The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-11-21
| love sweet voices and pretty sing

l L
ers."
"An artistic singer" cried the
the girl. "Give me your hand.
You shall be my master, and your
servant is ready to follow you"
A month after the meeting the
actor whose name was Stephen and
the singer whose name was Mignon
were already the best friends in the
world; sang togetherevery day, lived
amidst the fruits and cadences of
an interminable duet. In case
like this duet music resembles cal
umny something always remains
behind.
For Stephen and Mignon the re-
suit was much love and a great
deal of sorrow. One evening Steph-
en- had been singing the exquisite
''Il mio tesoro." Mignon sat mo-
tionless at the foot of the singer
whom she silently admired.
A tear suddenly fell upon the
young girls forehead. Raising her
little hand to dry her friends tears,
she said
"If Stephen is unhappy what will
becom of Mignon?"
Mignon knelt before the artistic
whom she called her master, she
leaned her pretty head upon Steph-
ems knees, without noticing the
long black hair which fell over her
shoulders. Stephen tried to raise
the young girl, and felt upon his
hand tear from the eyes of Mig
non, and saip to her in his turn
"If you are unhappy what will
become of Stephen ?"
"Look at me-" said Mignon. Is
there sorrow in these tears?"
"Mignon, my darling Mignon,"
said Stephen, weep together, so
close to one another that our hearts
may guess the secret of our weep
ing eyes"
Stephen gave her a kiss, which
Alignon perhaps returned. With a
girl who loves you n kiss is like a
good action, never thrown away,
At this moment his heart, moved
by the caress given and returned,
the amorous actor could think Of
nothing more gallant than to repeat
al mio tesoro,' still contemplate
ing, adoring Mignon. He sang
with unparalleled spirit and inspir-
alton never had his voice been so
pure, so brilliant, so charming as
now, in this supreme moment of
joy and love. One might almost
have said the singer had discovered
taste, sentiment, the true passion
and genius of music upon the lips
of his mistress, in the heart of Mig.
non. In the inner life of great ar
tistes, those elect who live through
the imagination, the heart, the spir-
it, there is nearly always woman
hidden, a muse an Egeria, an en-
chantress, who loves and inspires
by her heart or her kisses.
From that day forward Stephen,
who felt that he was singing won
derfully promised hims.lf to reach
fame and fortune. Mignon promis-
ed herself to aid him by her coun-
sells, her memories and her lessons
she would be the one to help and
secretly direct his new studies: she
became his instructor in love and
song. When Stephen reappeared
at the Court Theatre after a long
absence, the audience absolutely
failed to recognize the voice of the
singer. 1t had become penetrating,
spiritual, caressing, marvellous.
Never had been heard anything so
brilliant yet so soft, so expressive,
so impassionated as the song of that
wonderful actor. The heart of Mig
non sang there. She was proud of
the talent and fame of Stephen.
The poor girl studied from morning
till night, the better to teach her
lover all the wonderful arts of song,
the very mysteries of derfection.
Stephens success was her master.
piece and it was truly the heart of
Mignon through the lips of Stephen
that sang in the Court Theatre. So
long as her beloved loved her still
and was good enough to tell her so
so long as he brought her tho bou-
quets the public bestowed upon the
wonderful singer, so long as he re.
turned her valuable lessons with
protestations and tenderness, so
long as the young girl believed she
had nothing to ask Or desire in this
world. But her joy was not to last,
her happiness was to end as quick
| ly as a romance. In the pride and
intoxicatior Of this trump, Stephen
began to resemble the hero of Il
French play when the gambler is
fortunate he forgets and disdains