Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-02-12
LOVE OR FAME.
BY c. II. CRIsrI.

Major Browning, the famous impress
sario, rode slowly down the country road
smoothing now and again his horses
chestnut name, like the judge in Whit
tiers poem. 1t was a charming day in
early April, and, although not by any
means lover of rural life, the gallant
major found it quite impossible to look
unmoved upon the beautiful stretch of
the country with its low hills, its clus-
tering trees, its breath of early flowers.
He hummed softly the favorite song of
the opera, which was at once his ioy and
his annoyance.
A bird poised on a swaying limb COM
menced charming song without words.
The major halted and listened. The
tiny songster, unabashed by the pres
ence of the famous critic, poured out its
wonderful flood of melody; trills that
would have made prima donna die of
envy, quivered from his tiny throat
Sweeter and fuller rose the joyous notes,
filling the air with their rapturous min
strelsy, until as if enamored of its own
voice, or, perhaps, overcome by the sight
of his admiring auditor, the singer
plumed his wings and scared up into
the blue.
The major clasped his hands enthusi-
astically. 81 acknowledge the perfec-
ton of your manner, the charm of your
voice, but why are you not woman able
to take the part of Julia in my unfortu-
nate opera! Why have found musical
genius if ! cannot find voice for my
heroine? I want nothing more-only a
voice, and | long in vain. :"
The major was growing tragic, he
clutched his hands in mock despair. and
went moodily on his way when-but let
the major tell the story in his own words.
1t was after dinner on the same day, and
he and his friend, Colonel Forester, of
the Priory, were lingering over their
coffee.
"You know, Guy, that when left you
after breakfast for a ride | was still out of
sorts. l have told you of my new opera;
you knew that | needed a soprano to take
the leading role-something new. The
music is phenomenal, l wanted marvel
GUS voice. The first thing | heard was
what the poets call feathered songster.'
l wish you could have heard him-he
could fill the part superbly, but-he flew
away they all do. shall never feel safe
until my young lady has signed her con-
tract. You can't imagine the trouble |
have undergone, the miseries | have en-
dured season after season, just to please
grumbers like yourself. have to please
everybody; prima donna, prima donna's
husband, her stage lover, the public,
the
Colonel Forester laughed and filled the
majors cup. Il understand; but what
about your new discovery"
''All in good time. Well, as left my
bird or after he left me, rather, | went on
my way regretting that so much sweet
ness should be lost when | heard a
woman's voice-a woman's did | say!
Barbarian, savage! An angels voice;
the voice of seraph. l rode on quickly
in the direction whence the clearast, full
est notes even have ever heard issued
and | beheld her A girl of eighteen or
so, tall, slight, with face as lovely as
her voice. ! could have fallen on nv
knees before her calculating family, my
deliyerer-5ut | didn't
'Glorious!' laughed the colonel; 'let
me finish your story for you. | know
her-have known her since we were
children-at least since she was a child;
you can tell me nothing She is an Or
phan, she is poor, she is ambitious. Her
name is Mary Percival, her home is with
q shrewish step-aunt, if such a relation
ship can exist, she is very lovely, her
voice is marvellous but ~ here the
gentleman paused, enjoying the eager ex-
pectancy of his friends face-"but, mad
emoiselle has lover; stern young man
who thinks it sin to laugh, who looks
| upon the theatre as the bottomle3s pit
who--but in short, give it up, Fred, you
can never succeed. "
'Give it up. Aimaico mio,' you don't
know women; | do. spoke to her; |
told her of the power which lay concealed
within that glorious voice of hers; pic
tured glowingly the happy life of fa-
nous singer; l waxed eloquent until
startled myself. Give it upN You will
hear her next season on the stagc-the
fairest prima donna of the century"
Colonel Forester leisurely lit another
cigar; then laziIy watching the white
rings of smoke ascend, said carelessly {:
"AlI very true as to the wealth and fame,
but Miss Percival is engaged to young
civil engineer now in Mexico. | have un-
derstood that they will be married upon
his return to England. Alfred Tempt is
man of too much pride and ability to
permit his wife to appear on the stage as
what would you call herl-Madame
Templino"
In no wise disconnected Major Brown
ing hummed softly the favorite song of
his new opera.
Charming, is it not9 And then her
facet What eyes! what mouth what
expression! As she stood there in the
sunlight in her white dress, half
startled look on her young face, one
slender hand clasping her lovely throat
-she-why positively, l never felt so
old, so blase before. The man is fortu-
nate who wins that exquisite creature.
but she will be Julia in the opera of my
rising young genius-Ramon Del Camp.
You know himl Mo-" Then the con
versaton branched off from Mary Perci
val to the Spaniard, whose music was to
set all the world wondering little later
in the year.
Still when Major Browning rose to
retire for the night, Colonel Forester re-
turned once more to the charge. 'Mark
my words, you will fail yet.
NE,ilt Won should hava aaa,, bo. e.