The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-06-22
THRILLING SCENE.

ing room," for the praise Of the beauti-
full Scotch vocalist had reached every
corner of the great metropolis.
After great variety of frantic -four
ishes, supplementary to a splendid per-
formanee of the s.Caliph of Bagdad, !"
the orchestra subsidized, and a moment
later was heard the mystic tinkle of the
mystic bell, and the heavy green curtain
disappeared: as if by magic among the
border lights.
A wild flourish from the orchestra now
brought on the lovely cantatriee. who with
modest majesty, advanced to- the foot
lights, and courtised, la Orient to the
stormy reception by which she was
greeted then all was quiet, insomDch
that the falling of leaf would have been
audible.
Seldom, if ever has it been the privi-
lege of mortaIeye to gaze upora vision
Of more perfect loneliness than that which
now stood before us, draped in pure
white from her snowy throat to the floor,
except that she wore q Scotch plaid scarf
about her waist, ..for the purpose of
designating her nationality. She also
we've hawthorn blossom over her left
temple
For . moment her voice thrilled and
trembled over the music in such per-
feet harmony with the orchestra accom-
papiment that, but for her attitude and
expression of her face, [ should not have
Known. that she was singing; bat, sud
denly, as if weary Of the lower realms of
melody, her clear, full, and silvery voice
ranged aloft to the most incredible
height So, sudden and beautifully exc
cuted was the transition, that it brought
many of her more susceptible auditors
to her feet. A bright smile swept over
her sweet face, as she witnessed the won
derful influence of her vocal powers, but
while the heavy, measured III dulation of
her bosom proclaimed her science, the
trembling and swelling Of the veins and
pipes of her throat told of the effort it
cost her to reach those dizzy heights.
Suddenly deathly palor swept oyer
her face, she stepped back a pace or
TWO, raised her snowy. trembling hand
20 her throat, while look oe deadly
terror cantorted her sweet features, and,
looking toward the wing, she cried, in a
faint voice, Elmer With that word
Z torrent of blood gushed from her lips,
and, with wild shrek which froze the
blood Of all WAC heard it, she sank to
the floor, writhing in the agony of stran-
gulation.
The stage vas almost instantly throng-
ed with actors and actresses in all styles
of fantastic ARRAY, and among the last
came Elmer Percy,-the husband
Of the unfortunate young vo-
calist, -robed in the sacredotal habili-
ments of a Romish Driesa. The crowd
made way for him. and, sinking on his
knees at her side, he lifted lie souls idol
n his arms. Seeing in whose arms she
was, she threw her own around his neck,
and chung convulsively to him, as if
she believed that he could stay the Grim
son tide upon which her sweet young
life was fast flowing away; but no NOR
tai hand could stay that food. A hand un-
seen, however, came to the relief of the
suffering daughter of Thespius. The
rich, warm blood of sweet little Nelly
ceased to flow. her temples ceased to
throb, the look Of agony left her face,
The pulsations of her heart gradually
died away, and all was still. The awful
stiffness of death reigned there, and
Elmer Percy knew that the lovely form
ne clasped SO close to his heart was life
less.
Slowly and tenderly he laid her down
not tear came to his relief not a moan
escaped his lips One fond kiss he press.
ed upon her marble brow, and one upon
her blood-stained lips-removed the
hawthorn blossom from her brow, and
aid it near his heart, then raising his
hands and eyes to heaven, he plead for
death, In that 'resistlcss eloquence of
woe, which comes only from the pro-
found depths of o breaking heart.
The voice of Elmer Percy had thrilled
Ten thousand hearts before, but none who
heard 1t will eyer forget the strange wild
pathos he threw into the speech:
Farewell to all that made life fair
otnello's J occupations gone" Then,
sinking down, he pillowed his head upon
the still bosom of his dead wife. Never
before or since was there such tableau
as thar upon which the curtain now went
slowly down. Not word-not whisper
vas heard~ the audience silently and
sorrowfully departed
Elmer Percy was present at the burial
Of Nelly; he stood like statue at the
head of her grave as she was lowered to
her last, cold home. Not word. or n
sigh, or moan escaped him-not tear
moistened his pale cheek. He stood as
IT rooted to the spot, his arms folded
across his breast gazing earnestly at the
grave and coffin until the latter:was
lowered to its final resting place, and
the first elod was thrown in upon it
AS the sound of its fall smote upon his
ear-and heart-he started wildly for
ward, saying in most piteous tones