Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-07-01
STEPHEN lISCOMB'S i'DORA.n
BY FRANCIS K. wADLErGH.

1
but ] am powerless to help you a
present
i know it, Mrs. Thaxter, | know
il! have implicit confidence il
YOU
Mrs. Thaxter detected faint EN-
phasis on the last word. She replied
emphatically:
and in Lottie.'
Certainly. She means no harm
she is dazzled by visions of horsel
as successful prima donna. | car
not blame her for not being willing
to give up the chance of future rich.
es and education; have nothing e
offer her in comparison with that
Stephen Llscomb was bitter. and
did not do himself Justice when h,
said nothing" To the girl to whom
ne had been engaged for nearly two
years, he could offer an honest heart
an intelligent brain, strong arms ard
sincere love. Until this summer
Lottie had thought that that was al
the world to her.
& wish Buonarotti had never come
near u.s. exclaimed Mrs. Thaxtsr.
1T was an unlucky day for us when
he heard Lottie sing, and convinced
her that with year or two of study
under competent masters, she would
make famous singer. l dare say
she will be famous ottie has a fine
voice; but will she be happy? After
the novelty has worn off, will she not
regret that she has cast you aside p
| She may; the day may come when
she will repent of this mornings de.
cislon, for | think she does love me.
Stephen hesitated, but Mrs. Thaxter
treasured him.
She does love you. and always
will she is not fckle.'
Then | have something to hope
for! If you ever see the hour that
finds her disposed to recall me, give
her this message tell her | love
her with an undying love, and will
wait patiently for one word from her
which will warrant me in coming to
her, said Stephen, earnestly. Il will
say no more to her now; | have
begged her for my sake to give up
the idea of going into public life, and
she has refused decidedly, almost
CONTEMPORARY. / shall never i'm
plore her again; she must make the
first advances
Mrs. Thaxter did not attempt to
oyer.rule his decision, for she real.
lied that 1t was wise one he had
indeed used every available argu.
ment to try to persuade Lottie to re-
nounce her visions of fame and
wealth he had even asked her to
marry him before she sailed for Mi
Ian, that he might at least be with
her to protect her; but no, she was
not willing to relinquish her career
Then he said
u do not want a divided heart,
Lottie; if you prefer the possibility
of fame to the certainty of my love,
| will release you from your engage
ment.'
very well Now we are both
free Lottie replied, with little an
ger.
She had had no idea of breaking
her engagement to Stephen in her
brightest day-dreams there had al.
ways been the thought that, when
she was a lyric queen, popular and
wealthy, she would return to her
lover and share all with him. That
he was apparently so ready to resign
her was, for the moment, a disagree
able surprise but when her mother
related to her the above converse.
ton, she understood his feelings, and
her anger vanished.
Stephen had not intended that his
message to Lottie should be delivered
now; but Mrs. Thaxter could not
keep anything from her only child
for as much as five minutes with
other people she was reticsnt enough,
but Lottie was her second SELF
So Mrs. Thaxter and Lo,tie babe
adieu to their native town, and were
soon in Milan, where the latter gave
herself up to hard study and unro.
mantle, unceasing scales. Her mas.
ter praised her voice and ged
her to persevere; she and her moth.
er had a moderate fortune, therefore
she was not forced to hasten her de-
but by any pecuniary necessities, and
willingly agreed to a three years
course of study.
But after the FIRST year she became
weary. discouraged and home. sick
sometimes she mentally echoed hel
mothers wish, that Buonarotti bad
never come near her. The eonstan,
jealousies and chickering's of other
students Disguised her ; the hatred
occasionally shown by successful
singers to their younger rivals intim.
idated her; and when she saw the
number of American girls under Ma
estro C-'s tuition, each one conf
dent that she alone was to be the
great operate star of the future. she
was dismayed; the majority of these
aspirants must of necessity be either
only moderately successful, or else
must tail entirely. Her future die
not seem SO assured.
What becomes of all these would
be prime donne?' she asked the macs
tro one day.
He shrugged his shoulders anc
spread out his hands as be replied
What becomes of all the pins ant
needless
Instead of visions Of crowded au
diences, gayly-lit theatres, rapt lis
teners, her mental eye often saw th,
pretty cottage that Stephen hat
bought when he was expecting t
marry her; although her bodily
gaze fell on fruit and fower.lader
orange and lemon trees, sombr,
leaved olives, fg.tree and vineyard
she beheld instead. the luxurian
young maple and the tall old elm il
: front of that cottage, the apple, pea
and cherry trees just outside tn,
CHEEKY little kitchen. What had one,
seemed dull prospect of numdrun
: life, now appeared in its true light
: the happy home.life, full OF domestic
duties and pleasant cares, sweeteneC
. by husbands love aud perfected b,
! the clingiup arms of little childran