The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-08-17

Well, there they parted. He to go
over the sea, she to remain at home and
improve the opportunities he had placed
before her.
= Ifa .*suolcH# tfo *or.. y of
The great heart of the music-loving
public was agitated with mingled emo
tions of Joy, pride, astonishment, and
awe. A new songstress had been criti-
cised, picked over piecemeal, ground
down to the finest point, dissected, ex-
amined through the most perfect music
al microscope, and pronounced perfect!
And now the manager of first-class,
fashion-patronized theatre had engaged
her for single night at an almost fabu-
lous sum, and the world was to hear her
voice.
The night came. The theatre was
crowded from pit to roof. The orchestra
pealed forth grand overture, the ex-
pectant crowd filled the air with per-
fume, and soft murmurs of whispering
voices and rustling silks arose in q sub
dued sound; and then the broad curtain
rolled up and disclosed the elegantly
fitted stage.
Suddenly there was hush in the vast
building, and eyes grew bright with ea
ger anticipation, as from the wing came
the debutante.
A tall, graceful girl, with cleaning
shoulders, and white, perfectly-shaped
arms; with a crown of purple-black
hair upon the regal head; with great
dark eyes scanning the crowd, and then
the almost childish shyness yelling them
selves beneath the long lashes a mouth,
soft, tender and beautiful, and cheek
as fair as the pure white satin of her
sweeping robe; and they had seen all
the long talked-of and highly-praised
beauty
A roar like the rushing of distant wa
ters sounded in her ears, and then swell
ed into thunder of applause; and COM
ing slowly down in the splendor of the
footlights, her beautiful head erect, her
eyes glowing with excitement, her beau
ty enhanced by the elegance of her cos
tune, Camilla, the poor little waif, the
child of poor old Paul Smith, the protege
of proud Richard Clavering, received the
homage of the assembled crowd.
When the acclamations had ceased,
the orchestra began soft symphony !;
and then through the building echoed
the clear, pure notes of voice that
sounded far away, dreamy mystic
voice, full OF hope, of doubt, of pain.
Nearer, still nearer it sounded, and hope
half drowned the doubts, but yet q
plaintive sorrow seemed to remain. 1t
came nearer, and the sorrow was half
expectant, trembling glimpse of some
thing better; and then suddenly the
strange voice broke forth in triumphal
strain, and listeners held their breath as
the wondrous notes rang out upon the
air, and then died away.
For moment a deathly silence reign
ed, but it was for moment only; and
then the building vibrated with a crash
Of enthusiasm that came from the mu-
sic-crazed audience. Men arose in their
seats, and hundreds flung their floral
tributes at her feet.
In one of the boxes, above the one
where the music-master and manager
sat, an old, odd-looking man waved his
handkerchief and cheered, with great
tears falling down his wrinkled cheeks !;
and Camilla looked up to that one box,
and gave him the only smile that crossed
her lips during the night.
But at length the curtain fell, and Ca
milla, weary and worn, went on to the
dressing-room. Some one stood in the
shadow of a side-scene, and when she
asked permission to pass, caught her by
the hands and drew her out into the
light.
"Camilla, little Camilla, is it you
Have 1 been listening to my little girl
all this glorious evening? Speak to me
am bewildered and blind"
"Mr. Clavering! When did you come
Oh, 1 am so glad, SO happy" she ex-
claimed.
"Are you glad? Are you happy? Oh,
is this my welcome? Have you waited
for me, my love, my darling!"
She put her hand over her eyes, MUIR
muring: You do not mean your words
l am dreaming 1 am madw
"You are here, wide awake, Camilla,
and am asking you to love me, and to
be my wife,"
She drew him away for brief mo-
ment, and laid her weary head within
his arms. Then she passed on to her
dressing-room, and when she returned
she put out her hand, saying: "Oh
Richard, take me away! I'm soul-sich
of all this"
"And you will only sing"
"In your nest. Come, we must not
fovget Uncle Paul. He is waiting in the
box for me-"
The box was near at hand, and in a
moment they stood at the door. 1t wa:
.ajar, and Richard pushed it open to al.
low Camilla to enter, and saw the old
man sitting in one of the luxurious
chairs, his head lying back upon the
soft cushions, and his hands peacefully
folded.
"Uncle Paul !" cried Camilla. "Why
you naughty boy, you are fast asleep
Come, it is time to go home. Ahp
She started back with a cry, for the
hand she touched was icy cold, and fell
back, stiff and helpless.
Camilla, darling, come away. l viii
attend to him."
"Oh, Richard p
"Hush, love! He is beyond us now
Those strains of music have carried hin
to heaven, from whence they came"
The poor old man was dead. Witt
the consummation of his hearts wish
his quiet, unpretending, unofending life
had passed out into the new existence.
There were loud growls in the music
loving world, but nothing ever came O.
them; for Richard Clavering removed
their singing bird SO deftly, that few
knew the cause of her flight; and now
she sings only to him, and to her brood
of young Claverings.
Two hundred ready-made dwelling
are to be shipped from Chicago to Colo