The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-15

was a very magnificent one. And that tn
royal box was filled. The king and queer
had come to hear this wonderful new
young singer, who had risen like a star ane
who had once been only a little street-sing
ing peasant.
como the court had followed. and the house
was a splendid spectacle. There were beau
tiful women and rich dresses. glitterinl
jewels, and flowers and soft colors ano
perfumes everywhere. And every one was
talking Of the marvellous young tenor ano
the great fame which had come to him
and the great fortune which his future
held.
In one of the boxes were a lady and a
young man who were evidently not Romans,
but their interest seemed almost greater
than the rest of the audience. 1t seemed an
interest q little different from the universal
one. They were mother and son. The
mother wore soft, black draperies, and her
blonde hair was powdered with silver
threads. The son was a graceful, happy
eyed young fellow, with q bright face and
laughing eyes. He leaned forward with a
boyish smile Of pleasure. .w
splendid house! l am SO glad! How
lovely the queen looks tonight! The king
| seems in q cheerful mood. too. They are
sure to be pleased, of course they must be!
Everything goes we'll for him. What q
change for n little peasant. wish ! had
seen him when he sang under you window,
and thought the rancs you threw him were
q fortune. 1t was just after"
He stopped and put out mis- warm young
hand and touched his mothers.
"You were very sad then, dear" he said.
'But out of that all Giovanni's good for
tune has come. How strange it Isl! IL you
the streets until he had spoiled his voice.
Then he would have had to live the life of a
common peasant. If you had not made his
first step for him he might never have been
able to make the others"
His mother sat II little in the shadow of
the curtain and LOOKED at the brilliantly
lighted stage. She smiled u soft vague
smile. 4
II wonder If he ever remembers that ii
was not really | who did it-but u boy like
himself whom he never saw. IL was Leo
who was his friend"
young tenor. Whatsoever. the triumphs
that his life might bring him in the future,
There would never be one which seemed
quite 30 JOYOUS IN magnificent as this
house when young and full of e~xultant
spirit no poured forth his song before the
brilliant house, while the king and queen
applauded him with delight-the king and
queen in the marvellous stoned capital of
his own country. fu. f.
He was a beautiful young fellow, of a
dark-eyed, simple, stalwart type, lie lat
evidently lived loyously and without pain
or dependency. There we're no shadows
of past young suffering in his well-outlinod
happy face. His temperament had saved
him all that. His black hair curled crisp
and close over an unmarked forehead, his
brown eyes had tho golden %clearness ono
sees in the eyes OF some fine young animal,
he had u gloriously olive skin, and u body
which was full of grace and strength. When
no opened his fresh red lips the notes that
poured forth were golden sweet.
Those who listened found IT a pleasure
merely to look ut his joyous youth and
beauty. IA the scenes OF the opera sue
coedea each other their enthusiasm grew.
The queen leaned forward smiling, the APP
plause grew deafening. They called him out
NgNin and again and vet again, and he came
bowling and smiling with JOY. At the end
of the last act the house was t~hrobbing
with delight. Flowers rained upon him
and we're 10 heaped about his feet that he
could not remove them unaided.
The lady in black had been holding on
her knee a large bunch Of deep purple vio-