Smyrna times., 1886-02-17

imagination, the heart, the spirit, there
is nearly always women hidden, a {
muse, an Egeria, an enchantress, who
loves and inspires by her heart or her !
kisses.
From that day forward Stephen, who
felt that he was singing wonderfully,
promised himself to reach fame and for
tune. Mignon promised herself to aid
him by her counsels, 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 long absence, the
audience absolutely failed to recognize
the voice of the singer. 1t had become
penetrating. spiritual, caressing, mar
vellous. Never had been heard any
thing so brilliant yet so soft, so express
sive, so impassioned as the song of that
wonderful actor. The heart of AlignOn
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 wonder
full arts of song, the most difficult re-
sources of music, the very mysteries OF
perfection. Stephens success was her
masterpiece 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
aud was good enough to tell her so, so
long as he brought her the bouquets the
public bestowed upon the wonderful
singer, so long rs he returned her valu-
able lessons with prOtestatiOns and
tenderness, so long as the young girl
believed she had nothing to ask or de-
sire in this world. But her Joy was not
to last, her happiness was to end as
quickly as Il romance. In the pride and
intoxication of this triumph, Stephen
began to resemble the hero of French
play when the gambler is fortunate he
forgets and disdains the love OF Angeli-
que. When fortune leaves and betrays
him, he returns to the woman who loves
him and adores her again. just so was
it with Stephens grand passion when
he was happy i'll the enthusiasm Of
the audience, neglect of the beauty,
tenderness and devotion of Mignon. If
the public was cold and lost some of its
enthusiasm, then he became loving to
| the poor child once more he found her
4 charming pretty, clever and adored
s her
3 Soon Stephen imagined that he no
a longer needed to draw inspiration from
4 the taste, the lessons, the voice or the
a heart Of Miguon. He ended by seeing
III her only poor girl to be pitied, a
a faithful mistress who loved much, q
q devoted friend with much resignation
4 Stephen liked to live in the land O
/. rouged galautry. in the equivocal king
% dom behind tine scenes AIignon had {
"a great fault in his eyes she was not al
> actress she ha at her feet neithe
fltterers, slaves, lovns nor poets sh
N wore no garlands Of taded flowers, ant
q her simple attire was not theatrica
an tiuery. Her face wa rosy withoutpaint
~ her hands were Whit without bleaching
"a her breath sweet with ut perfume. No
-, Sine wa no actress. She was satistie
= with being woman. Mignon did Nc
I think OF complaining, or grieving pc
haps she determined to let herself die
quickly as possible without suicide.
ve The health Of the young girl failC
,as daily and alarmed everybody exec
IL Stephen 1Iignon forced herself
a vain to struggle against suffering al
ara weakness, and one evening she fell u
m. conscious and almost dying in the arr
of her physician.
or When she came to herself late
,oa night, pale, mOtionless, vOiceless a
ors unrecognizable, Mignon saw Steph
,r, seated at the head of her bed, bendil
sadly toward the young invalid,
llor though to whisper to her pity and &C
/ in ISOLATION.
;na She thanked him for his visit,
VIC kind looks, his Sadness with smile
mo tear and sigh.
"Dear Mignon, said Stephen. &c
. himself has avenged you and pqpisl
me.
rial God avenged me ?" murmured N
the non.
ing Eyes, my fame andfortune are end
was the day began to forget and bet
The you, felt the first effect of the Div
me. anger"
orn- "What has happened, Stephen ?"
and Il cannot sing any longer, MigI
'sed the last notes of my voice died o.
he with the last sighs of our happiness
Duld have Lost all that I owed to the ms
me alton of your love, God has breat
nix l upon my lips, and song has ceased,
"You cannot sing any more, Steph'
5ter, q shall never sing again, Mlgn
'But you will sing, again cried
this young invalid. You will sing If
love and obey me. Listen to
- Stephen knelt by her.
7 not 81 have no strength left, no mem
and can scarcely see You and 1
on ?" that 1 must die $ on presently at
u 30 last moment you must come soft
the bedside, you must bend over
- 40 who has so deeply loved you, you
sweep know by the pallor of the ccuntena
-, the agitation of the features, when
BI| last breath is about to escape me,
e my ,7o,, r,rst hold mo in a last emb
y " your lips pressed to mine, you will
that am expiring and your last
acUor will receive the heart of Mignon
niger you will receive it within your own
Leauy once more listen to its counsels, you
Lney recover all you have lost, the voice
iiNeu expression, the passion of the insl
u an artistic My best beloved, you wi
9 'lllS ceive the heart of Mignon it vii
'oille- in and inspire you as long as you d,
:. degrade it by your ACTIONS or thou
result My heart shall breathe into your
'rro"' those exquisite notes, treasures Of
n8lh8 ody and poetry. So long as you rel
lshon ber the poor girl who adored yor
singer heart lof Mignon will be faithful
bring thee happiness !"
young A few hours after this scene the
manu- child was at the point of death. Ste
gave her a long melancholy kiss
III DO breathed her last sigh and the spi
Mignon passed into the heart of Ste
ID Two or three days after her
gtephen entered her chamber the