The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-11-14
ONLY A SONG.

Monsieur Bafonte, who had large
family and q small income. hired the
upper floor OF large building in Par
is. and to reduce his rent, underlet
room to young Monsieur Fernando, the
musical composer, OF whose compost
tions no one had yet heard anything.
1t was little narrow room with one
very high window, but it had this ad-
vantage, out of this window one could,
at the risk OF breaking ones neck, get
a glimpse Of the beautiful prima do
na, Mdlle. Lac, as she famed her.
self on the balcony OF the first floor.
For this sensible reason had Monsieur
Fernando hired the apartment.
He was dreadfully in love with her,
though they had never spoken to each
other, and he fondly and falsely be-
lieyed she knew he had thrown her boz
quets and had given him special thanks
for them as she held them against her
pretty chin, and bowed her pretty head
for them, and smiled with the beaming
smile OF an actress upon the audience.
III ever he made his fame and fortune
then she should know; but not until
then. 80 he loved on in silence. and
worked on at his compositions, and
offered them TO publishers and had
them declined with thanks"
Now and then he sold q song, OF
course, but the songs did not become
popular, and he n ust have starved TO
death, but that he now and then play
ed on the piano for some dancing par
ty. At the best he lived on bread, cof-
fee and n little soup.
In his room he had an old piano, a
desk, chair, meerschaum, and little
charcoal furnace. When he had five
francs in his pocket, and it was not
rent day, he felt rich.
Mdlle. Lac had every luxurious
lounge and ooac'I TO be bought for
money. She layirh.d gold on her
friends, herself, aud on her pet poodle,
on the beggars who held out their
crooked hands, and showed their dis
torted faces at the door Of the house,
as she tripped from 1t 10 the carriage.
They said she had been peasant
girl, whose sweet voice as she stood
singing at the door of little hut had
caught the ear OF wealthy music
worshipper, who had her taught in
consequences. They tell such stories
of so many prima donnas. No one
would have guessed from her manner
now that she ever knew the value of
sou. Yet with all this extravagance
she was growing rich, and could make
q little fortune in q single night.
Young. beautiful, adored, who could
be happier? Aud yet, though she
could sing so divinely, she could not
have composed one of those little songs
which were written in the garret over
her head 10 save her bright young life.
Each one was gem, and probably M.
Fernando knew it, for genius ought to
know its own work.
Still, rattlipg marches, waltxes that
were the same thing over again, bits
twisted from well known operas into
galops, sold; while his little songs lay
neglected on the counter, aud others
never reached the counter at all, be-
ing scorned from the first by publish
ers with no music in their souls, how
ever much there may have been in
their shops.
IL, indeed, some we'll known singer
would have sung one OF them-Mdlle.
Lac for instance, then there might
have been n change. The thought
crept into poor Fernande's heart by
degrees; at last IL strengthened into n
resolve; but il mnst be the best Of all
that he should lay before his idol, the
very best-nothing else would do.
So he wrote in his attic room, the
poor composer, aud below, the happy
song bird triIled her song, and laughed
and chatted, and was carelessly gener.
Gus, aud never even knew of his exist
ence, who, evening after evening,
watched her, listened 10 her, envied
the man who had the right to sit be.
side her, hold her fan, perhaps-whc
knew-her hand also; the men one OF
whom might one day be her favored
lover. And she enjoyed her happy
butterfly existence and knew nothing
about him.
At last, in At of romantic influence
our composer turned poet. He wrot.
the words Of a song which he callet
Loves Dying Dream" and he fitted
IL TO an air 80 sweet, so gentle, that
playing upon the old piano, he knew
IL to be the best OF all he had evel
done-the bright particular gem TO la,
before his lady.
He copied il ont daintily; he wrote
note with the signature OF "An Admi
rer," and resolved 10 leave ID at he
door and wait the result.
'If should even hear her sing IL
should be 30 happy" he said TO him
self, 'I should be willing 10 die"
What strange things we say some
timesi Did you ever say anything no
| ~.st. .u..u.... "a Sl.t .ft.~-,~l ....s....
itself true. though not as you iDtende
IL? i have. And one morning he sal
10 himself:
To-day I will do IT," and with thes
words left his room.
He ran down stairs with preciou
parcel in his hand, and stood befor
the door that lead TO Mdlle. Lac
suite OF rooms with . palpitatin
heart. He had intended 10 knock an
leave the parcel with servant, bu
Il Il. =