Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-11-02

20 SEND you TO Paris TO nave your VOICE
cultivated on condition that you won
the prize for vocal-music here; but he
will not, am sure, darling, do 80 il
you fail"
"And 1 shall fall" murmured the
girl, with fresh burst of sobs.
Msdge suddenly started as though
she had just awakened to the fact that
she was listening to what was not in
tended for her ears, and with crimson
cheeks, she stole away. But, for the
rest of the day, bright, merry Madge
was very thoughtful and silent.
The exhibition day of Broughton
Academy arrived, and the big hall was
crowded with the parents and friends
of the pupils. Among them was Mrs.
Parks, in her well-worn black silk and
shabby bonnet, and beside her was a
little, dried-up man, with shrewd,
twinkling eyes. and thin, determined
lips. Mrs. Parks was very pale and
very nervous. and her anxious eyes
wandered first to her daughter and then
to Madge Wilmer. Such a contrastl
the former so pale and scared looking,
IN her plain, white dress, with her long
golden hair all loose and flowing about
her like n cloud; and the latter, her
pretty face all smiles and happiness.
clad IN dainty. ace-trimmed, white
robes. with broad yellow sash and rib
bons, and IA spray of red roses twined
In her dark curls. Was it any wonder
a bitter sigh broke from the mothers
lips as she gazed?
AT length came the singing trial, ann
the two girls. Madge. still smiling, and
Loula, white as death and trembling
like leaf, ascended the platform.
Madge was the first to sing, and she
took her pl ce by the grand piano.
She looked so bright and pretty as
she stood there, that a murmur of adj
m ration went through the audience.
The professor had decided that to give
the girls an equally fair chance, they
should both sing the same song, and
the sweet Scotch song. "Annie Laurie"
had been chosen.
The opening bars were played, ano
Madge began to sing, and at once
every ybody was staring, and the girls
looked at each other in Mortified
amazement, What was the matter
with the girl? Never had she sung so
wretchedly; she was fairly numbering
the song. 1t was relief to every one
when the last note died away, and a
very faint applause followed. Madge's
cheeks were dyed painful crimson, as
she turned away from the piano, and
her lips qnivered, but she forced a
smile, as she faced the audience, and
walked back to her place, with the
wondering, plying eyes of her school
mates fixed upon her.
In the meantime Loula had risen ana
taken her place at the piano. She felt
rather daZed. but her heart was beat
Ing quickly, aud she had forgotten her
fright in the new hope that was thrill
ling her. Madge had failed; she could
win now. She listened to the opening
chords without any nervousness what
ever, and the next moment her voice
rang ont clear, sweet and strong, as no
one had ever heard it before.
When the last, sweet, lingering note
died away, there was burst of enthusi-
astic applause, and there was no doubt
as to VINO had won the prize. The
girls all started IN amaZement as Loula
went down the long hall to receive it.
They could hardly recognize their shy,
pale schoolmate in the girl with GRIM
son cheeks and sparkling eyes, who with
that cloud of golden hair, was almost
beautiful. There were only two, how
ever, the mother, trembling with hap
piness, and brOwn-eYed Madge Wilmer,
who could fathom the Joy throbbing in
the girls heart.
And, when 1t was all over, Madge
went up to her, and bending her curly
head, kissed her.
81 am very glad" she said, simply.
fIha Il
eyes; she put out her hand timidly to
detaln Madge, and-her lips parted as
though she were about to speak; but
Madge turned quickly away and In
few minutes had left the school When
she was In the carriage which was to
bear her away, to the CONSERVATION of
her parents, she burst into tears.
Some seven years later, a new sing
er, of whom great things were proph-
esied, made her debut in a concert hall
in Paris. She was a slender, pale faced
glrl, with mass of beautiful golden
hair. As she came on the stage, a
pretty, brown eyed, young girl, evi-
IDENTIFY American, in the audience, bent
forward with a smothered exclamation.
The next moment she drew a long.
deep breath, as the rich, wonderful
voice of the young singer echoed
through the hall.
There wss breathless hush until
the last note ceased, and then thunders
of applause shook the building. In
answer to repeated encores the Young
singer came forward to sing again. As
she stood for moment, irresolute, she
happened to encounter the gaze of a
pair of brown eyes fixed eagerly upon
her. A quick change passed over her
lace, her eyes grew soft, and filled for
moment with tears then in voice which
trembled little at fret, she sang, as
no one there had ever heard it sung
before, the sweet song annie Laurie. ="