The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-02-11
A SWEET SINGER.

"A SN Eel SINGEk.
am passionate!y fond of music, and
seldom miss an opportunity to crafty
my desire in that respect. \ woman ;
voice III song has for me n powerful and
peculiar charm above all others. Be-
meath lis influence | am swavcd and
shaken: my senses become enthralled
until am passive prisoner. oblivious
10 all surroundings. fnrgctful of past and
present
Going 10 hear debutante fills me
with moSi delicious anticipation: such
delicacies are grateful 10 the satiatcd
stomach of The tticatcI-"oin" Parisian.
My young friend. the Prince de n,
had asked mc 70 accompany him to the
..lrancaiSc Ia hear a Young English
artistic of whom great things had been
promised
They say the English miss has q love
y face. observed the prince that even
ING rs we sat over our coffee "A lovely
face and a sweet voice, he murmurcd
more 10 himself than to NE n he looked
1T the chandelier through his half
closed. heavily -fringed eyes This Ita-
liam WAS 4 handsome fellow. with the
face and form Of an Apollo. fascinating
beyond description. dchonair. and gay:
alas. too gay, Tor hi> pleasures were Of
ten obtained at 4 heavy cost. and total
disregard of consequences. As looked
ut his face tonight ! sighed involuntari-
" for the web If danger that was ccr-
lainly weaving for one more woman
An hour later we We're in our accus-
toned place at the theater. The princes
bon close to the stage, was Il marvel OF
velvet. silver, and glass. Mirrors re-
peated You from all sides. giving ample
view OF back. front. and profile
studied the prince face. which was at
all times an open page. He never took
the trouble to mask his feelings, good or
bad. He WAS unusually silent tonight.
and | did not like the look upon his
face.
twas the opera of La Somnambula.
Amina was the role chosen bv the Young
debutante, who came on the stage nery-
ously. very white and tremulous. L
looked at her with a pleaSureable disap-
pointment: the sweet, cameO-like face
was quite guiltless Of what is known in
stage parlancc as ''make-up. The
youthful. almost childish figure was
clothed in an inartislic manner. the tout
ensemble suggesting nothing whatever
OF the actress. but II great deal of what
was lOVablc, pure and womaniv. | fan
cied. could hear i murmur of disap-
pointment among the audience: most
come prepared TO see even
Il debutante display all the chic and
stage style for which they have an in
and unsuitable longing. But
the vast concourse held an cXpectant
breath when she commenced To sing.
Weak and tremulous came the notes at
first; the mouth, like n 'eupid's bow,
twitchsd a little, then the wavering
words grew strong and clear, soaring
upward as ii the music bore them on its
wings, sowing the air rs it ascended
with wondrous melody. was fast los
ing myself What an awakener of
memories is sweet, sympathetic voice,
calling back scenes and faces long for
gottenP Truly there are depths within
our hearts unsounded, lying deep and
dormant to which music. pleading and
passionate, can only reach.
The pallid, lilylike face was trans
formed now; life, light, and beauty
shone from it. The cheeks became ra-
diant with color; the large, lustrons eyes
seemed TO emit light from their lovely,
dark depths. She sang as if feP very
soul went out III her song! The frail
figure swayed in the ecstasy of her emo
ton. To me she looked like a goddess
of music, ready to immediate herself up
on the altar of her god.
''Dios," murmured the prince, of
whose presence had become obliyious.
and who, l have no doubt, had forgot
ten my existence. So What voice" l re-
piled. looking at him. Without SEEM
ing to hear me he whispered to himself
again. '.What a face"
His expression at this juncture was
one of cntranced admiration, mixed
with a gloating gaze which was not
good 10 look upon. There must have
been serpentlike fascination upon him,
for tried to turn my eyes again TO the |
stage and could not
While my gaze was still upon him
Amina had been discovered in the
counts room. Her pathetic protesta-
lions of innocence. childlike yet power
full. erept into callOus hearts and moist |
ened eyes that had seldom known Il tear |
| am a man OF the world. mayhap sinful /!
and selfish, but never shall l forget the I
and pity which that woman's |
voice awakened in my heart She felt !
he part and made others feel for her. |
You saw only the wroneed and wleichcd |
Amina sobbing odt her sorrow. and / |
pitied her aye. loved her. even as | |
listened.
Women sobbcd audibly and men were
busy with their handkerchiefS. | felt |
impelled to turn my eyes again toward |
the prince. Heavens what change! |
scarcely recognized my friend of fif- |
Teen years. Amazemeat was so stamped |
upon my face that he could not help |
noticing it. and his glance for moment
rested measily upon me-
His face was drawn and haggard, |
great drops of perspiration stood like |
beads upon his forehead, Il distant, |
look came into his eyes, and |
Ms thoughts seemed 10 De far away. for !
[ spoke to him and he meyer needed me. |
| felt alarmed, and shook him by the |
arm. lie seemed to drag himself from |
some painful path Of thought by an cf- /!
.ort, and putting his hand over his eyes !
With Il gesture OF utter WEAKNESS begged T.
he TO accompany him home. i
The opera WIS not yet over, yet he |
never looked once more at Amina, and |
closed his eyes, as if they |
could hold last glimpse of her
That the prince was undergoing some. |
great mental change there could be no |
Ioubt. What remorse or remembrance |
hat singers lace and voice may nave
lrought back to hiDt sven ]. his bosom !
riend. never knew.
| lost sight of him for several days. Al |
ength he sought me, his handsome |
TGung face scanned with traces of some |
infinite pain.
:. Pierre, / am going to see the: -Rn-