The record-union., 1891-03-15
pranced upon the boards and pronnd ont


old mothers knee"-a time so long dis
tant they could not be expected to retain
any benefit from it any more-and about
1.-THE scenes of their childhood anc
other remote and heart-rending topics. Il
is in such places that the noblest of art.
is degraded and lowered.
Though nothing could be more out O.
harmony than the person and character
OF the singers with the touching topic.
OF their songs, still, here and there
among the audience some rough ole
hearts beat faster, and sin-seared eyes
grew moist at awakened recollections
'of home and childhood; many
prodigal, wandering boy among the
audience felt an aching pain in his hear
and longing to see his gray-haired ole
mother who prayed for him thousands OF
miles away, perhaps.
George Ramer sat with his head bowed
upon one hand, his thoughts away back
six years ago, and thinking what miser.
able world this was anyway-thinking Sc
deeply that he did not observe stir O.
expectation in the audience, nor hear the
words: 'There she is! There she is p
heard on all sides. 1t was only when 6
pure, clear, sad voice sang the first lines
of "Pll Take Thee Home Again, Kath-
leen," that he sat up in his seat as il
electrified. What! Velva! HIS Velva
a variety actress! Impossible! While
the underlined change in the looks might
mislead him, yet he could not doubt those
tones-that thrilling, musical voice. my
God'' he groaned, in agony.
Clad in a long dress of simple black,
with a white flower at her throat, hel
regal little head thrown back slightly
her little hands clasped in front of her, in
her eyes weary, sad, broken-h hearted
look which had effectually kept her the
atrical associates at a distance, her bosom
heavlng with the associations the song
aroused within her-it was indeed Velva
Relnette whose sweet voice sang with
touching pathos and deep feeling the
story of the girl whose roses, like her
own, had all '.left her cheeks, to fade
away and die.'' Every voice was
hushed, every ear strained to listen
listen reverently and with emotion to
the sad singer, whom they all loved and
respected for when woman is worthy
of respect, what American tails to respect
and honor her? In the short time this
sweet, shy singer had appeared on the
stage OF that theater, her modesty-a vir-
tue essentially foreign to such places-her
earnestness, and the deep, touching
strains of pathos trembling in every note
she uttered, invariably hushed and en-
tranced the most reckless and profane OF
her rough audiences. Many were the sur
misses as to who she was, and her motive
for being in such place.
That she was out of harmony with her
coarse surroundings, would have been ap-
parent even to blind man. The fair,
modest, shrinking girl stood before the
ungodly assemblage, in the vile atmos-
phere of tobacco smoke and beer fumes,
as out of place as Gala lily in tannery
Vociferous and sincerely appreciative ap-
plauSe followed the close of her song
and she came back and sang again, not
because she wanted to, but because, alas
she had to. She sang: ga Dear Spot in
Ireland" the sadness of which piece ex-
actly suited her voice, and the same re-
spectful and rapt attention was paid her.
What conflicting emotions tore the soul
Of her former lover could never be ex-
pressed. Leaning eagerly forward in his
seat, his breath came in painful gaspS,
the perspiration standing out on his fore
head in huge drops, he listened as in a
dream-a dreadful nightmare from which
he would soon awaken. The sight of
poor dropping Velva, standing alone like
pale moonbeam imprisoned in a loath-
some dungeon, aroused within him the
great depths of his love for her, and he
forgot in the desire to take her in his
arms and carry her away from such I'M
fit surroundings, all the wrong and bitter
ness OF the past; forgot all save that but
Tor his lmpetuous anger he might have
saved her from all this.
AS the last note died away in mournful
cadence, George arose from his seat, and
seeking an usher, or waiter, desired to be
shown to the green-room, accompanying
his request by a1iberalbr The white
aproned functionary pocketed the money
with knowing wink for which George
felt a strong desire to knock him DOWN,
and Immediately conducted him to the
sanctum of the artists. With nod to-
wards the door of room at the rear of
the stage, the waiter disappeared to his
duties.
Approaching the door, which stood
ajar, George gently pushed it
open without knocking, and noiselessly
entered. Standing with her back towards
him, putting ON her cloak and hat for the
her duties were over for the
the petite form of Velva
Reinette, alone i'll the apartment. A
moment he stood gazing at her, when she
happened to turn and saw him. He held
out his arms and said passionately, and
with world of tenderness in his voice,
s'Velvau u
She gazed at him with a strange mix
ture Of terror and joy mingled upon her
pale face, cried joyfully, "Oh, Georgen'
and took an involuntary step forward to
throw herself into his embrace. But the
color fled from her
cheeks at some recollection, and she
faltered and sank upon sofa. In an
instant George was beside her, and had
her littlehead pillowed upon his shoulder.
she drew herself away and
cried in voice of untold anguish: son,
you mustn't touch me-if you only knew
- and her voice was choked with sobs.
Gently, but firmly, taking her in his
arms again as he would wayward child,
he soothed her tenderly and said:
There, there, little one, it's all over
now. Let us forget the past and start all
over again."
But you don't know-I must tell you
-" she began, and he again essayed to
hush her, saying he was content to know
nothing. She grew calm, and insisted,
as his due, upon relating everything.
Then, with her face hidden upon his
breast. with many sobs and tears, she told
how the handsome stranger had fasci-
mated her until she almost worshiped
him. 1t was the same cruel old story of
a Woman's trust and love and mans un-
baseness. She had left her
home, endured her anguish far from
friends, and buried her little one there,
so that her shame had not been known to
any of her old friends, or even to her fam
lly. She then went upon the variety stage
for living, and for some time her we'll
trained voice had brought her a good in
come, most OF which she had sent to her
old parents at home. And they blessed
her, and called her good, dutiful daugh-
ter, little guessing the awful blight that
had fallen upon her young life. They
knew she was upon the stage, but thought
she was with some legitimate opera COM
pany.
George listened quietly, his face work
ing with emotion as he gently stroked
the glossy ringlets of the tired little head;
and as the poor, broken confession ended
in a fit of passionate weeping, he drew
her closer to him, and by force of logic.
which should be more universal, sue
ceeded in driving away her tears and
the poor girl with new hope and
He said:
Little one, when man obtains goods
or mOQev under false nrtafeoSaS is II Tho