleans public as an aspirant for the
honors of prima donna. 1t has been an
nounced that she is native born and raised
of the city, and crowded house awaits to
pass its fat upon her powers. Her father
has been kept in perfect ignorance of the
whole affair. This was easily managed, as
the old man never read any more and lived
in his garden and house. Upon this night
Marie's persuasion had taken him to the
opera, and he sits awaiting the appearance
on the stage of La Rose. The curtain
raises Marie, white and trembling like
frightened fawn, steps upon the stage; the
audience is filled with varied emotions;
the severe critic reserves, even from
his face, the expression of his opin-
ion; the foppish. selfconstituted cri-
tic shrugs his shoulders and curls
with contempt his pet moustache; while the
women, in their true, womanly sympathy,
are breathlessly anxious. Maries voice is
at first clear, though almost inaudible. A
haziness passes over her sight-for one in.
slant the form of her mother, softly beauti-
full, wrapped in light, Aeecy cloud, fits
past, smiling down upon her. She torgets
the audience, her soul watts out on the mu-
sic, her voice rises higher, clearer, fuller;
| every note is the outpouring of an impas.
stoned soul the audience bushes its breath
in still ecstacy-the closing notes are dying
in their hearts like the faint, futtering
breath of girlish innocence about to leave
| the earth forever. The sound ceases, the
people catch their breath quickly, and the
house rings with applause from roof TO
foundation stone-the vessel is launched
| and rides beautifully out to sea.
As old Grevot recognized Marie, his feeble
frame rose erect, his head bent eagerly for
ward, and as the last notes died out he
stretched his arms toward the stage and
burst into tears, but as the orchestra opened
with notes which sounded like grand ap-
| plause the old man caught the violin from
the hands of its owner; threw back his
head and drew the bow across it with an in
| spiration caught from another world; aye
how impassioned were its notes, how they
poured forth the spirit of the father in their
rich tullness; that night was the grand
triumph of his life; but the star of Marie's
fame was to rise higher and higher until
it stood in the zenith of the heavens.
How strangely does human nature ever
look just ahead for some fresh joy or new
deli ht.
Why is it that upon this night when her
fathers soul is dissolved in bliss, and La
Rose is wild with joy, when the.entire opera
going world of New Orleans is in
an excitement of delight over her, Marie
alone wears clouded brow and heaves a
sigh. Aye, there was one absent whom of
all the world her heart asks most longingly
for his approbation-a certain stranger
whose memory lies deep down in her heart;
her cry is "oh to have had him witness
my success, acknowledge my POWER"
Night after night of increasing popularity,
and proud, manly hearts have lain their
souls on her shrine, finding no response to
their love, while her little heart buries its
secret far down in its depths, yet looking,
hoping in the future. The opera is about
closing; Marie is positively to appear for the
last night of the season; New Orleans is pre-.
pairing to give her final house which shall
surpass all others; 1t is talked of i'll the
counting-house and in the parlor, on
the banquette and in the saloons; at
the hotel tables; where all are seeking
for entertainment, it is the chief feature,
yet at the st. Charles there is a
stranger who seems to have no business
save to see upon whose ear the praises Of
the New Orleans prima donna falls unheed-
ed. He has visited a certain old ruin, and
found the dark-eyed child gone; has called
at the old fortune-teller's house, and fount
her dead. No clue can he trace to the chill
whose memory has drawn him back t,
America, and now what cares he for TIL
tumult Of the world. The night has arrived
The crowd is surging toward the Operi
House, the stranger is being listlessly born
on, the house is literally jammed. All i
quiet. The curtain rises, and loud and lon
the applause which greets the prima DOM
rings through the house. The strange
springs to his feet, and with tremblin
hands eagerly raises his glasses. The or
of "Put him out !" is on many lips, as he re
members himself, drops his glasses, an
sinks back in his seat
Marie caught his standing figure, starte
slightly, commanded herself, and with per
: feet selt-possession raised her voice. Sh
7 had been wonderful before, but that nigh
was the triumph Of them all; the house wa
/ mild wifi, dalfrh4 and caiiad h a. o,,t o,sa,