The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-06-17

made every excuse to get near her in
lie crowd.
"It is shem said a fat lady, ablaze
Sith perfect crustaceous formation OF
liamonds.
I'D know her in a huhdredl" said a
lender lady, In black velvet, with n
liver crescent set above l..r forehead.
Anice Grey felt little fluttered, be.
lind the black satin mask; but, aftel
III, it was not an unpleasant situation
The dress was superbly beautiful, and
she knew that she moved gracefully be
meath its auriferoas folds
"Ask her to sing" whispered one.
"Do you believe she wouldP" resorted
another, eagerly.
Yes-why notP"
"At all events" said third, at
worth the trial. / do so long to hear
I her voicep
Once more Anice's leart gave
LEASED throb. How did all of these
people hear of her soft contralto voic,
of The church-choir engagement for
which she was hoping, and the lessons,
1t sixty dollafs a quarter, which she
had taken Of Monsieur Emile?
The master Of ceremonies, urged on
~ his anxious lady friends, came for
ward, while the gentlemen, opera.
| glasr' in hand, made a senIi-circle
DhalAax ct the back of the room.
"a thousand pardons, madam" he
aid, courteously, "but | am requested
to ask you for the favor of a little
,ong."
"a songw hesitatcd Anice, with
changing color, while she restlessly
fingered her mother -of-pearl fan.
"Only one," pleaded the master OF
ceremonies, salaaming to the very
ground aria, balladine. romanza-
what you please. 1t would be an in
astilnable favor to me-to us all"
And thus urged, Anice suffered her.
self to be led to the piano.
She sang a simple little English bal
lad, soft and sad, with dying cadences.
1t WAS succeeded by round upon round
of deafening applause.
"Fair cantatrice," said the master of
ceremonies, who was quite beau in
his elderly way, it is useless for you
to endeavor longer to conceal your
identity. You are discoyeredw
"IP' cried Anice, turning pink and
white.
ave are too much honored," added
the master of ceremonies, "by the pres
ence Of the Signora Symphonic beneath
our festive roof. Pray allow me to sig
nifty our universal appreciation of the
favor you have deigned to confer upon
u.s."
And he gracefully placed upon her
head wreath of glossy green bay
leaves, which had been hurriedly con-
structed by one Of the diamond-spark-
ling ladies.
"But," cried Anice, "there has been
some mistake! am not the Signora
Symphonic the distinguished Italian
opera singer to whom you allude."
But the master Of Ger monies bowed
again, with mildly incredulous smile.
1.-The signora is pleased to keep up the
transparent delusion," said he. 1--WE
bow to her will. But we cannot be de-
ceived."
And not all Anice Grey's protestations
could divest her from the strange and
unexpected identity that was so per-
sistently thrust upon her. She received
an ovation all the evening from the
guests, ald finally left the ballroom in
curious state of bewilderment.
Mrs. Badgerly was sitting up for her,
with a devotional book in her hand,
md the borders of her best cap In dam
gerous proximity to the kitchen candle,
when the yellow satin dress seemed to
ght up the apartment like an illumi-
nation.
You're back, eh, dearyP" said Mrs.
Badgerly, drowsily.
"Yes, I'm back" said Anice. "And
the strangest thing has happened"
"What dearyp"
Everybody has taken me for a fa-
nous prima donna who is now singing
at the academy Of music!" said Anice.
Do you suppose, Badgerly, that my
voice is really so fneP"
Its dreadful fine, my deary, no
doubt, said the charwoman, sitting an
incipient yawn which threatened to di-
vide the two sections OF her head in
parts; "but it amt that. It's the yal-
Ter satin gownd, deary-that's what it
isl"
"The-yellow satin gown"
Eyes," nodded Mrs. Badgerly. |
Didn't tell youP 1t was one the Sig |
nora Symphonic wore on the stage until |
a clumsy Supe spilled an oil lamp over
it. So she gave it to her maid, the sig
nora did, and the maid she took out the
stains as neat as you please, with French |
chalk and benzine, and a hot smoothing.
iron. She was a smart creetur, the Sig |
nora Simphonia's maid was; but she |
had one failing-she liked drink. So |
the last spree she went on, she pawned |
the yaller satin gownd for M oney to buy
liquor; and there hain't nothing been
seen or heerd of her since. So there's
the history of your dress, my deary-
dove; and, if you cared to have it to
keep, I've no doubt could make good
bargain for you with Mrs. Hallowelr,
and get it cheap"
But Alice Grey threw it aside with a
shudder.
mo. Badgerly!" said she; take it
away. It's the lust time l ever want to
wear o dress that isn't honestly my very