Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1889-12-24

upon my niece, vet | cannot allow he
10 be disturbed by conflicting emotions
Her music has always been the on,
passion of her life. her one thought Il
advance TO the greatest heights IN th'
profession l am sure she has never
thought of marriage In a years tim,
| NJ Vidot has promised that she shall
make her debut ia the opera o.
Faust" and to that event she is look
| ing forward with great anxiety, as OF
| her success depends all her future
| Therefore. monsieur lie comte, / must
] with all respect for your gracious in
I, tentions, refuse TO allow you TO addres.
my niece on the subject OF mat-i-
mony"
But never, madame2 Ali you are
too cruel
Nay, do not say that After her
| studies under Vidot are completed you
may speak TO her, but at present can
not have her disturbed. :"
And with this the count was obliged
10 be content; but he still met Mar
guerite at her friends house as often
as possible, and when the Southworths
left for Trouville his calls became
more frequent at the little home in
Rue Rude. Yet still his manner was
not that of a lover, and the watchful
aunt could not discover that Marguer-
tie ever thought of him In that rela-
ton; and though she singled out his
bouquet from the others and gave II
the place of honor on her table, yet it
seemed only the caprice of girl wish
ing to give special attention to the
Offering of a near friend
The day so filed with gladness
brought an added joy For message
came from her father saying he could
bear the separation no longer, but
would sail from New York by the next
steamer. This completed her happi-
ness, and when the manager, now all
Difference and smiles for the success
full debutante, came to the little homo
and engaged her to sing for several
months, Marguerite felt that her tri-
umph was fully accomplished.
The next day her aunt told her of
the counts offer of marriage, prompted
by an urgent letter from him. But
Marguerite would give no definite an
swer to the proposal She told her
aunt she esteemed the count as dear
friend, but no thought of marriage
ever intruded upon her.
Although Marguerite's success had
been instant, there were many who
criticised her singing bitterly, espe-
cially rival musicians and their
clientele. So her second appearance
was awaited by critical audience.
The first two acts passed successfully,
and Marguerite had gone to her dress
ing room to make some change in her
dress, when she found on the table a
telegram addressed to herself She
tore it open hastily. 1t was from
one of their oldest friends, and
said: Your father is very i'll; do not
expect him" Almost frenzied with
grief at this startling news, Marguerite
knew not what to do. Her father i'll.
and the great ocean between them.
Oh! if she had wings, that she might
fly to him. She must go at once.
Without him life would be nothing
At this moment the call boy tapped
upon the door, and receiving no re-
spouse put his head into the room,
saying:
'Mademoiselle, your cue" But he
heard no reply. You are called,
mademoiselle." Still no answer. He
to enter the room, and shak-
ing her slightly to arouse her, said:
Pardon, mademoiselle, the stage
waits; but you look i'll. Are you
faint2" he asked
Yes, yes, am i'll"
"But the stage waits, you are called"
She rose to her feet, and strove to
regain the mastery of her nerves,
Ihaken by the unexpected intelligence.
Tho boy seeing her efforts, and be-
NM nlasi we'll accustomed to the
used by some artists to gain
ran across the corridor to
The dressing room of one of the actors,
seized flask of brandy that stood upon
the table, poured out glass and has
tened back to Marguerite, who was
gradually becoming more composed
There, mademoiselle, drink this"
he said. Almost mechanically and
without thought, Marguerite raised
the glass to her lips and drank its con-
tents. Unaccustomed to the use of
spirits, the fiery draught had an I'M
mediate effect upon her. Her eyes
the short flight of steps that led to the
stage. The conductor waved his baton,
the short prelude was played.
Commence" whispered the promp
ter.
She opened her lips, the audience,
breathless, listened for the
WIN ~ AoooS IL Jill VIZ AONO
iv mouth.
b.-e her head grew dizzy; she could
not see tn~ conductor. or rather there
seemed to be n.~.,y before her; she
tried to sing, but instaad she broke
into wild peal of hysterlcsl LAUGHTER.
staggered half way across the stage
and sank into seat.
Then her mirth changed to tears
and she seemed in a paroxysm of
grief. Then arose a wild storm Of
Kisses. There were many only too
glad to disgrace the singer. She is
intoxicated" was whispered. Next
came hootings and loud cries of de-
rision, which continued long after the
curtain had been rung down and the
manager had explained that a sudden
illness of the prima donna would ne
cessitate the close of the performance.
Marguerite's aunt apd some of her
friends fastened behind the scenes,
where they found the telegram upon
the floor, and Marguerite, VINO had
been helped to her dressing room, sob
bed violently, but the kindly minis
trations of her friends soon Quoted
her and she was hurried into car