Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-06-29
= HER CHOICE.

s.s'1 HER CHOICE.
-s Major Burnett, the famous Impress
!. ,ario, rode slowly along the country road, !,
l 81 smoothing now and again his horses
sschestnut riane," like the Judge in
7 i. Hhittief's' poem.
lt.Was a sunny morning in early April,
!. and, although not by any means lover
81 r. = srnEal lite, the gallant major found it
lt.a .Quit8 impossible to look unmoved upon
I the beautiful stretch of country, with its
,sss low bills, Its clustering trees, its breath
SSof early flowers. He hummed softly his
4, q .fSyprite song from the opera which was
/ Gnce his JOY and his greatest annoy
ance.
A bird, poised on swaying limb.
4. commenced q charming song without
words.
lfhs major halted and listened atten.
= lively. Il.
The tiny songsser, unabashed by the
|! preseEae Of the famous critic, poured
ssirout his wonderful food Of melody; trills
~, TX that would have made a prima donna
1.s Miad with envy quivered from his silvery
non throat sweeter and fuller the Joyous
Z notes filled the air with their rapturous
sweetness until, as if enamored of his
own voice, or, perhaps, overc ONE by
the sight OF his admiring auditor, the
singer plumed his wings and scared up
t,.y into n,ttaQ3 the blue.
sass. The major clapped his hands en-
~ acknowledge the perfection Of
your manner, the charm Of your voice,
bgt why are you not q woman able to
take the part OF Emilia in my unfortu-
nate. opera? Why have | discovered O
musical genius ii cannot find voice
for my heroine? want nothing more,
only voice, and long in vain.''
The major was becoming tragic; he
saa clinched his hands in mock despair, and
went moodiiy on his way when-but lot
the gallant gentleman tell the story in
his own way.
and he and his friend, Colonel FortesQue
n '6i Ine Grange, were lingering over their
wine.
You know, Hall, that when I left
you for q ride was still out of sorts. l
have told you Of my new opera; the
music is phenomenal; need marvel-
a. ous voice. The first thing I heard was
what the poets call a .feathered song
6tcI3 uS IOuku LII JtC IhIti 6up6IOl9s
but-he flew away, they all do. shall
not feel safe until my young lady has
signed her contract. You can't imagine
the trouble undergo, the misery I en-
dure season after season, just to please
grumblers like yourself ! have to satis-
fy everybody; prima donna, prirna
donna's husband, her stage lover, the
Colonel Fortessue laughed, and filed
fha ynai0rta Olasa
II understand; but what about your
discovery?"
..I'li tell you in good time. Well, as
left my bird-or after he left me, rather
II went on my way gloomily enough,
regretting that 30 much sweetness
should be lost, when heard woman's
voice-a woman's, did sayp Barbar-
ofa seraph! rode on quickly in the
direction whence issued the clearest
and fullest notes even / have.ever heard
and I beheld her. A girl of seventeen,
or so, tall, slight, With face as lovely
as her voice. could have fallen on my
knees before her, calculating family,
My deliverer!' butI didn't
"Glorious!n laughed Colonel Fortes-
cue; ,flet me finish your story for you.
know her-have known her since we
were children-at least. since she was a
child; you can tell me nothing. She is
the orphan daughter Of a poor physi-
clan. Her name is Ethel Ferrier, her
home is with shrewish step-aunt, il
such a relationship can exist. She is
but" Here the gentleman paused
to enjoy the eager expectancy Of his
friends face" But, madamoiselle has
lover; q stern young man, who thinks
1t is sin to laugh, who looks upon the
theatre as the bottornless pit, who-but
IN short, you can never succeed, Fred
30 give it up at once"
Major Burnett stroked his long mus
taches complacently.
"Give it up, mon amiP You dom
know women. I do. I spoke to her
told her Of the power which lay con
cealed within that glorious voice Of hers
pictured g.owingly the happy life of |
famous singer; told her of the wealth
she could gain; I waxed eloquent unit
Whist pity SO fine an orator had beef
lost to the world. Give it up? You vii
hear her next season on the stage-tht
greatest prima donna of the century,
Colonel Fortescue leisurely filed hi
glass, pushed the decanter across to hi
friend and lit another cigar; then, laEil,
Watching the white rings Of smoke as
cend. he said, carelessly:
All very true as to the wealth ant
the fame, but Miss Ferrier is engaged Il
. young civil engineer now in Soutl
America. have understood that they
are to be married upon his return tt
England. Harold Carew is man of to,
much ability and pride of family t,
allow his wife to appear on the stage a
what would you call her? Madam,
Carina?"
In nowise Disconnected, Major Bur
nett hummed softly his favorite son
from his new opera.
" Charming, is it not? And then he
face! What eyes!-what a mouth! "A
she stood there inthe sunlight in he
white dress, q halt-startied expression
on her young face, one fair hand light
l nrsd. la T. heva haan :. MvaI araist, ish ST.