River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-06-28

waited audience; or, better still, had felt
| the rapt silence as her voice touched
| mems hearts!
And then HaroldI First to glory in
her triumph, first to share in her famel
/ How delighted he would be when the
| world should render to her its homageI
This was the sweetest part, after all
| this communion with her own thoughts
| in the stiffness of her pleasant room.
Whatever might come hereafter, she
| had worn her laurels.
When Major Burnett called upon her
in the morning he made known more
/ fully his plans. As he looked upon her
lovely face and heard again her superb
| voice, he was aroused to an enthusiasm
one would have thought foreign to a
man of his apparently phlegmatic tenn
permanent.
When he left her she had agreed to all
! bis wishes.
She would receive the instruction of
the master he would procure for her:
she would study carefully the part of
Emilia; she would appear in one grand
| concert before chosen audience of the
| great in every branch of art; then, and
| then only, would she consent to sign
contract for regular engagement.
| Because, after all, (" she said, gayly,
'you may find me condemned by the
voice of public opinion, and then what
| would you dor"
cater had expressed my opinion
as tot he merits of your voice, my dear
| young lady?" he said superbly. 'You
| will pardon me, but you show great
modesty"-he ated to say ignorance
| of his reputation as a critic ard art
| Connoisseur-grea 'modesty. | fear
| you will not retain that humble opinion
| of yourself year from now; you will be
| like the rest of the world, then fully
| conscious of your merits We allare' he
| added quickly, as he saw the swift
| flush rise to her fair young brow. "NoM
once more, if you will so honor me !"
and he led her to the piano with the
courtly grace he had found SO taking
with women.
''She is a wonder, a marvel, Hail." he
| said, enthusiastically to his friend that
night 'She will be revelation to all
| London next season. If only | had
that contract signed by that fairy hand
/ ouldsn4p my fingers at Fate hap
Ply manp
II was the eve,ttful night of Ethel Fer
rier's debut, the night would set the
seal OF public opinion upon Major Bur
nett's dictiIn-the night which would
make or mar her prospects.
The great hall was filed with the Sc
| lect audience come to sit in Judgment
upon the Young singer. London bad
contributed its rank and fashion, its
learning and wealth. Certainly Ethel
could feel that nothing had been omitted
which could give elegance and tone to
her first appearance in public as can
didate for public favor.
First If all there was an orchestral
overture, to whic every one listened
with well bred attention, but with a
Slight enthusiasm; then followed DASH
| ing and brilliant piailste, who played
one of her own clever compositions; but
every one had heard Madame ArdIta be-
| fore, and waited, therefore, with some
what unflattering listlessness fer the APP
pearanee of the young debutante.
At last she came a slight, beautiful
girl, with marvellous ease and grace of
manner.
Base opera-goers reused themselves
! tc interest; languid fine ladies' allowed
themselves TO look earery at the lovely
creature in her floating white draperies,
with great clusters of pale-pink roses at
her throat, looping her dress and lying
| agaIns the chestnut waves OF her hair.
Far too beautiful" whispered one
passee maid en-lady to her neighbor, ito
have good voice or any other Ia
| lent"
"You think So" returned the other,
smilinely, Young countess, noted alike
| for her wit and beauty. There are few
of us gifted with your penetration, dear
Lady Flora. You really alarm me at
times. you detect SO quickly the slightest
flaw in One'g armOr
Her manner is the perfection of art
since it admirably conceals what art has
taught" said another, u long haired
young artist, examining critically through
his lorgnette the fresh innocent face and
graceful form.
90 4 ;;iiits until we. hear her." said the
fair counte 5, gayly; ss5eGGttttGGf % Rec our
wit and criticism until then Her sue
cess or her failure may inspire us to say
something brilliant"
1t was the realization OF Ethels dream.
All those faces before her were merely
visions, such as she had seen that night
in her quiet room; she knew they were
around her, but their presence embar-
raised her less than when she had felt
them with her in the stiffness of that
April night.
She heard the opening chords of the
anxious face just below her, and could
not, for the life of her, repress a queer
feeling of amusement at what his dis
comfiture would be should she fail.
Then she sang-sang as never woman
Gang before.
1t was a song which the young italian
mad written for her, song which
breathed the soul of Italy in its raptur-
ous sweetness. Eyes that had not wept
for years saw the white Tobed singer
through mist; women dropped their
faces behind their fans to hide from 9th
err ewes the tears which filed their own.
Fuller, clearer, sweeter the marvellous
voice rose and scared through the vast
hall with the fresh, ecstatc melody OF a
lark's silvery notes, then 1t died down 10
silence which can be felt-and Ethel
knew what is meant by swaylng and
stirring the hearts of men.
The encore which followed she did
not respond to, but after awhile she
again came forward to receive perfect
ovation.
Again she sang-the same scene was
enacted: as she finished her song, these
nearest to her detected rich rose flush
| rise to her exquisite face, and noticed
that glance of recognition seemedto
Fash from her eyes to the eyes of some
one in the audience.
Behind the scenes the ovation contin-
ued. With sweet, shy lips she answer
ed the words of her great and talented
admirers, the rose still pulsing III her
cheek.
But she cared for it all so little. for a
few minutes before she had seen ac:oss
| the sea of faces that of Harold Carew.
NADIA ne Ardira's brilliant playing en-
piled the room of all save Ethel and Ma
ior Burnett.
"You are satisfied that was not mis-
taken?" he said, exultlngly.
sit mas been too wonderful" she an
swered, softly, straining her ears for the
sound of that well-known step.
You are not afraid to occasion me
terrible loss now, fancy" he went on,
sHiilingly. "The world shall see yoC
and hear you as Emilia, after all. "
But she was paying no heed to him;
she was across tie room, her hands
cIasped in the strong brown ones of her
lover;
Very cold, very stern was his face.
| His voice was as quiet as If they had
met after the separation ola day, instead
of more than year.
lie was tall, handsome mana man
of reserved but most noble nature,
who held the love of this young girl as
| the dearest Gift ever fallen to his lot.
~ on did not receive my letter. he
asked letter in which | announced
NV intended return"
| She nnrceived at once the change in