Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-02-19

gentlemen alighted from Back Bay
ear and entered the ladies' parlor of
| the MOTEL. The elder of the two was
dressed very plainly. though tastefully,
| and with western accent went up to
| an attache of the house and asked for
| Nile. Nevada.
| ''She has company, and cannot be
| disturbed" said the attendant, who
| supposed the old gentleman to be some
one who had called to satisfy curiosi-
ty and see the famous singer.
but | want to see her." persisted
the stranger.
well. sir, she cannot see you, | tell
you." said the servant; "she is enter
tanning her friends.
..Well. guess my little Emil see
me- unused the old man. And then
aloud: ..Will YOU give me card?n
The ladies in the parlor began to ex-
| change glances in way that seemed
to say that precious morsel had fall
en- to them to gossip about. The west
ern man, without taking any notice of
| the company about him, seized the card
and taking pencil from his pocket
dashed off his name in a careless hand,
and. passing it to call-boy, said:
Take that to Miss Nevada"
The boy took the card and present.
ing himself at the lady's door, handed
it to the prma donna. She took it
carelesSly from the salver. In a mo-
ment her eye caught the name, Duff
Brown.
She gave a cry of delight, and
seemed to forget entirely the presence
of the boy, who stood waiting for a
reply, and the surprised look of the
fashionable guests. Suddenly, as if
collecting herself and remembering the
visitor who was awaiting her answer
below, she bade the boy bring the
gentleman with all possible speed to
the parlor, which was part of the
suite she occupied. The boy disap-
peared down the stairs.
Presently Duff Brown made his ap-
pearance. and as he rather hesitatinGly
crossed the threshold the young lady,
setting aside all formality, with a
bound crossed the room and flung her
arms about the neck of the old man.
In her ecstasy she fairly smothered
him with kisses and Rugged him again
and again. Then she led him into the
room and insisted on his sitting in
front of her where she could see him
The young favorite became so en-
crossed in her new guest and his well
fare that all the Others were forgotten,
and one by one they took their depart
ure. leaving Emma, her father Or.
WiXom), Duff Brown and his compan-
ion alone.
The story of Emma Wixom's friend
ship for Duff Brown, now the owner of
a silver mine in Nevada, is a very ro-
mantle one. Twenty years ago he was
a miner in the silver hills of small
town, which afterward came to be the
populous Nevada City. Afterward he
was made superintendent. and still
later an inspector of land claims.
AT this time one of the best known
and most respected citizens of the
place was DIR. WiXom, the father of the
famous singer. He did considerable
business in the way of civil engineer
ing, and also had large practice in
medicine. When he drove about on
his visits to the sick in the rough min
ing district he was daily accompanied
by his little daughter, who sat beside
him on the familiar uckboard. She
was particular favorite with the
miners, and many a time her father
would leave her in the care of '.DuH,n
as he was familiarly known, while he
made his rounds. Even at that early
age the child mad clear and musical
voice, and in those days sang for them
with as much fervor as she did in later
years, when as a protegee of Million
aire Mackay, she made her debut be-
fore the crowned heads of Europe. So
the child in the far-away western town
was Duff 5 especial pet, and she would
sit on his knee and sing herself to sleep
even. Her young voice was so sweet
and full of feeling that, hearing it, the
rough men would come one by one
from their cabins and gather around
the hut where the child in the arms of
the doctors friend was singing the
popular negro ballads that had been
purchased by Duff for her in the
miners stationery store. Indeed, little
Emma WiXom soon became such a
local celebrity that she attracted the
attention of Mrs. Mackay, who after
ward took her to Europe and educated
her.
She had been away from the old hills
for fifteen years, and IN all that time
duff Brown had not seen his old
time pet About two months ago he
rame east on business, and when he
saw his little friends name announced
to sing in grand opera he decided to
call on her.
After the first visit he made very fire.
guent calls at the Brunswick while DR..
Wixom and his daughter remained in
Boston, and attended several perform
ances at the Boston theatre by invita-
ton of Mile. Nevada. Mr.. Brown is
exceedingly gratitied at the success of
his young friend. and never tires of
eulogizing her. He will remain in Bos-
ton for some time, as he intends eX-
some ore taken from one of his !
mines in the Silver state.