Western appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1885-18??, 1885-06-27
ssTHE STAGE WATTS

| VI . dlIeS w alIOTu, a PROFESSIONALS singer,
and the occasion of the meeting was to
commemorate Walford's signature to
an agreement with the lessee of the
ECremona Theatre. A few days before
the documenthad been duly completed;
Walford was to have twenty pounds a
week, the largest salary he had yet
reached, and was to create the leading
tenor part in a new comic opera.
Walford himself was hardly as glad
as his friends, for he was the best
natured, best tempered, kindest-hearted
tenor that ever lived. A few months
previous he had lost young wife, to
whom he was devotedly attached, and
he was left a widower with an only
child, a boy of four years old. Now that
his wife was gone, this boy was the very
apple of his eye. Those who knew him
best said it was well he had the child to
centre his affections on, for otherwise
they feared hisreason might give way.
One OF the pleasantest things in con-
nection with the present social meeting,
was that M. Grattin had come, and
shown himself most cordial and agree
able. Every one regarded this as ex-
ceedingly good on his part, for it was
known to all that the choice of a tenor
for the Cremona Theatre lay between
him and Walford. Thus hehad come,
as it were, to signalize the triumph of
his rival over himself.
M. Grattin was a strikingly hand
some man. His manner was refined
and gentlemanlike, and the only OBJ
lection Englishmen found to him was,
that he seemed to be anxious to show
elaborate kindness in small things at
the expense of sincerity in greater.
Thus it happened that although the
men present that night greeted his ar
rival enthusiastically, and told him he
was a good fellow for coming, next
morning when they thought over the
matter, they agreed it was only what
was to be expected from so polite and
courteous a man.
1t was but natural under the circum-
stances, after the death of Walford' S
wife, his curley- headed little boy FrId-
dy should be made much of by the
Bohemian friends OF his father. Upon
the death Of his wife, Walford, having
no woman relative who could take her
place, dismissed the general servant
and hunted up his old nurse, Martha
Grace.
At last the great night was at hand.
Walford was full of spirit and conf
dence. The rehearsals had been most
satisfactory. Every one connected
with the theater had complimented him
on his singing and acting in the part,
and the whole company were in the
very best of humor, for the belief was
general that the opera would run a
hundred nights, at least.
1t was a dreary, cold, damp, disheart-
ening evening when Walford prepared
to leave his home for the theater.
'Now, Martha,' said he before 90
ing, you'll be king of the castle while
I'm away. shall not be back till past
midnight. You need not sit up for me.
shall get my supper in town. It's
time now, isn't it, for Freddy to 90 tc
bed?' He took the boy in his arms,
kissed him fondly, stroked his brown
curls, and called him his Fred, his little
man, his fine boy, then added: 81
think, Martha, in honor of the occasion
[ must give Freddy a shilling"
The father handed the boy the shill
ing, and having kissed him again LONG
and ingeringly, rose with a sigh, and
said to Martha: you'll take care be
| orotc into no +,.o,,b1o 1,,Li1o IT,,
The safest place for him is in bed"
He did not come on very early in the
first act. He felt in no way nervous
He never had been in better voice, anG
the part suited him perfectly. What
more could any tenor desire?
There was, of course, an under-study
to his part. M. Grattin had that duty
and yet, singular to say, he did moi
arrive in the theatre before the curtain
went up.
Grattin had belonged to the Gre
mona Company for considerable time
and during that time had always sung
second or third tenor parts. He hac
been paid eight guineas week, anc
for a while there had aoated before hin
the hope that he might be promoted tt
oAAS hAoo tAtICC W1ol1 81 odletl y VI GWcuGS
pounds. This hope had been dispellec
when Walford got the engagement, anf
now he, Grattin, had no part at all, anc
no chance of an appearance during the
present run unless Walford broke down
Just as the curtain was rung up there
was a great commotion behind
Grattin had arrived in a state of the
highest excitement, and there were
sounds of CONSERVATION and dismay
from the mems dressing-room. Before
the curtain had been up couple O
minutes the opera was stopped arc
the manager stepped forward te
explain that, owing to a sad calamity
news of which had reached the theate1
but that very moment, Mr.. .Walforc
would not be able to appear thai
evening. In the face of such mis-
fortune M. Grattin with whom they hac
so long been favorably familiar, hac
kindly consented to sing the part.
The manager said more, but this il
all that is material. The audience
were docile, and accepted the situation
without murmur.
i What had occurred behind was this
1 Grattin had, in a state of wildes1
excitement, rushed into the mems
DRESSING groom and announced thai
after Walford left his home, he, Grattir