Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-12-18
COPYRIGHT BY AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATIONS,

fortune; but, in fact, only brought you
the opportunity to win them for your
self. You have glorious future before
you. This gentleman is the owner and
manager of the new opera house in the
city. All your favorite operas will be
produced there this season, splendidly
set and cast, and you, my dear Beatrix,
are to sing the leading music"
Beatrix grew pale, and turned her face
toward her father. ooh, papa, can I'''
she said in a low voice.
at is painful, of course, to contem-
plate such a thing" Mr.. Randolph re-
piled, looking down in his plate with an
uneasy, evasive air; "but we are poor
folks now, you know, and we must do
the best we can. We can only hope,
! my dear, that the necessity Will not
''Oh, but it is not that" exclaimed
the girl, interrupting him, and tremu-
lous with excitement; "but losing, papa
to sing in real opera before real au-
| diencel 1t is the best thing in the
world! But can l do it, do you think?
Am able? Would Professor Dorimar
have wished it? l would rather"-she
was going to say ''marry Mr.. Vinal, but
changed it to, 81 would rather do any
thing than disgrace Professor Dorimar."
"You just leave all that to me, young
lady," said the impresario, nodding
good naturally. Il take the risksl
You'll not disgrace Dorimar nor nobody
else. You're as good as the best of 'em,
though it's money out of my pocket to
tell you so! You'll need some drilling
about the stage business of course; that
But don't you worry, I'll fix it all right
You've got month or six weeks re-
hearsals, and you'll catch on as quick as
most gals, guess"
Thus far the glory and delight of the
merely musical aspect of the adventure
had SO dazzled Beatrix's eyes that she
had thought of nothing else, but now a
new idea entered her head.
''Am to be paid for doing this?" she
asked, glancing from her father to Joce-
Ign. ''Of course l mean by and by-if
l succeed. Is that what you meant
when you talked about my winning
fortune? But l would rather not make
money in that way--I would rather
make it i'll some other way than by sing
ing, because But | couldn't
make it in any other way, l suppose"
she added, faltering little. Singing
is all can dol And, after all, it would
be good if my singing would help pay
our debts; that would not be unworthy
even of music, would it. papa? wouldn't
take money to get rich, but l would to
prevent your being troubled any more
by Oh, papa, can it be true?
I'm sure you are very kind, Gen. lingo;
and thank you for telling him of me,
Mr.. Jocelyn."
This speech-a broken medley of mu-
steal tones, smiles, wet eyelashes, pauses
of reflection and eager utterance-com-
pleted the generals captivation. He
thumped his fat fist down on the table
cloth and exclaimed, by Jupiter! gen
tlemen, move we drink the health of
the new pTilna donna"-
"And christen her at the same time"
put in JOcelyn quickly. "You haven't
heard your new stage name, Beatrix.
HencefOrward you are to be known to
the world, not as Beatrix Randolph, but
as-what is it, generals"
"Mademoiselle Marana," said lingo.
Heres Madelnoiselle Marana's health,
boys! May she stand at the top of the
profession, and sing pearls and diamonds,
like the gal in the fairy tale! Down she
goes!"
up she goes! you mean," said Joce-
Ign laughing. "Well, mademoiselle,
how do you like your new name?"
Its very pretty" answered she; ''but !
how did get it,
IF you or your father had been III
New York lately you wouldn't need to
ask. The name of Mademoiselle Ma |
rama, the great prima donna from st. !
Petersburg and Moscow, is placarded all |
over town. All the world is agog to see |
and hear her. The new opera house was
built expressly for her."
But how
I'm going TO tell you. There's an
other lady somewhere, who sings under |
that name, and whom lingo had invited |
to sing here. But she refused to keep |
her word at the last moment, and since !
the public must have some new divinity /
to worship, and since l know it would |
be painful to your father to have you
appear under your own name, advised |
lingo to put you in her place. That's the |
whole story"
Beatrixs clear eyes grew troubled. 1T |
doesn't seem right TO pretend to be an
other person-it would be deceiving peo-
pie" she said.
Nobody goes on the stage under his
own name" replied Jocelyn. ITO go on
the stage is to change your identity, and
become some one else. Nobody's de-
ceived, because nobody expects anything
else"
But Beatrix at once detected the flaw
In this argument. "Why should I be
called Maranag" she demanded. "Why
not give lae some other name that no
body hasg'
1t seems to me that that might be
observed Mr.. Randolph.
Ny dear Randolph, it's merely a bus
mess question" said Jocelyn, not sorry
to make the explanation to him instead
OF to his daughter. 1--WE call her Ma
rama simply because Mariana is the name
In peoples mouths at this moment. To
give her another name would be to
create all sorts of doubt and confusion.
In the course of which the dear child's
identity would be certain to be discoy-
cred. Nobody here knows Mariana BY
sight or sound; so, even if Beatrix were
inferior as a singer, they would be
defrauded of nothing. But the fact
Is AS lingo, who has heard the
lady will confirm me- In sar;n