The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-07-28
ELAINE'S DESTINY.


dame La Blanc's apart nent, and madame's
maid responding, ushered into the olive-and-
gold bvou of room tall, blonde man OF
the style called distingue.
Madame herself appeared a moment later,
in neghgee gown of pale surah and lace;
her artistic attire, her imposing bearing her
restless eyes, proclaimed her to be a woman
who had seen the world, lived in it, and
partaken of its turmoil and disquietude;
woman used to adulation and homage; in
fact what she was--an artist
Madame La Blanc was singer whose
way had always been strewn with flowers.
She was past forty now, but well preserved
and magnetic, though it had been limited
that her once magnificent voice was on the
wane.
She held out q jeweled hand to her visi-
tor, and smiled cordially, sinking into
chair near him with an air of languor.
All, Ernest, kind of you to CALL" she
said. You were always solicitous. But
I have sorry news for you"
How ?" he asked, with slight elevation
of his eyebrows.
She pointed to the white throat visible
above mass of creamy lace, and smiled
family.
81 have strict orders to take care of that
little organ" she said. Besides, / am
husky; the tones of my voice are yelled.
tried an aria from La Traviata this MORN
ing-oh, wretchedl they would hiss me
from the stage. No, my friend it will be
imposssible-but oh, how l regret it for
your sake !"
Ernest Travers looked perplexed and dis
appointed. He was the prime mover in an
anticipated concert that was to be the affair
par excellence of the season. Madame La
Blanc Was the chief attraction-what
drawback this difficulty was now-and the
concert advertised for the following even
ing!
Where can l find substitute OF this
late day p he said moodily, even if o
substitute would be accepted in your place,
for"
Nonsense !" laughed madame. at am
not the only woman in this city with con.
tralto voice worth listening TO. Yet with
n serious look-' know it is late-but you
absolve me Z"
Certainly"
He rose, made his adieu and went into
the outer world once more.
Madame stood there with her head bent
and her dark brows drawn.
Too bad, she murmured q Ernest ia
IN vaol tpn nd ,taI Aba Of i,t TO a
success. Somehow the public always
think they are cheated if the programme is
not carried out t. the letter. But cannot
if it were possible l should not refuse
Ernest-dear boy he is one in thousand.
| have watched him since he was a mere
'ad, and his own mother, had she lived,
could not have found more pleasure than
in his success, financial and social. How
handsome he is, l wonder he has not mar.
ried ere this, but there are not many girls
who Why, 1 almost wish was girl
myself"
And, with a little laugh at her thoughts,
madame turned and was about to enter the
inner room, when voice rang out in the
notes of loye-song.
She stopped and listened, and look of
surprise lit her face.
$50, little letter, apace,
Fly to my true love-fiy;
Somebody said that she'd say nay,
Somebody hopes that she'll say ayes
Then u sudden trill, wavering ON the
upper note, burst of melody as the first
words of an aria sounded, and madame
rushed to the door and flung it open.
The voice suddenly ceased-where was
the singer? There was no one in sight but
u slim, girlish form standing near the low
window at the end of the passage, and as it
turned madame saw small, delicate face
and pair of black-lashed, hazel eyes.
Whose voice was that ?" she asked alb
ruptly.
The girl came nearer with swift, graceful
steps.
mime, Madame La Blanc" she said,
with little nod of her head.
All, you know my name. Who arc
you ?"
Elaine Dean"
"Ah, the housekeeper's daughte-
Her niece stay in the lower rooms.
I should not have come up here. Aunt
does not like it; but l wanted TO see the
street, and II hope have not disturbed
you"
Madame looked over the girls figure; it
was clad in q shabby house dress, and the
face above seemed white and pinched and
sad
"Who taught you to sing my child ?"
my father oh he sang so beautifully;
but he was friendless, and no one seemed
to want him, and when he died l came here.
Aunt does not allow me to sing but for.
got. love music So"
Poor child, SEQ it OIL" thought the
artist.
Then aloud,
" Elaine, you have a lovely voice-you
must come and sing for me-"
Oh, dare not" she cried, shrinking.
But madame's jeweled hand closed upon
her wrist, and drew her in through the plush
hangings.
6 will take the blame. Now sing foi
me; anything you like"
Without trace of self-consciousness or
embarrassment, the young girl stood before
the pri'na donna, and with clasped hands
and uplifted eyes, warbled q melody that
had pleased her father much in the past.
Her listeners eyes filled with tears, ard
she sprung to her feet impulsively.
" Your voice is irresistible, child" she
said. " 1t is not powerful, mind, but sweet
and clear, and it has been well trained.
See, can you sing this ?"
She unfolded sheet of music and ran
her fingers over the keys of the piano, and
Elaine followed vita her voice.
Z" Wonderful !" cried madame, and then
she drew the girl to her side, and an hour
passed ere they parted.
That afternoon Ernest Travers received
creamtinted, violet-scented note.
" DEAR FRIEND "--it ran, =" have found
q substitute. Who, where, howl will not
now say. Announce her as my pupil.
MAnAAru In Pr NJ,