The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-08-13

of another opera by Victor, which was
shortly to be presented, the famous prima
donna who sung the principal part in that
as we'll as in the other, becoming piqued
at something, tlatly refused to sing during
the evening. The manager fastened to
her dressing room, pleaded, stormed and
supplicated with the obdurate songstress,
but her fiery blood had been aroused she
sneeringly and contemptuously refused
to open the delicate valves Of her musical
throat, even though monsieur la manager
acted like madman and shocked her
sensitive nerves. No. she had been
greatly insulted she was a woman who
Emfer ct .ft"ies, madame. you mast
sing. My reputation, my name, my-my
life is at stake Oh, Didbie what does
possess you" And the little man fairly
foamed at the mouth with rage.
"Ahi monsieur commands He for
gets himsclf-who am. No, no; the in
suit is too great-too cutting"
"Nirago! you coin your insult Oh,
why do yon find it convenient TO commit
this folly now? You are aware that Mile.
too i'll to leave her bed. What shall
do? am ruined. am ruined! :"
The wounded dove only elevated her
fair shoulders and ordered her maid to
bring her carriage wraps. At that in
slant Victor burst into the room, having
been informed of the scene there enacted.
"What trouble is this, Senac 2" turn
ing to the manager, who was now livld
with rage Madame la diva will not
sing: she is tired? she is angered ?"
Monsieur Victor is sarcastic" haugh-
tily.
"Madame think so? Monsieur Victor
will not be sarcastic, he will be truthful.
Madame cannot sing; she has no voice"
"Wretch."
"What do you mean, monsieur" cried
Scnac.
Are not my words plain? Madame
cannot sing: Then one of the chorus
shall sing the part
"Oh, that | live" shrieking cone of
the chorus Monsieur" to Senac, "you
hear this insult?' and she tore her costly
handkerchief into shreds.
Wait, wait, Monsieur Victor, be not
so hasty. Who is this chorus girl 2"
You dare to ask in my presence
Oh, this is too much Messieurs, stand
aside. Your chorus girl shall sing your
opera, and all Paris will weep with me-"
And she left the room in high dudgeon.
"What shall be done: Rash man, you
have ruined me Mon dieu! my head
splits am mad! !"
Bah Let her weep let her tear her
hair | have found one who will sing it
as we'll as she. Listen, maniac, and cease
your ravng Mile. Boccol did not APP
pear this afternoon, and her understudy
sung her part was in the front, and
her voice more than cqualed madame's.
When | reached the stage she had fin
ished and had gone to her room. We
will find her Come, come
Senac only paced the room, unable to
comprehend that any singer, unless of
known repula alton, could sing part so
difficult. The opera would not be pro-
duced that night, and he would be laughed
into death from modification, because a
woman twisted him about her finger like
ball on string.
"Where is the girl who sung the part
Of Idalia this atternoon?" Victor in
quired of one of the assistant stage man
ayers.
Louise :"
81 do not know her name Where is
she 20
81 last saw her entering the dressing
room OF the chorus"
Victor hurried toward the stairs which
led under the stage, where the room was
situated AS he passed through the dark
side wings, mere and there, lighted by
fickering gas jet, enclosed in globular
wire screen, he hoped she had not left the
theatre. Were she still there, she should
have the honor of singing the principal
part in the operate success of the year,
and if she acquitted herself as we'll as her
voice promised, her fortune was made,
and he would finally sever the contract
with the diva, so many times previously
broken, and substitute her. He thought
of parallel cases without number-hOw a
singer or actors future had been made in
a single night. lie was anxious, too, to
see her, for though he had heard her sing
ing frequently, he had never seen her fea-
lures.
He reached the top Of the narrow, dirty
stairs, hardly lighted by the solitary gas
jet. A woman was ascending them, and
he stepped aside to let her pass. AS he
did so, the light shonc full on her face,
which she turned. toward him for a mo-
ment, not knowing who he was.
Victor rceled back against the scenery,
his eyes staring as though he saw phan-
tom; then he started forward and caught
her arm, half roughly, in his excited
grasp.
"Nannette! you here! F."
"Ah, Victor" drawing away from him.
You only now recognize me?" yet
she trembled and could hardly control
her emotion.
"Only now What do you mean?
Where have you been? What ale you
doing here?"
You do not know? How could you,
since you never knew me, though you
have seen me many times. | am one of
the chorus"
81 am dreaming! swear | never saw
you. thought you away in Russia,
where traced you. Nannette, darling!
| live again after eighteen months of mis-
cry, worse than death, even though in
that time l have gained my ambition.
Sweetheart, oh, why did | not find you
before!"
She struggled feebly in his strong
clasp, then gave way, and amid her sobs
Of joy told him Of her wanderings, of her
fathers death in Russia; how she had
iourneyed to Paris searching for him. and