The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-01-05

came days when passers paused tl
listen to the warbling of the ricf
young voice. s3ii edl 81 AiJ
When she had been ther six months
she entered one morning to find Mrs
CleveriEg i'm the music masters room
What do you intend to do witt
your famous pupil?" said her sof'
voice.
Madam, Camilla is quite capable
of doing anything in musical way
She will be q songstress Of whom this
country will be proud. All, here she is!
"You have improved wonderfully
my child,n said the lady, holding oul
her glOved hand. /" I came to bring
you Richards farewell. He leaves
for London tonight, and will remain
abroad many years. Here is Q little
gift as token Of remembrance"
She did not understand that Mrs,
Clavering had placed a pretty neck
lace of coral in her hand, and then
gathered up her shawl and departed
but when her teacher spoke, she cried
out as if in mortal pain, and, without
a word, flew down the street toward
home. AS she turned the corner, she
rushed pell- nell into the arms of 9
gentleman, who seeing her pale and
fearful, said:
Why, little Camilla, what is the
matter ?' a
ooh Mr.. Clevering, you are going
away /"
Richard Coverings fine face grew
sad and expressive as the fearful eyes
looked into his own, and for the first
time he comprehended that he was a
young man, and that his protege was
stealing from childhood into beautiful
girlhOOd, and was undeniably beauty.
Camilla, / am going away, but
will you wait for my return ?'
"Wait for you? am not going to
run away"
"You do not comprehend me. Well,
it is better so. Perbap, two years later
you may understand me. GOOd-by,
Camilla. Kiss me gOOd-by.n
1t was very quiet street, and so
Camilla lifted her head and kissed
him. In all probability the child
would have kissed him in the main
thoroughfare as readily as there, and /
only mention the fact of the street be-
ing quiet one to silence the startled
prOpriety of those who are shocked at
the publicity of it.
Well, there they parted. He to go
over the sea, she to remain at home
and improve the opportunities he had
placed before her.
The great heart of the music-lOving
public was agitated with mingled
emotions of joy, pride, astonisbment
and awe. A new sOngstress had been
criticised, picked over piecemeal,
ground down to the finest PORT, dis
sected, examined through the most
perfect musical microscope, and pro-
nounced perfect And now the man.
ager of first-class, fashion patronized
theatre had engaged her for single
night at an almost fabulous sum, and
he world was TO hear her voice. 4.
The night came. The theatre was
from pit to roof. The Orches-
ira pealed forth a grand overture, the
crowd filled the air with
perfume, and soft murmusr of whis-
pering voices and rusting silks arose
in subdued sound and then the broad
curtain rolled up, and disclosed the
fitted stage.
Suddenly there was a hush in the
vast building as from the wing came
the debuddnte.
A tall, graceful girl, with cleaning
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, with almost childish shyness,
yelling themselves beneath the long
lashes; a mouth soft, tender, and beau-
tiful, and cheek -as fair as the pure
white satin of her sweeping robe-and
they had seen the lons-talked of and
beauty.
A ruar like the rushing of distant
waters sounded in her ears, and then
swelled into thunder of applause
and coming slowly down in the splen-
dor of the fOotlights, her beautiful
head erect, her eyes glowing with ex-
element, her beauty enchanted by the
costume, Camilla, the poor
little wait, the child of poor old Paul
Smith, the Pr0tege of proud Richard
received the homage Of the
crowd.
When the acclamStiOu had ceased,
the orchestra begun soft symphony
and through the building echoed the
clear, puro NOES of voice that
far away, q dreamy mystic
voice, full of hope, of doubt, of pain.
Nearer still nearer it sounded, an (, hope
had drowned the doubts, but yet a
plaintive sorrow seemed to remain.
it came nearer, and the sorrow was a
trembling glimpse of
better; aud then suddenly
the strange voice broke forth in q tri-
umpkal strain, and listeners held their
breath as the wOnderOus notes rang
out upon the air, and tAsn died away.
For a moment stsaltBy silence
reigned, but 1t was for moment only;
and then the building vitrated with
crash of enthusiasm that came from
the music-crazc,l audience. Many
arose in their stats, and hundreds
Il ing their floral tributes at her feet.
In one OF the boxes, above the one
where the music master and manager
sat, an old, oad-iQoking man waved
has handkerchief and Hcheetefi 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
Camilla, weary and worn, went up to
the dressing roOl.. S;Gm2 Gpe stood in
the shadow of Side scehe, and when
She asked permission to pass, caught
her by the hands and drew her out
into the light.
"l;amijis,, little Camilla, it is you ?
Have / been listening to my little
girl all this glorious evening ? Speak
to he. ! am hewildered and blind"
"Mr. Clevering. When did you
come? Oh, ! am so glad-so very
happy ~ she exclaimed.
Are you glad? Are you happy
Oh, is this my welcome? Have you
wSiteJ f.r me, ny love, my darling %
She pit bet 'franqs' qyet hff syes,
mourning.
I" You do not mean your words
am dreaming! am mad !"
nYou are here, wide awake, Camitls,
and am asking you to love ME, ard
be my wife,"
She drew him away for brief mo.
menf, snQ iaiG be- very head within
his arms. The1 SURPASSED on t9 hsl
dressing room, and when she returned
She put out her hands, saying;
"Oh, Richard, take me away ! an
soul-sick of all this" .---
"Auh YOU will only sing"
"In your nest, Come, We must mo-
forget UucIe Paul. He is waiting II
i.,e &c. for me-"
fhs 'i.ox wIs Ie4g g. Land, ard IN .
moment they stood at the d6Ofi ltEs'
ajar, and Richard pushed 1t open te