The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-18

pause on every side and cries or DraVa
from every mouth. At such moments I
have caught faint glimmering of the
glory of dramatic triumph, of the intoxi-
eating glamor Of the footlights, Do not
smile at me in surprise or pity, signora,
but listen to what | say: Either you have
never experienced the sensation of which
| speak-in which case l have the voca-
tion which should be yours-or else you
once enjoyed it before learning to despise
1t, and If so you will not be so selfish as
to deny me taste of such felicity"
The unknown spoke with so much elo-
ouence and inspiration that Anionina lis
tened gravely in admiring silence. After
a long pause she answered:
Il can quite sympathiZe with your SEN
tlments, madam, now that | have heard
you express them, even though l do not
actually share them. l must assure you,
however, with sincere regret, that your
aspirations cannot possibly be realized in
the way you desire. l know that my
words seem cold and -"
Where is the imposSibility}" inter
rupted the other eagerly. Il offer you,
Signora AntOnina, for two hours 'of your
life sum sufficient to procure you all the
luXuries of mine. "
Il shall live aud die a singer" replied
the diva proudly, and then she added
with smile, Il give you my word,
my granting your request. | have, indeed,
good reason for not wishing to sing to-
night"
Then it is settled" said her hearer
1oyfully, and rising from her seat, while
the prlma doona smiled al the confident
air of her would be substitute, and think
ing to disconcert her asked suddenly:
DO you know the partP'
For answer, the society queen sat down
a hsa f,ln 4,
air of a finished artist and then sang
without notes the most difficult parts Of
the "Mascheratan Antonina herself
who had practiced the music for months,
could not execute it more correctly, and
the fair strangers voice was of such
quality and compass that the prima
donna's self-love might easily take alarm
'Dio mioW cried the diva, clapping
her hands iuvoluntarily when the singing
ceased. "Where did you get your voice
and your method, and how have you man
aged to master that difficult partP
"You see know it perfectly" said the
singer rising from the piano, land you
will believe when | say that If to-night's
performance is not a success it will not
be my fault"
Antonina listened in mute amazement as
the speaker continued: when your debut
in the 'Mascherata was announced three
weeks ago, made a resolution to sing in
your stead, and | studied your role for
two hours day. For the concerted parts
and even for the choruses | secured the
assistance of musical amateurs who un-
knowingly provided me with the neces-
sarV rehearsals, and now there remains
nothing for me to do but TO put on your
costume and go to La Scala.
l chose this occasion for my
venture, first, because in Milan l
am absolutely unknown, never having
been here before, and second, because the
'Mascherata,' being carnival piece in
which the principal character wears a
half-mask until the last scene, where she
shows her whole face for minute only,
1t is not in the least probable that | shall
be recognized even if any acquaintance of
mine CHANGED to be among the audience
1t is true that you are a rosy brunette
and am pale blonde, but we are about
the same figure, and we can easily ad-
just the difference Of complexion so that
not even your manager will detect the ex-
change"
Signorina Antonina was completely car
ried away by the sparkling ardor of the
speaker, and being herself of a merry,
mischievous nature, she forgot in the eX-
element of the moment to reflect upon
the consequences of the mad experiment,
and with her own hands she laughingly
delivered up her theatrical costume to
her new friend.
The next day nothing was talked Of in
Milan but the new prima donna. Never
had so marvellous voice resounded from
the stage of La Scala, never had such q
triumph been witnessed. While the song
stress had remained masked her voice had
been applauded vociferously, but when
her dazzling beauty had been suddenly re-
vealed, the audience had risen as one man
and a shower of flowers had fallen at the
feet of the supposed diva. No sooner had
the curtain dropped than many of the de-
lighted spectators had hurried to the
stage door, and been deeply disappointed
to learn that the enchantreS had already
gone home; her modesty had been APP
plauded to the echo. several serenades
had succeeded each other under her win
dows that night, and three duels between
amorous youths had taken place the next
day on her account
While all this excitement prevailed in
the city very different scene was being
acted in Antonina's apartments. The real
prima donna sat dissolved in tears, and
her triumphant rival tried in vain to
comfort her.
Wretched fool that ] am, and cruel,
heartless that you are" cried the diva /;
your caprlcious vanity and my sense
less good nature have ruined me forever
How can appear tonight in the part
that you have sung-whaJ voice can be
more than a miserable echo of yours,
what beauty can compare with your daz-
cling charms! Alas, alas, the fraud will
be detected in an instant. l shall be
Kissed off the stage; shall have TO leave
Italy in disgrace, and even then the ridi-
cule and odium of the affair will follow
me forever and paralyze my bravest eff
forts. am lost, my future is wrecked.
Oh, Dio milo how wretched / ann"
The innocent cause of this despairing
grief advanced every argument she could
devise to assuage it, and while she did so
Zermina, the confidential servant Of the
diva, kept coming into the room, bringing
letters addressed TO her mistress, and lay
ing them on the table Antonina opened
two or three Of them mechanically,
glanced at their contents, and then flung
the whole heap into the lap of her rival
Keep them ~ she cried, impetuously
and bitterly, "for they are yours. Read
them and enjoy new phase Of your tri-
umph."
The other woman could not resist the
pleasure OF examining the love letters in
tended for her though addressed to An
tonina, and she opened one after another
curiously, while the real diva turned
away with a look of contempt.
Suddenly the latter heard a peal Of JOY
Gus laughter, and she inquired indig
nantly whether her misfortune called for
mockery from its author.
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