Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-03-20

this season. Diva" observed Wallie, with
a smile. "Nou drove Gen. lingo to his
wits end
THAT would he farther than would
like TO go myself" she replied quietly.
Il think he did not stay long there him
self Her beautiful face was calm and
quite impenetrablc. If she meant mis-
chief, she meant it very deep down. She
did not smile, but neither was there any
sign of suppressed anger in her tranquil
bearing.
1T is my fortune to be well acquaint-
cd with the lady who has been singing
here in your stead" said Wallie, who
perceived that it would be useless to
beat about the bush with Il woman of
her caliber and temperament. AS she
is The sister Of your friend Mr.. Randolph,
hope to see you friends with her also"
at is my way TO keep the things Of
business apart from the things of friend
ship" returned Mariana with tho slow
distnctncss that marked her utterance of
English. Edward" she continued,
turning to that unhappy young man,
M. Dinspore has Your confidence? He
knows Of your-foolishness, yeet"
"T1e's all right" asserted the youth,
with a heavy sigh.
Go 50 good, then, mon cher, to go
down stairs little and smoke your
cigar. It is not three who are compa-
NY said she, with certain aroma Of
tenderness in her tone, which (Wallie
fancied) was more involuntary than con-
scious.
Now, monsieur" she continued when
they were alone. latter fifteen minutes
| await Gen. lingo. Up till that l am
all yours And she leaned back in her
chair and rested one hand within the
other in her lap.
The general will no doubt answer
for hilnst lf--that is not my affair" said
Wallle But | should like to know
whether YOU perceive any distinction be
tween his accountability and that Of
tins young LADY,
"You would say it is his fanlt, bu.
only her MISFORTUNE
TO tell you the truth, Diva, the fault
seems to me TO lie between all three Of
You, but less belongs to her than to
either lingo or you.'
1T is not | who apportion the fault,
monsicur but if say the truth shall DO
known then the affair must turn out as
/ it will"
But YOU know that the only one to
suffer would be- the sister Of Mr., Ran
, lOlph'
\ slight movement of The under lids Of
Marana's eyes showed that she apprc-
RATED the significance Of Wallie's para
4 L., 8,
monsieur" she said, Struggling one
shoulder and looking aside, 1--WE have
the necessity to each defend himself
without regard Of person
There are two reasons why people
fght-one to inhict injury, and the
other to get some advantage for them
selves. Is yours the first
why should you assume it, mon
gieur:" inquired the Russian.
Because III this case there is no adj
vantage to be derived. And, besides,
though l can imagine Mile. Mariana
wishing to crush Il rival, | cannot i'm
agine her condescending to make II Ques-
ton of money
Il had begun to think that N. Dins-
more was too truthful to make any com
pliments," said Mariana with a leisurely
smile that enhanced the beauty OF her
face.
There may be moro respect in what
one leaves unsaid thau"-
"Ah! | comprehend that also. But
consider it; if have spent all my life in
trying to sing well and then find that
some one has borrowed my name. so that
her singing is thought to be Inine-then
all that | have done in my life is for moth
ing Wesingers, monsieur, have only our
voice; when that is still there is no more
Of us. IF it is taken from US we have
nothing left. We put into it all our
souls and our hearts. and we work many
years-it is work and not play, monsieur
and we have many hard things, many
struggles, sometimes we lose everything
that other persons love, even love itself.
Well, you sec, would more gladly give
to some lady all the money that | have
, earned in my life, and my jewels, and
my dresses, than [ would permit that,
when she sings, the audience should say,
) That is Mariana
, Wallio looked down, and made no
answer.
"You have reminded me-" she went
on after few moments, "that this lady
is the sister Of Edward Yes, he has
: very often told mo Of her; and that we
, were little ahke-poor boy, he means
J of one aspect, ono prcscntmcnt; as for
the rest, he knows Of me only what |
; have been to him. Ny other history
was not Of interest to him; perhaps he
, ii l. ' =