St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-11
ORIOLE.

hasr' exclaimed Carl Sturtevant to his
friend Guy Severance. The owner OF
the voice was singing in one OF the
streets of New Orleans. Carl became
interested at once, and in spite OF the
objections of his friend. who said she
was simply beggar. with voice full
OF false notes, he became Interested at
once.
1t was then that Oriole told her story
of reverses of fortune. She had once
wealthy parents and a splendid home,
but all were gone, and she had not even
money enough to pay her rent. Need
it be said that he paid it. notwithstand-
ing Guy Severance's cynical protests
and badly concealed sneers, which
brought bushes to the singers cheeks.
After that Carl went straight TO his
mother, a noble, whOle-SOuled lady.
generous woman, and told her the whole
story.
In an hour Mrs. Sturtevant had driven
in her carriage to the tunlble-dOWD
building and had carried Oriole home
| with her. She found her all that her
| son had claimed for her to be. Two
| months later an Outward-bOund vessel
! bore the young girl back to her native
| land to finish her musical education
under the great maestro.
The Grand opera house In New Or
| leans is blaze of light and color. The
| house is crowded FROM pit TO gallery, for
| it is the first appearance of young
! singer, but who was billed in the pro-
gramme and known simply as Oriole:
| In stage box amid party of richly
| dressed ladies sat Carl Sturtevant and
Guy Severance. Five years had elapsed
since the last scene of my story, but
| they are still unchanged.
| At length the curtain arose and the
| opera began.
| She came on at last. The audience
| greeted her with round Of applause,
| and, slowly approaching to the foot
| lights, she began to sing. Such voice,
| who can describe it? And she sang the
| very song which she had sung that day
| on the street. Guy knew theB-kuew
| with a feeling of establishment which
| no words can portray-that the beauti-
full woman was Oriole, the street singer.
| cannot describe her triumph that
| night. How she made her way as IL by
| storm, right into the hearts of the kind,
| generous New Orleans people.
| When the whole mystery was ex-
| planned, Guy begged TO be presented,
| and his request was granted. From
the night his naughty heart was at the
feet of OriOle.
But Oriole turned away. 1t was his
| turn for humiliation now.
| Sir" she said, in her calm, grave
| voice; "You honor me greatly, but
| must decline. No man who would scott
| at friendless and unprotected woman,
as you did, could ever hold my heart in
| his keeping"
With a sheer on his handsome feat
| ureS, Guy Severance left her presence.
| He would be reyenged yet.
One night grand reception was
given to Oriole. The select of New Or
| leans were gathered within the princely
| mansion of the wealthy Mrs. Sturte-
| want.
| Like Mordecai at the gate, Guy Sew
| erance stood near: his eyes, basilisk-
| like, never left her face. He was
| worldly. inscriptions man, and for the
| first time IN his sOrdid life, he was
| nIadly in love.
beautiful. isn't she?" remarked
some one at his elbow. and. turning,
Guy saw young man whom he well
knew for his petty pride-pride of birth
and statiOn-which swept everything
else before it from his life. A th ought
darted into his heart. He answered
boldly:
eyes; she is very beautiful; and. as
she stands now she reminds me of the
first time | ever saw her."
"When was thatT'
Guy glanced around the room; half
dozen people drew near; his words had
reached Oriole, and she paused in her
conversation.
The whole room was quiet, as though
under a spell. Severance mentally
gagged the aristocratic assembly ere he
answered, with very perceptible sheer:
81 first saw her on the streets of this
city five years ago; she was then play
ing Gin earnest) the role OF the Bohemian
girl. and earned ner bread after that
fashion. She was common street
singer"
An awful silence fell upon them all.
With white face, but proudly flashing
eye, Oriole turned her Queenly head and
gaZed full into his face.
YES" she said calmly, in clear,
beIl-like voice that vibrated through the
wide apartment. Il remember it, tool
was but a friendless orphan child and
you insulted me-"
At that moment Carl Sturtevant maze
his way through the surprised group.
and pausing at Orioles side, took her
hand in his.
"My friends" he said, his fair face
grave ana decided, should any Oh you
be inclined to waste thought on the
cowardly words of yonder puppy, re-
member that. in few days this lady
becomes my wife. And, very proud am
| to add, that when we were betrothed
she was only street singer"
His mother drew near Oriole and
passed her arm around the waist of the
young girl. Now, as Mrs. Sturtevant
was very wealthy and a leader of fash
ion, so the entire company fastened to
flock around Oriole, to congratulate and
fatter and show her that her position
with them was assured.
The next morning Carl waited upon
Mr.. Severance, to demand an explana-
ton of the intended insult which had
fallen so wide of its mark. But he
found his rooms empty, and the bird
flown. They never met again.
In the drawingroom of the Sturte-
vantmanSion hangs a small painting
a wildly beautiful girl, with flashing
eyes and looks of scorn. Sometimes
Mrs. Carl Sturtevant pauSes before il
to say with trembling lips, which belle
her happy face:
"Only street singer"
And when her husband, in answer
laughingly interDoSeS, she adds, ly;