Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-31
THE RIVAL PRIMA DONNAS.
EsJrEted from The Boston saturday Evening Gazette
oi November IL. 1854
~ LoTTsA VI. ALCoTT.

brilliant audience, empty boxes grew bright with
lovely women, Jrwsis sparKled, piunes waved and
fans began 10 move The lively murmur OF con-
yersaff0n MED the air. and all was In that state OF
pleasant confusion which preosdes the first notes
Of the orchestra
But on his night something OF greater interest
than usual seemed to possess the audience All
ssegne.i 20 talk VIE sagerness OF some important
event ltOvr 20 take place and opera glasses were
lsyeled with untiring curiosity az one particular
Box. inst above the stage, the curtains or which
were closely drawn.
"Ny dear Gm.iO.- said Lord ". 10 hts friend
Count l.. 'what Is the meaning OF the great inter-
erst every one seems 10 feel IN yonder box? What
fiir divinity u there enshrinede / am a stranger
here; - pray explain, for / am as curious as
woman"
Listen. then replied the count, sand perhaps
yOu. toe. may share In the excitement OF those
a5out You That box belongs 10 Beatrice, our fair
Iriina donna, whose place Theresa, the young
d~Uuianie, takes tonight. She has long been the
PRIDE ard flvOrite OF the public "a much for the
l-neIess life she leads as for her beauty and IN
eiua-led voice, and until tonight no one has
tGred to usuTp her place: but suddenly an IN
nOSn singer has appeared who, by her lowell
ness ard talent, has won friends, and they desire
she should make her FIRST appearance here, well
knowing that II she should succeed in pleasing
Cur fastiiiOus judges that her furtune VIII be
made elsewhere. And Beatrice, instead Of striving
% oGtrLval her, has generously yielded up the
stiase entirely, that nothing might be wanting TO
secure favorable reception for the young artistic.
Tonight therefore, IS TO decide the success OF one
prtIna d0ana, and perhaps the Punishment Of an
other, fer If Theresa be successful she viii doubt
less b. engaged, and Beatrice must 90 elsewhere,
and thus all are anxious 70 see how each VIII bear
her part in The coming trial"
Vow shall indeed share your interest, replied
lord ": ''but tell me more OF this Beatrice. who
gsnerou-y Yields he. place to riy!l; few women
would 80 calmly step aside and let another win
the iaurrS she might have gained. Is IL not gone
what str1nge:-
'-Nay, not so strange one might fancy,
Arthur. said his friend; "fOT II IL whispered. and
With truth. 1 fear, that Shs VIII OeStOw the hand
81 many have sought In vain upon the handsome
painter yOuder. lie Is a WORTHY person, but not
hitting husband tor 4 true hearted Onan like Bea-
tTice; h. Is gay, careless and nicSIe, too fear;
ians passionate devotion II he be true. and taking
3n Italians quick revenge IL he prove false. There
fore, pIry her, and hope she Will place her happi-
hess In better hands; but hush! Inc overture be.
gins, and must join my sister,"
The two friends parted. tie curtain rose, and
amid a GREATNESS silence the young Cantatr1ce
appeared, beautiful indeed, but pale and tren-
bling with suppressed emotion.
sight was the applause that greeted her; that
she wes ret 20 win; but a few kind faces smiled
upon her. and with an effort sue began, family
and low at first; but as the music swelled her
voice grew stronger. III 10 rang clear and sweet
silver clarion through the vast house: and as IL
carried away by the resolution 70 win confidence
50 coldly on her, she sang on TIL the enthusiasm
she felt sent bright glow 10 her pale cheek,
wonderful voice. Stiler and stiller grew the null
ttude before her, and when the last clear notes
died nnCpringly away, they stlll sat speIl-bound,
voice cried Encore! EncOre?"
AT That sound every eye was turned TO the mys-
ferrous box; the curtains were aung back and ra-
dlant In beauty stood the generous Beatrice as
fcrgetful Of all but the trembling singer before
her, she ciapped her white hands and cast the
III or h.lr 1.aF4Rrr
rfvai's feet
Then from pit to gallery Murdered the applause
ana shOvered the bouquets, TILL overcome by her
own victory, the eantatrice was borne from the
stage, and the curtain fell
When 1t again rose and the opera went on the
box OF BEATRICE was deserted, and the Young
painter had vanished from the crowd. They now
stood together ON the vine-covered balcony OF her
splendid home. and the summer moonlight falling
their faces revealed the happy tears that shone
In Bedtrtces dark eyes, and the forced smile upon
her lovers lips as he looked down upon her, say
Il fear you viii repent your choice Beatrice;
what can give YOU In return for all you lose IN
thus becoming rninee IOS win miss the pleasant
rattery OF the world and pine for the homage that
has 30 long been yours. you will soon sigh to be
again the queen OF many hearts, the loved. adj
n4lrrl anu happy woman whose power 50 many
t--t and owned II Is not yet too late. Remember
can give you nothing but painters home,
Tor t1e brilliant nfe YOU leave so gladly now
How little do you know me, Claude" said
Be1tfce- Have not tried the world and found
~ hattSring homage false? Have not sought fOr
happiness IA wealth and fame. and sought In vain
until found II in your love? What then do leave
but all an most weary Of and what 40 / pam
Tut all prize and cherish most earth: The
painters home 1 Will make beautiful with the
useless wealt b have won, and the painters heart
viii make happy by all the blessings a woman 5
love can yivei Then 90 not fear for me. What can
and hOmes-
And a. she spoke she laid her proud head trust
fnly upon mis- breast, little dreaming OF the bitter
disappointment her fond words brought 10 the
false heart where al her hope and faith were
As thus they stood a sound broke on the silent
AIR. and seon along the moOnlit street. her car
rage drawn By a shouting crowd, with torches
gleaming round her, and flowers falling thick aud
last came Theresa, the successful priIna donna.
and Beatrice looked smiling down, hidden by the
vines. and watched the bright train as with low
rll cries and waving gdrIllds IL swept by
'->ee, Ci2nde, how soon am forgotten by these
adnIring followers OF mine. They bore me home
In triumph once, as they are bearing young The
Tesa now. AMI one day she viii be fCrgoIten Tor
another, as am even here; then may She md a
faltniat TREND tnal never VIII ioFsAke her, and a
heart THAT never can forget. success and fame be
hers. and happiness Ike mine when she Is weary
az The world she said, as the last sound died
away.
but must You leave me now, Claude.v she
aided. fbn1ly. a. the young man threw his mantle
ToInd him and prepared 10 60
Il must Tor 70 grows late and must be early at
Nv studio 10 MORROW Therefore. goodnight love
AID pleasant dreams replied the painter bending
down 70 k!ss the fair face nlte. 10 his OWE: and a
- I'D 50 rom his breast a nttle paper fplI uu-
h-eGet 70 the ground. They parted ana with
IN nsur- III u vanished In tine distance and
ttfn -he was alone with her own happy thoughts.
Long sle s4t mgsiug In the silvery TnOon!lght
while tne col night wind famed her cheek and
us Leo ~lI.ly through the blooming vines that
t-lstervd ruund he=. At length the echo OF the
distant tOcAS as they rang twelve dispe led her
plras1nt dreams and, as She rose 10 le.re the
plcOny. JefOrr her lay the paper that had fallen
frun. ner lovers breast
1t = some tender song from claude. n. dared
10 -iyc J. ~ me, bur isft 10 at my feet 10 Rad
VIZ 2 ~ Va gone Dear Claude. how fond and
f8ljuful NJ has ever beeu~ thought Pesfrfr.. "a
with an eager hand she raised III. note and 'has
t~af'i 10 lie hgAted room beyond. where with A
JlyOs sale, sac opened IL and rad tbes WOrTts
NY SiaIi-, Il succeed AID an yue, we'll then
CUn- 20 NJ at midnight. when am alone ana ief
r lrar fUll our dear lips the praise y4lue far
l-tlud The u1ttery ot The world For yOur slEe
o1ly 20 SEA wealth anu fame that NAV De,1m.
n-rr worthy VI tA- generous love you have given
q, THERESA"
WJTl4 met her startled gaze; white and SIN as d
Daarblr sta ~ She >tO0I TIL all read and then
s4uA down Ike one SIaitten Uy A heavy bow Tot
a On " q tear escaped her Sle lay there amid
Ia ull, u her Young hearts hope ana Joy; her
srrIs " a. too dfep tor tears, AID she would only
- 10 rr!ize the bitter truth that came nus sud-
Cfu-s upon her: she had loved feryentIy and
tf4st.t .sitiI wOtn2n's perfect falkland now hi
I-r snort moment. all Wa changed. love forgotten
filiA oetrslsrc. and bright hopes vanished ike q
G-,tifi, wnIlo al The hight and loneliness OF life
tTI4ed gune forever. and when at length she
IS suiiel blight seemed - have fallen on
Der, Tor TIE face lIteiy rtlient with love and
sL0ne With troubled light, and her white lips
Ilf-tl tiIIf