Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1879-07-05

.TSIoBr HELEN LUouEER.
rhe gentleman has tainted !"

and dtsttngue looking, and the lady SO
elegant. -A---z
Eyes, he seems to have tainted. No,
see =, replied Mrs. Bennett, 'she is sitting
up, again. But, heavens! how pale he is,
and with what CHASTITY SMILE he puts
away Madam's wet handkerchief and
fam"
.Who upon earth can they be ?n que
ried her daughter 80 20.
The question was answered by her
brother Charley, who Millie declared was
perfect walking encyclopedia of town
knowledge.
'~rhey are tourists. and stopping for a
few DAYS at the Ridge House," said he,
.and are from France, Germany, or some
other foreign land"
"Very definitel" laughed his sister.
"But what face he just turned in this
direction L. was positively savage"
ale is evidently annoyed by the vul-
gar curiosity OF the people. Everybody
is staring at them. Do look In another
direction, Millie. See how the clods are
gaping? The Lord deliver me from a
town that apes city ways with country
manners"
The subject of criticism was Major La
yasuer-the lady with him widowed
sister. This much was known at the no.
TED where they were stopping for time
in an OvergrOwn country town. Boosting
of couple (rather smalD churches. and .
theatre of pretentious dimensions, for the
size of the place. and by way Of contrast,
the pride and exceedingly better patron
lied of the institutions.
Madam Ponsetta had said to her BROTH
er. after their early dinner: -
allow i'm the world, Claude, are We to
n. ma ri MT
find something to kill time it will be the
death of MS J"
.sDid not tell you, Pauline, that had
taken box at the theatre 2"
'"Theatre!" and Madam widely opened
her eyes. .NowI know, Claude, you
have designs upon me, Think of being
cooped up i'm sweltering little hole up
OH such night as this :"
"Of course il is not as grand "a those
In Paris, but it is still quite creditable.
and boasts an interesting bill for the
night-an Italian troupe, or something
OF the kinda new prima donna getting
accustomed to the stage and the public,
It is said. preparatory to grand debut in
the city. At any rate it will passer le
temps, as you say, ma chere."
Accordingly at the appointed hour
they were seated i'm their box ut the
theatre, the cynosure OF all eyes; the ele-
CANT attire and brilliant jewels of Madam
quite distracting attention from the act
orS.' ~ q All 9lf
She sat tanning herself with well
bred expression of ennui, stared ut by the
BENEFITS from the opposite box, as we'll
MS the lesser lights, while her brother,
sitting at her side, commented upon the
performance fer her amusement.
sits positive affection. Claude," re-
turned she with an expression of disgust.
"Good heavens what voice that fellow
has. 1t is too shallow to be base, and too
heavy to be anything else. And then the
nasal twang!"
"But you will admit his pose being
that of Apollo answered the Major, "and
what Is voice compared to shapely pair
of limbs ?"
Madam shrugged her shoulders. But
the next thing she leaned forward with
an expression of interest. The young
debutante had appeared upon the stage.
SIT is the prima donna," whispered the
Major, also becoming interested.
At the ,footlights stood young crea-
ture go delicately beautiful as to seem al
most unreal. ohe was clad In cloud
like dress of the purest white, revealing
the lovely contour of neck and breast,
and the supple roundness OF arms. The
web of bright hair was thrown back from
q low, sweet brow. and floated as gold
en- veil down her back. Her eyes were
large, dark and luminous as stars.
"Can such a-fragile creature as that
sing?" questioned Madam Ponsetta, in a
whisper.
She glanced at the face of her brother,
noticed he was pale as death and staring
at the cantatrice with dazed, far away
expression. But before she bad time to
again address him, there burst upon the
stiffness such gush of song thatfit held
Madam and indeed the entire house SPELL
bound. - -.
Ii was at the outset very soft, though
clear as a flute and had an uncertain
Quivering, as that of bird warbling for
the first time in its little life. Then it
gradually rose to such tones of liquid mel
ody, SO full and so tender as to entrance
the ear of every listener and breaking IN
tolsudden flights and soaring from height
to height.-- m r ~-~-r1 crO-F.
She stood there, the sweet, beautiful
young songstress, forgetting the gaping
crowd, lost to all criticism, conscious only,
OF heayen-born power, with her hands
clasped upon Der bosom, and singing for
the very love of 1t.
Every one sat wrapt and breathless.
Madam Ponsetta forgot to move her jew
eled fan, and the BENEFITS neglected their
gossip. And when the song had ceased,
and the girl been led from the stage.
with her eyes sparkling as diamonds
through tears, the well merited applause
came -
sJust think, Claude, of such voice be.