Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-08-25

plsuded, but it evidently Was for mere
forms sake. He escorted the Empress to
hsr carriage, kissed her hand and said I:
g Go home, love. 1 viii soon rejoin you !;
but ] need air and prefer walking back.
Tns carriage was no s1oner oil home.
wards than the Emperor went TO a French
friend. Dake d'Avray. VINO waited at some
distance, aad together they went up the
&C ors staircase Of the opera. Ia the largest
capita. O secret can no more be kept than
10 the smallest village. The reason IS eyi-
dent. No matter how popuious a capital
may be, everybody goes round with all ms
acquaintance in the same circle, meeting
the same people IN the same drawing rooms
and exchanging the same talk every day
from one years end to snother's. Four
weeks had not come and gone before every
body that Is anybody il Vienna knew that
the Emperor attended the opera every
night Rosine Ink sang that he had made
D0Wager Countess Won ApranOtf invite
60slue Ink to supper, that che had sung
there bewltchingly aud that to thank her
he had given her costly bracelet, which
bore the d0nbie-aeaded eagle, Of Austrian
diamonds. The Empress alone was ignor-
ant q all this ti5tle-tattle. She had re-
solved to give g concert, and especially IN
honor Of Bosiue Lux Tickets of invita-
tion we're sent out. There was but one
exclamation among the good souls in petit
coats OF Vienna Good gracious TO
invite her husbands mistress 90 sing in
her drawing-room that did really exceed
eli bounds OF decency.' a Countess raised
her voice to heaven and whined All !
had your Majesty seen kosiue LuX's dress
t'other night at Countess Won Aprsuof's
concertf Twas az attire splendid enough
10 damn a saint velvet, the color Of
crushed strawberries, trimmed with knots
and rucbes OF old lace traus6Xed by dia.
mond arrows. It made that old niuny de
Sc. Jasmin exclaim Nowadays tbs
Venus who bears Cupid'a culver r.
That night the Empress found the fol-
lowing note in the Emperor writing in his
own secretary
Tonight, Roaine, I VIII call at your
/ lodgings after the performance. Say what
you may, l viii not qui5 you. Do not re-
fuse entrance to paradise to one who lives
only in you, for you.
Unused TO anguish, the Empress bore its
agony with the lofty energy of noble
spirits After the opera, when her nus
band told her he would walk home, she
make no objection As The curtain fell she
ordered chamberlain to carry TO ROsine
Lax the letter he had previously written
by her Msjssty's command, and which was
"a follows
The Empress commands Me Bosine
LuS's attendance upon her at the Imperial
Palace az once and without seeing or speak,
Ing to anybody.
Fast as the horses could 90 her Majesty
fastened home. Sac had taken off her dia-
mond diadsm, but nothing else, and waited
10 fgll evening dress the songs5rezs' visit.
She swaitsd ieverishly; g blonde curl had
fallen SO ahe took OF the diadem, and the
curl as it rose aud fell with heaving breast
revealed the storm which ragged. The car.
PCT F 8s covered with petals of flowers she
had IN nervous impotence and excitement
pluokCd from her EOsegay and unconscious
~ scattered at her feet Sae had 10 tears,
but the black semi circle under her eyes
5old something Of her hearts anguish.
Rosine Lux was announced. Sac had not
stayed even 30 change dress. She still
wore the gay costume of the last act Of
4" Les Hpeueupts. She paused on the
drawing rooms threshold. she had seen
thai lovely face only radiant with happi-
ness. Il was nov dark with grief, SO
elouded the s0ngstress psused thunder.
struck. Wns5 meant that sorrow {:
Neither spoke. One was DUMB with grief.
the other with ast0nlshmsOt.
at last tine terrible silence vas broken
by her Majesty, who said y have sent
Tor you lher neart had risen 90 her throat
and cboked herr / hsye sent Tor you to
to--to ask the amount Of penalty stipu-
lated in your engagement with our opera,
If you failed 30 carry it ont. have some
thing else TO say-a matter Of confidence
between ourselves Twill take care it goes
no further. I have always been adverse
from iuhictiDg pain. Bat I must tell you
that [ did once believe that one Of our sex
might be on the stage and none the less
have a heart under her foothght finery.
must confess l made sure that you would
never forget a night in ballroom where l
showed that one OF our sex might wear a
crown and stiil have heart in breast. My
trust was built on letter addressed to me.
But all these things you have forgotten,
dare say, You songstTesses have so many
things to remember, words, scores, hatter-
ing speeches. / can excuse you if you
sometimes forget things not in the way Of
business. So let that pass. Nevertheless,
feel J have a right to ask you to quit
Vienna, especially after tell you that re.
fusal viii lead to my departure. II you
stay, 60.
Rosine was most embarrassed and family
stammered Her Majesty is mistaken !;
mas been deceived by false reports. " By
false reports Is that diamond double
headed eagle on that bracelet fake re-
port q 81 Her Msjesty knows that moth
ing is more common than for soverelgus 20
give trinkets 60 soDgstress. And / pledge
my word Of honor, his Mojesty mas never
gone even so FAR as mere caprice, mere
whim, mere handkerchief thrown.
Enough Do not play false to truth
as we'll as to protestatious OF gratitude
You know his Majesty's handwriting
Here is MS signature. Is not this your
name On this envelope - The Empregs
held wide open before songstress note and
envelope found IL drawer. Songstress
TUNED ashy white. She gravely an
svgered sought 10 spare her Majesty
pangs which are czaselesa. Yes, that note
is for me. Would you know what nv
answer had been No, your Majesty,
those wishes eao never, never be gratI6ed.
Does her Majesty doubs me Here is
guarantee chat I sEeak truly" Songstress
held stamped paper 70 Empress, Her
Majesty read It. 1t was aougstress' release
from her engagement with tue Vienna Op-
era II. consideration Of payment Of the pen
aisy stipulated in the contract sud receipt
Of this money paid. Songstreas added .
Tonight ] shall quit Vienna. Have
not done everything her Majesty wishes.
even before receiving the Empress com.
mands2'
The Empress was pale, spoke abruptly
by Jerks, her eyes asshed fire gradually
Der voice Pottened. and when so8gs5ress
had ceased speaking imperial eyes qaenched
Ere in tears. Her majesty made no effort
to keep them from streaming down her
cheek. They were delicious tears Sud
denly, with that enthusiasm from q warm
heart which made her so wildly beloved,
sac, IN almost an affeosionate tone, said 20
soagstrsas II beg your pardon. Forgive
me" And as she spoke she held out both
hands, took sougstress III them, pressed
them warmly, then added You are q
noble woman, & trustworthy heart. ] was
Frsng-bus il you knew how love him
do forgive me. Sonestrsss fell on her
knees and kissed the Empress hands, still
trembling with emotion The Emperor
stood in the door. Empress said to her !:
Get up Emperor was ssupe6ed by
what he saw Er1Drees If rrr, 7-aoovpre6