Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-07-23
Beauchampe' S Double
THE PRIMA DONNA.
a Story Of Mystery. Love and
Devotion.
BY DAVID LOWRY.
CHAPTER i.
TIE SINGER

The opera was new, the prima donna
was unknown to the audience, and il
was the opening night Of the new theater
all OF which was commented on fire.
quently afterward by those who wit
messed the performance and the press
The manager was apprehensive, as he
had good reason to be, when he realized
the full significance OF a remark one
critic made concerning the chances in
VOWED In "a new theater. a new opera
and n new singer The critic had wit
messed many debuts, assisted at many
openings, and damned many new operas.
; The first scene was tiresome- The
audience manifested little interest, and
maintained a naughty cOmpoSure-
} The people looked about them, at each
other, and at the appointments and or
namentation of the new theater. Friends
recognized each other and nodded, while
fans huttered and beauties primped.
In the second scene, a singer not
wholly unknown to the greater portion
OF the audience came on pretty, grace
1ul girl. with eyes like a gaZelle and a
sweet voice, but the audience contem-
plated her calmly. The women especial
~ wondered what the men saw In her
that entitled her to the distinction of
rare beauty nobody referred to her
musical talent; discussion was devoted
to the singers personal chr ms.
ny Llls bALlE EONn men ana women
were In better mood, having disposed
of one victim submitted to public caprice
Two young men occupying seats to-
Rether were talking to each other in
undertOnes- Fifty more were doing the
same thing.
Il never bother with the libretto I'M
less 1 am interested Besides, we know
the story"
AThe orchestratiOn is execrable.5
avon n fnraVsar Fuhfnor f,rfv
ston."
~The house is not properly ventilated 4"
Anything else?"
There is too much color; distracts
ones attention"
ais that all?n
~Then these seats are absolutely stuff
fy. 1t makes me warm to look at the
boxes"
@Hushi There she IS Ah!"
The prima donna was on, bowling in
answer to the ripple OF applause that
rof until it swelled into hearty greet
ing In the gallery.
The singer swept the house with a
glance, and in the same instant Living
ston discovered she was a great beauty
She was altogether unlike the singer
who preceded her.
This woman with the flashing dark
eyes and sylph-like grace was, conscious
of her power, self-contained.
She looked over the audience a second
time, bowed slightly in response TO the
warm greeting, and began to sing. The
first note she uttered thrilled Livingston
be glanced quickly at his companion
Beauchampe's eyes were fixed upon the
singer, whose voice searched the inner
most recesses Of the heart, and moved il
in spite of ones self
As the singer became absorbed in her
part, the sea Of faces were forgotten.
She sang like one inspired. Suddenly
the wonderful voice ceased, and then
there was n whIrlwInd OF applause
Whatever was in store for the opera,
Nittoria, the prima donna, had scored
an instantaneous success
what do you think of her, Beau
champe?"
Beauchampe's gaze was so intent. his
being so absorbed In the action and the
singer, that he had eyes or ears for any
thing else His eyes drank in the ele-
gance Of her attitude, the exquisite con-
tour OF her head, the beauty of the crown
of brown hair that adorned her as few
women are crowned. Then ne settled
himself IN his seat with an involuntary
sigh.
positively you are hit, Beauchampe."
Beauchampe put out hand.
~She is going to sing again
The prima donna moved slowly across
the stage; the sunlight strsamed in at
the open windows the checkered rays
fell upon the sprays of silver that caught
up her robe; they slanted on her brown
hair, giving 1t a tinge of gold, and at
that moment she looked divine.
Her voice rose, fell, stole aloft, linger-
ed in the air like chime of bells.
The hearts of the listeners throbbed as
she poured out her soul in song. And
still her voice sOared aloft, hung pulsing
in the air in thrObs, while men and
women held their breath in suspense.
The words and the air transported the
audience to the mountain heights; the
pulsing notes were like the lingering
sOftness of the mountain breeze signing
on the heather.
The singer swayed the vast audience
as one person; her empire was undis-
puted-
When she ceased, the audience, re-
lieved from 4 trance of feverish intoxi-
cation, burst forth into such a fury of
applause that the singer was compelled
TO repeat her song again, and again.
The opera was no longer a trial. 1t
was a success
AS the whirlwind gathers leaves and
losses them high in the air, so the whirl-
wind of popular approval carried the
audience away until men and women
waved handkerehiefs, fans and flowers
alOft The thunders that voiced the ap-
through the lobby, the main entrance,
out upon the street They penetrated
the green-rOom, echoed in the drawing
room
Beauchampe was aroused by his friend;
he was sitting like one in a dream
a spoke twice. What possesses you?B
Then. as Beauchampe turned to him
slowly, Livingston added:
Il was saying she must be an italian.
Surely, she is no German What do you
think?"
Il think she is divine
Livingston laughed, and Beachampe
blushed furiOuslY.
Il do not think she is foreigner; she
has an American face I'd swear she is
an American"
~YOu are very positive"
Il have good reason have studied
the face
~For fully fifteen minutes
~Say rather fifteen days.
Livingston turned quickly. The act
was over. and people were going out
The hum OF conversation filed the
theater.
ayes; 1 retOuched her portrait was
so struck. with it that made a copy of
it-that is, / rubbed IL in, and worked
up the details later, but 1 now see my
error. l don't mind telling you-I met
her abroad. have not done the origi-
nal Justice However, can remedy the
defects in twenty minutes nOw-less
tims.
He WAS speaking to himself rather
than to Livingston, who caught him by
the shoulder, laughingly saying:
what nonsense is this? Wake up,
old fellowi There is a very tiresOme
walt I'm told Let's go out; this air is
sitting