The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-03-17
LOVE OR FAME.
BY C. R. CRIsPI.

| 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
| tier poem. It was charming day in
early April, and, although not by any
means a 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 Joy and
| his annoyance.
A bird poised on swaying limb COM
| menced a 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 food of melody; trills that
would have made prima donna die of
envY quivered from his tiny throat.
/ Sweeter and fuller rose the Joyous notes,
filing the air with their rapturous min
strelsy, until, as if enamored of its own
1 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. Il acknowledge the perfec-
tion of your manner, the charm of your
voice, but why are you nota woman able
to take the part of Julia in my unfortu-
nate operal Why have l found a musical
genius if 1 cannot find voice for my
heroinel want nothiAS more-only
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 theiy
coffee.
''You know, Guy, that when left YOU
after breakfast for ride l 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, wanted marvel
Gus voice. The first thing l heard was
what the poets call a feathered songster
/ wish you could have heard him-he
! could fill the part superbly, but-he few
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 l have en-
/ dured season after season, Just to please
| grumblers like yourself Ihaye to please
everybody; prima donna, prima donnas
/ husband, her stage lover, the public,
/ the"
Colonel Forester laughed and filed the
majors cup. Il understand; but what
about your new discovery
"All in good time. Well as left my
bird OF after he left me, rather, l went on
my way regretting that so much sweet
ness should be lost when l heard
woman's voice--a woman's, did l sayl
Barbarian, savage! An angels voice;
/ the voice of a seraph. l code on quickly
/ in the direction whence the clearest, full
est notes even have ever heard issued
and l beheld her. A girl of eighteen or
80, tall, slight, with a face as lovely as
her voice. l could have fallen on my
knees before her calculating family, my
1eliyerer'-but didn't"
GLORIOUS ~ laughed the colonel; ''let
me finish your story for you. l 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
4 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
smoiselle has lover; a stern young man
who thinks it a sin to laugh, who looks
upon the theatre as the bottomless pit
who-but, in short. give it up, Fred, you
can never succeed. 80
"Give it up Aimaico mio,' you don't
know women; | do. l spoke 10 her;
told her of the power which lay concealed
within that glorious voice of hers; l pic
tured glowingly the happy life Of ia
nous singer; l waxed eloquent until
startled myself Give it upP You will
hear her next season on the stage-the
fairest prima donna of the century"
Colonel Forester leiSurely lit another
cigar; then lazily watching the white
rings of smoke ascend, said osrelessly;
''All very true as TO the wealth and fame,
but Miss Perciyal is engaged to a young
civil engineer now in MeNico l have un-
derstood that they will be married upon
his return 10 England. Alfred Temple is
man of too much pride and ability to
permit his wife 10 appear on the stage as
what would you call heri-Madame
remPlino"
In no wise disconnected Major Brown
ing hummed softly the favorite song Of
his new opera.
Charming, il it notl And then her
face What eyes what a mouth what
expression As she stood there in the
sunlight in her white dress, half
y startled look on her yOuRg face, one
slender hand olasping her lovely throat