The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-20

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VI.
The longer I reflected on tile Bar
onesS's scheme the less / liked il. I
tried TO think of some alternative that
might he acceptahly proposed. The
time passed and nothing occurred To
ne. In this embarrassing position INV
mind became seriously disturbed. | felt
the necessity OF obtaining some relief.
which might turn my thoughts fer a
while into anew channel. The secretary
called on ne, while | was SiIll IN doubt
what To do. He reminded me that a
new prima-donua was advertised 10 ap-
pear ON that night: and he suggested
that we should GO 10 the opera. Feel
ing as | did at the time. readily agreed.
We found the theater already filled.
before the performance began. TWO
French gentlemen were seated i'm the
row of stalls behind Us. They We're
talking of the new singer.
she Is advertised aS 'MademoiSel.e
. Coraly, "Oneof them said. THAT sounds
like an assumed name
1T Is an assumed name" the other re-
piled. she IS the daughter of q French
. singing master. named B0nuefuV."
To my friend 5 aStoujSbment. ! start
ed TO my feet. and left him without n
/ word of apology. In another minute
/ was at the stage-door. and had sent i'm
my card TO "NademoiseMe Coralv.n
/ While | was waiting. had time to think.
I Was II possible Wlat Jeanne had gone
! on the slagey {. were there two sing
ing-maSterS in existence named Bonne-
/ fOY? NV doubts We're soon decided
I The French wOman-servant whom | re-
membered when | was Monsieur Bon
nefOy S pupil, made her appearance. and
conducted me to her young mistress s
/ dresslng-room- Dear good Jeanne, how
glad she was to see me-
! found her standing before the glass.
having Just completed her preparations
Tor appearing on the stage. We We're
lnterrupted-tUO soon interrupted
the call-bov. lie knocked al the door
and announced that the overture had
begun.
Il have a thousand things to ask YOU"
/ told her. Nv hat has made this Won
derful change in your life? How is it
that 1 don't see your father"
Her face instantly saddened; her hand
! trembled as she laid II ON my arm to ST.
lence me.
Don't speak Of him now" she said.
"or You VIII unnerve me, Come 10 me
tomorrow when the stage viii not be
waiting; Annette VIII give You my ad-
dress" She opcAed the door to 90 out.
and returned. Will Won think me very
unreasonable if | ask you not to make
one of my audience tonight? You have
reminded me of the dear old days that
can never come again. Ii | feel that I
am singing 10 ygil--7 She left me to
understand the rest, and turned away
again To the door. AAS / followed her
ont to say goodbye. she drew from her
bosom the little brooch which had been
my parting gift, and held it out to me.
"On the stage or off, she said, 4 always
wear it. Goodnight Ernest"
l was prepared to hear sad news when
we met the next morning.
My good old friend and master had
died suddenly. To add TO the bitterness
Of that atliction. he had died in debt to
dear and Intimate friend. Offered the
opportunity OF trying her fortune on
the operate stage. Jeanne made the at
tempt. and was now n0bly employed in
earning the money to pay her fathers
debt.
1t was the onlyWay in which could
do justice 10 his mSmOry," she said sim
ply. i hope y0u don object to my GO
ing on the staget"
l took her hand. poor chiid-and let
that simple action answer for me. I
was too deeply affected to be able to
speak.
at is not IN me to be a great actress"
she resumed: but you know what an
admirable musician myfather was. lie
has taught me 10 sing. SO that / can
satisfy the critics. as well as please the
public. There was what they call a
great success last night. 1t has earned
me an engagement for another year 10
come, and AN increase of salary IhaVe
already sent some money to our good
old friend at home, and shall soon send
more. 1t Is my one consolation-I feel
almost happy again when | am paying
my poor fathers debt. No more now
of my sad story, | want to hear all that
you can tell me of Yourself" She moved
to the window. and looked out. "Oh,
the beautiful blue sky. We used some
times to take q walk when We were u
London, on fine days like this. is there 4
park here2'
[ took her to the palace gardens.
famous for their beauty in that part Of
Germany.
Arm in arm we loitered along the
pleasant walks. The lovely flowers, the
bright sun, the fresh fragrant breeze.
all helped her to recover her spirits.
When we sat down to rest. the lap of
her dress was full of daisies. do YOU
remember" she said. when you first
taught me to make daisy chaiu2 Are
You too great man to help me again,
nOwF"
We were still engaged with our chain.
seated close together, when the smell of
tobacco smoke was waited to us on the
air
looked up and saw the Doctor pass
ing US, enjoying his cigar. He bowed;
eyed my pretty companion with mali
cious smile. and passed on. w hO IS
that man!' she asked. The Princes
phy sician." | replied. Il don't like him.
. she said; why did he smile when he
looked at meF" Perhaps" I suggested.
/ he thought We were lovers" She blush
ed. Don't let him think thai. tell him
We are only old friends"
We were not destined TO finish our
flower chain on that day
Another person interrupted us whom
| recognized as the elder brother of
! Monsieur Bonnef0y-a mention
ed IN these pages, under the name OF
Uncle David. Having left France for
political reasons, theoId republican had
taken care of his niece after her fathers
/ death. and had accepted the position of
Jeanne 5 business manager III her Tela-
tions with the stage. Uncle DaviG's OBJ
/ lect. when he joined US in the garden.
+ was to remind her that she was wanted
I al rehearsal. and must at once return
i with him to the theater. We parted.
I having arranged that / was to see the
/ performance on that night.
/ Later in the day, the Baroness sent
I for me again.
Let me apologize for having misun-
deTstOod you yesterday" She said: -and
/ let me offer YOU my best congratula-
/ tions. You have done wonders already
+ in the way of misleading the Doctor.
/ There Is only one objection to that girl
at the theater-I hear she is 50 pretty
! that she may possibly displease the
7 Princess. IN other respects. she IS Just
in the T1qhfir. flfg-iT5ps1 rrbTaf Will "a
/ your attentions to her look ike the be-
ginning of d serious intrigue. Bravo,
I Mr.. Ernest-bravO.'
1 I was too indignant to place any re-
/ stTaint on the language in which | an
swered her.
Understand, if you please L said,
4 that / am renewing an old friendship
with Mademoiselle Jeanne-begun un-
! der the sanction OF her father.\ Respect
i that young lady. madam, as L respect
/ her.
The detestable Baroness clapped her
+ hands, as il she had been at the theater
IF you only say that to the Princess. >"
I she remarked, -as well as you have said
/ it to me, there viii be no danger of
arousing her Highness's Jealousy. I
have Message for you. AT the concert.
! on Saturday. You are TO retire to the
/ conservatory. and you NAV hope for an
| interview when the singers begin the
/ second part of the programme. Don't
! let me detain you any longer. Go back
to your ye Eng LADY, Mr. Ernest-pray
| go backl7
VII.
] On the second night of the opera the
applications for places were too numer-
| Gus 10 be received. Among the crowd
ed audience | recognized many of nv
| friends They persisted in believing an
| absurd report first circulated. as [ i'm
agine, by the Doctor, which asserted
that my interest in the new singer was