The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-01-18

selAa ACA1OhO0 OQO It'll WIFI I6G
chin on her hand. The rehearsal was
going forward in front, the duets, the
2uartets and the choruses, but she was
lost in thought. "There's no middle
way" What was in his mind-in his
heart-when he said that? There had
been something very potent in his eyes.
SAat she was sure of. What eyes he
had! What stern, resolute face. with
nothing mean or commonplace in it! He
was not like the others, either in aspect
or IN manner. His very carelessness and
roughness were more high bred than
their best behavior. Though he might
go among other men, he would always
be apart from them; he was lonely, like
herself, but, unlike hers, his was a vol
untary and noble loneliness. And he
despised her because-because some
other woman was despicable! That was
unjust, and yet perhaps there was mad
vertcnt Justice in 1t. Perhaps. if he
knew the truth, he would despise her no
less on other grounds. But again there
was some other feeling beside contempt
at work within him. What could that
be? The girl raised her head slightly,
with 4 doubtful. nusipg smile on her
lips
There was 4 ,steaithy step behind her
which she did not hear until it was close
upon her. Then suddenly pair of hands
were pressed over her eyes, and her head
was drawn back. Tor d moment she was
too much amazed TO resist; besides. she
thought it must be-could not but be-
some one who had a right to treat her SO
her father, or even her brother Ed; no
stranger would dare! Any impossibiiity
Yves more possible than that. The next
moment she felt kisses on her cheek and
mouth--clumsy, offensive kisses She
was not a screaming woman, but she
gave a passionate outcry Of disgust,
twisted herself free, and sprang to her
feet.
The offender stood before her, evident
ly not at all convinced Of the enormity
Of his outrage. His visage was wrinkled
into waggish laugh, in which he seem
ed to expect the prima donna to join It
had already been made apparent to her
that the man had been drinking, but the
mist of wrath in her eyes kept her for
an instant from recognizing in him the
newly engaged musical director, Herr
plotowslzi. She felt that if she had had
a weapon in her hand she could have
killed him on the spot. And he was
laughing!
AHA. my beautiful ma m'selle. I
catch you fair dat timer he exclaimed
jovially. ''Oh! dose beautiful lips! hat
often long TO salute dern!'
IF You ever come near me or speak to
me again began the prima donna; but
she checked herself. She would not
condescend even TO threaten such a
wretch. Besides, what power had she
to carry threat into execution? Herr
Plotowsi had been engaged at great
expense; he was considered valuable
acquisition. No one could lead an
orchestra more ably than he. If she
complained Of him her complaint would
be put off or disregarded; nor could she
bring herself 10 con6de the outrage to a
man like Gen. lingo. He would be
sure to laugh, and answer with some
coarse. good humored jest. In this new
world she had entered into everybody
seemed to mako Jest Of everything
There was no one to defend her; she
must submit if she could not defend
herself. But, as her glance fell upon
Herr Plotowslli, she told herself she
would rather die than submit to such
another insult.
Her passionate indignation must have
made itself perceptible through the
callous hide of the director, fortified
though he was by whisky. The wrinlled
laugh gradually faded from his counte-
nance, and gave place to an expression
Of absurd solemnity and irritation.
You be angry dat 1 kiss you, eh?" he
cried in a harsh voice. LET me tell
you, ma'm'selle, kiss all re ladies vet
sing by me. ley dake it as compliment
if not, I make it worse for ZEN, ell:
Plotowski kiss all he please, and dat al
right, amt it? You ask re general, and
you find outl Now dent" And he
stalked away haughtily.
This incident would perhaps have af.
fected her somewhat less poignantly il
it had not occurred Immediately after
her interview with Bellingham, and
while her thoughts were full of him
The Revision was almost uncomfortable
and made her feel as if the pollution
could never be removed. Her bosom
heaved and bitter tears ran down hel
face. a woman is helpless enough al
best, but she more than the rest. because
she was fighting under false name and
reputation. Nevertheless, she could not
retreat now nor give up the battle. She
knew that her father had incurred
pecunisry obligations to lingo which
could only be repaid through her. Be-
sides, should she let her career be de-
stroyed at the outset because a creature
Ike Plotowski had insulted her? Should
she not rather perseyere until she had
won such position and such power as
should enable her to protect herself
against all the world? There was a
proud, unconquered spirit in her, which
asserted itself in her forlornness and dis.
tress more than it had ever done in her
security and happiness.
And, after all, she was not without
friends. At the worst she could apply
to her father; and then there was Ham
ilton Jocelyn, who, although rather
worldly and absurd, was really good
man, with her interests at heart, as was
proved by his having obtained for he,
this splendid engagement, and there was
Mr.. Dinsmore, who seemed kindly and
gentleman; and Mr.. Barclyffe, who
had written all that praise of her in the
newspaper: and there, too, was Godfrey
Bellingham; whatever his opinion of hel