The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-06-28
HER CHOICE.

Major Burnett, the famous impress
ario. rode slowly along the county road,
smoothing now and again his horses
::chest..ut mane," like the Judge in
Whittier's poem.
/: was sunny morning in early April,
and, although not by any means lover
of rural life, the gallant major found it
quite impossible to Look unmoved upon
the beautiful stretch of country, with its
low hills, its clustering trees, its breath
of early flowers. He hummed softly his
tavorite song from the opera which was
ut once his Joy and his greatest annoy
ance.
A bird, poised on a swaying limb,
commenced charming song without
words.
The major halted and listened atten.
tlvelv.
The tiny songster. unebashed by the
presence Of the famous critic, poured
ont lis wonderful Hood Of melody; trills
that woald have made q prima donna
wild with envy quivered from his silvery
throat; sweeter and fuller the joyous
notes filed the air with their rapturous
sweetness until, as il enamored of his
! own voice, or, perhaps, Overc ONE by
the sight OF his admiring auditor, the
singer plumed his wings end scared up
into the blue.
The major clapped his hands en-
Enthusiastically.
II acknowledge the perfection of
| your manner, the charm Of your voice,
but why are you not a woman able to
take the part of Emilia in my dnfortd-
nate opera? Why have / discovered d
musical genius if I cannot hnd voice
for my heroine? I want nothing more,
only voice, and l long in vain.'
! The major was becoming tragic; he
clinched his hands in mock despair, and
went modify on his way when-but let
the gallant gentleman tell the story in
his own way.
1t was after dinner on the same dav.
and he and his friend, Colonel FortesQne
Of the Grange, were lingering over thelt
wine.
lyon know. Hall, that wien t left
you for a ride 1 was still ont Of sorts. t
have told you Of my new opera; the
music is phenomenal; need a marvel
otis voice. The first thing l heard was
what the poets call "feathered song.
ster;;" he could iill the part superbly:
but--he flew away; they all do: / shall
not feel safe until MY young lady has
signed her contract. Yo,i can't imagine
the trouble l undergo, the misery l en-
dure season after season, just to please
grumblers like yourself. 1 have to eatis-
~ everybody; prima donna, prima
donna's husband, her stage lover, the
Colonel Fortescue laughed, and filed
the majors glass.
81 understands; but what about your
discovery"
..1'll tell you in good time. Well, as 1
left my bird-or after he left me, rather
II went on my way eloomily enough,
should be lost, when: 1 heard q woman'a
vo;ce-a wornati's, did / say? Barbar-
ian! savage!-an angels voice, the voice
ola seraph! rode on Quickly in the
direction whence issued the clearest
and fullest notes even have ever heard
land / beheld her. A girl of seventeen,
or so, tall slight, with face rs lovely
as her voice. could have fallen on my
knees before her; calculating family;
MY delivererv butt didn't"
GLORIOUS" laughed Colonel Fortes'
cue; ,'let me finish your story for you
| know her-have known her since We
were children-at least. since she was
child; You can tell me nothing. She IL
the orphan daughter of q poor physi
clan. Her name is Ethel Ferrier, heI
home is with shrewish step-aunt, i
such relationship can exist. She i,
very lovely. Her voice Is marvellous
but" Here the gentleman paused
to enjoy the eager expectancy Of hi
friends face-"But, madamoiselle hal
a loveri stern young man, who thinks
it Is a sin to laugh, who looks upon the
In short, you can never s1cceed, Fred
Major Burnett stroked his long mus
taches complacently.
"Give it mp, mon ami? You dom
know women. do. spoke to her
told her Of the power which lay con
cealed within that glorious voice Of hers
| pictured g:owingiy the happy life Of .
famous singer; told her of the wealth
she could gain; | waxed eloquent unit
startled myself, and fell to tllinkin,
what pity so fine an orator had beef
lost to the world. Give it up? You vii
hear her next season on the stage-th,
greatest prima donna of the century,"
Colonel Fortescue leisurely filled hi
glass, pushed the decanter across to hi
friend and lit another cigar; then, lazil!
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 h
young civil engineer now In Soutl
America. have understood that thel
are to be married upon his return +,
much ability and pride of family Il
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 not7 And then he
face! What eyes!-what q MOUTH Al
she stood there in the sunlight in he
white dress, q hatt-startled ox:reseiOl
on her young face, one fair hand light,
c!asping her white throat, would hav'
given worlds to have been an artist! Sh'
why, positively, I never felt so old, 9,
blase. before! The man is fortunate VIII
will be Emilia in the opera of my risin
young genius-Mares Villari. You know
him2 Mop
Then the conversation branched
from Ethel Ferrier to the Italian who's,
music to was all the "world wondering
little later in the year.
Still, when Major Burnett rose to re
tire for the night, Colonel Fortescue re
turned once more to the charge.
"Mark my words, you will fail yet
he observed.
) Fail! on should have seen her fac,
as pictured her glorious future to her
It was an easy conquest, mon ami
when has ambition ever conquere,
lover you asked, the other day. A lit
tie while, and you shah see that in
woman's heart there is no love like tn
love of fame. The applause sof king
against the tame commonplace of q hua
bands affection! Nonsense! Hal, 20,
are behind your aye. Fred Burnett
late Of the -th. old, gray, with glitter
ing bait, can give the odds to handsom
young Harold Carew. Still, will b
generous. He shall have compliment
tary ticket during the season"
Most kind. most noble! But We sha:1
see what we shall see.''
(Which will be Miss Ferrier % Emilia
the new pvi,ra donna, with the face O
U~~ lA1 r. =