Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-07-20

scarcely control ncrSelt Suflclently TO
utter word.
The kind hearted old man, seeing
her discontinue, said:
Pray be Seated and tell me what
can do for you, my girl"
please, sir" said Madgc, II Won
dered if / could sing, and l knew you
could tell me-"
why, yes, my dear, certainly, Ger,
tainly; we will try"
Madge, treasured by his kind man
ncr, brought out a song she had with
her, and the very one she had heard
sung at Miss Marlboro's the night be-
fore. She stood at his side as he
played it through, and then told her
to sing it. She sang, softly at first,
and then, gaining confidence as she
went along, her voice rang out i'll
clear, sweet tones that made the old
masters eyes sparkle.
well, well! My dear, what is your
name?" said he, when the song was
ended
''Madge Bronson, sir"
Bronson bronson, said he. Were
you any relation to Ralph Bronson,
who net with such sad death some
years ago.
He was my father, sir" said
Madge.
Your father, ch? Well, my dear,
let NE tell you that you have inherited
from Your father great genius and
wonderful voice"
"Oh, sir, is it true? Can 1 really
sing? l am poor. How can l pay for
lessons?"
"Do not let that trouble you, my
child. Many favor has Ralph Bron-
son done for me. 1t will afford me tho
greatest pleasure to instruct you free
of charge. Come to me three times n
week, and | shall consider myself well
paid by being allowed to present to the
world one of the most beautiful singers
it has known in many day. You
have n fortune in your voice, my girl"
Madge could scarcely believe she
was herself, as she left the house. She
seemed to be walking on air, so bright
and beautiful did everything appear to
her. She could work now.-yes, gladly,
joyfully-for every stitch would carry
a song, and thus the little room that
WAS but yesterday the home of Madge
Bronson, the scamstrcss, became in
one night the abode of one who was
destined to soon startle the world by
her great and wonderful talent.
Two years rolled away, and Madge
was preparing to make her debut. The
social season was at its height when
the announcement WAS made that on
certain evening there was to be pre-
scented to the v orld n new star. Faint
rumors of a Ioor girl, a pupil of Der
toni, filled the air, and the rich and
fashionable world prepared to do hon.
age to our poor little seamstress.
When the night arrived, the great
thcater was filled with eager listeners.
How those wonderful tones rang
through the building! She forgot her
self and where she was, and only knew
her song. 1t swellcd forth grandly,
then died away like some distant bell.
For moment not Il sound was heard.
The people seemed afraid to stir. Then
laundering applause shook the build
ing; haudkerchicfs and fans were
waved; flowers flew through the air,
and nearly all stood, so intense was
their excitement. She came to the
front and stood there, Il veritable queen
of song. Her triumph was complete.
But while hundreds of eyes were
turned upon her, one pair watched her
with curious interest. In box at the
right sat George Courtnay gazing at
the singer with strange fascination.
Could he be mistaken? The face so
indclibly stamped uIol his mind was
the same, and yet how could it be pos
siblc that this great and gifted lady
was the girl he had seen on the stairs
at Miss Marlboro's, two years ago? To
be sure he had heard the report that
had gained circulation of the former
poverty of this beautiful songstress.
He could not rest till he found out He
would go to Bertoni and ask for her
history. For two years her face had
haunted him, and although he scarcely
acknowledged it to himself, a feeling of
longing and unrest had taken hold of
his h,att. Wealthy and cultured, many
laid siege 10 that heart, which, SO far,
had remained impcnetrable; but ho
was on the verge of losing it now; and
Madce, all unconscious of the commo-
ton she was causing in one breast, sang
herself more and more into his heart.
AS she finished, she saw thrown from
one of the boxes little bud which fell
at her feet. She glanced up, smiled,
bowed, and Withdrew.
The papers next day rang with her
praises. Her name was on every
tongue. Dinners and receptions were
planned in her honor. She became
the rage. Meanwhile, George Courte
nay had gone to Bertoni, who told
him the circumstances of the case, and
he left convinced that he was right,
and with determination to make the
singers acquaintance; but how, he did
not know. Fortune favored him, how
ever, for upon reaching home he found
an invitation to reception from one
of his old friends, to be given in honor
of Miss Bronson.
Already he saw himself at her feet,
telling his love. The thought that he
might not be successful never entered
his mind. Our friend George had his
share of conceit, but with it all he car
ried noble heart.
1t seemed to him as if the evening
would never come; but it finally ar
rived and found him, in faultless at
tire, paying his respects to the host
and hostess, whereupon he was pre-
scented to the honored guest, Miss