Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-07-28
"Of course can't, though. Uncle
Zabdiel-n

"Of course can't, though. Uncle
Zabdiel-"
"Surely, Clemence," interrupted
Ashford, decisively, "you must per-
nit me voice in the matter, Out
of my useless abundance you cannot
object to some slight return for all
the pleasure can never repay. Be-
cause it would be an unheard of
crime to bury that voice here" And
as she hesitated, he continued, 'Let
us leave it to your aunt. She is a
model of propriety." To which
Clemence, in bewilderment, con-
sented.
"In fifteen minutes you shall know
your fate" And energetic for once,
Ashford departed, to return, in less
than the allotted time, triumphant.
every properly, Mrs. Burton recog-
nized the justice of my arguments
So it is settled that in four weeks you
begin those studies, Miss Clemence,
that shall end in crowning you a
prima DONNA"
The first excitement over, it came
home to her with tremendous force.
She, Clemcnce Burton, might some
time sing in concerts, her face the
star of gazers, her voice the spell of
hearers, and the stage all bloom and
light, as she remembered it. And
and-the sweetest petal lies closest
to the heart. A hope arose too dear
to contemplate.
Before Ashford's return to Europe
where he had mostly spent the last
few years-Clemence was placed un-
der the tuition of an Italian master
in New York. A musician of no
small renown, the wealthiest pupil,
without marked ability, might hope
for his instruction with as slight a
chance of success as for one of the
French Academy's forty arm chairs.
Yet on hearing the girls voice he
showed even an anxiety to teach her.
And Clcmence's musical career was
decided on.
81 shall come home in two years,
Clemence," said Ashford, at his de-
parture. "Meanwhile it is a whim
of mine to know nothing of your
progress. Only have set my heart
on your success, and If disappointed
he added, laughing, 81 warn you that
my interest in you ceases from that
moment. TO recall that terrible
threat, wear this, and look at it every
day" But there was no word OF
love, nor allusion to deeper signi
ficance, as he placed the ring upon
her finger.
Daily Clemencc looked at it, and
daily she advanced IN the gooo
graces of her teacher, who appre
ciated her unwearied study, her brave
struggle with difficulties, and felt s
keen, artistic pleasure in the develop
ment of her voice.
awe shall see," he would exclain
} rubbing his hands. "Two, three
years, and then! We will bring you
out! We will show the world a very
Queen of Song, Mees Clemence!"
Which was fattering prospec
for "Mees Clemence."
One rainy day, the future prima
) donna waited some ten minutes for ;
stage. On entering at last her fee
were wet and chilled; on leaving il
they were two Jumps of ice.
} Next morning she could not prac
} tice for the dull ache in her throat
that by afternoon became SO serious
the physician gave peremptory order:
against any attempt at singing tor a
; week at least.
The week expanded into a fort
night, by which time she was per
tectly recovered, and .sat down with
impatience to her long-unused piano
Running hastily through the prelude
of her last song, she played the first
bar of the air, and burst into tears.
for she could not sing a note! Hel
weary time OF waiting was not ended
. yet. No voice remained even to
carcature its former self. Except in
: speaking, she was literally dump.
On hearing her new trouble tho
physician looked grave.
"And how long will it last?" con
tinued Clemence.
"My dear young lady," he said hes
itatingly, "your case is peculiar
one. | fear"
Her large eyes opened inquiringly
sShall l wait long while, do you
mean?"
"a long, long while; in fact, my
dear, l am sadly afraid you will never
sing again." And the kind doctor
looked over his spectacles very sorry
but without the faintest sense of what
this meant to her.
Clemence whitened, but asked
bravely, SIS it certain?"
every nearly. a few such cases
have come within my knowledge
and the voice has never been regain
ed. l am sorry to pain you, Miss
Burton, but it is best that you should
know the truth"
And half an hour later, by bed
side where life and death hung bal
anced, he had forgotten his last pa
TENTS slight affliction.
And Clemence?
Never again! The very walls
seemed to repeat those words in the
room where nothing had changed bu
herself, whence nothing had gone
but hope. The useless piano, the
Italian song upon the rack, Knocked
at her. And clearer still another
sentence sounded. "My interest il
YOU ceases from that moment" til
her brain grew dull and heavy.
She saw no use in living now. Sht
wished the sun would not shine Sc
when she felt sick and tired. Every
thing Jared on her. A canary at the
window maddened her with his jubi
liant note. What was he rejoicing
for? Why should anything be glad
For the first time that sense of gen
eral pitilessness attending upon grie
was singing Clemence. Atthned tt
it, we do not recognize the cruelty o.
happiness; outside of it, misery itsel
is kindness.
This weight Of woe seemed over
strained. Think of it a moment
Expression, the merging of self il
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