Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-02-28

: as Of rushing water in my ears; the
| the mist cleared away and l saw ID
sea of upturned faces before me. The
l unlocked my lips with difficulty an
began, mechanically at first. and then
[ raised my eyes to the box where sh
sat, to her face, and my whole hear
burst forth in song:
l see thy face wherever 1 go.
Forever and forever!
But like Ferro, whom 1 was repre-
senung, l was not to lose my Frances
ca; if | were, ah, if 1 were
All no! 1 could not bear the pain
o. lever seeing thee again!
l cling to thee with might ant
main,
Forever and forever!
"Per sempre 81 per sempre!'' l sing
then the last strains died away and
with almost a sob as l made myself
Ferro and her Francesca, 1 ceased.
1t may seem strange to you, but l
a forgotten where I was so far that
when the mighty burst of applause
rang out [ looked up in wonder and
saw her leaning ver the railing, her
eyes shining, her cheeks flushed and
caught the cluster Of crimson roses
she threw me. 1 looked at Signore
Arleigh and say that l had chased
away the expression of cold indiffer-
ence, almost of disdain, he generally
WORE, and that I had more than
pleased him. Then 1 thanked God in
my heart that He had answered her
prayer.
1t was toward the close of the sec
ond act that 1 looked once toward
Signore Arleigh. He was not watching
me or the stage, he was looking with
an expression 1 had lever seen on mis-
face before, toward the opposite box
the box. 1 saw by following his gaz
where she sat, and then I saw with q
start that there was someone with her
father and her--a gentleman whom |
recognized as the son of a wealthy
Florentine banker.
When the act closed in spite of my
triumph 1 was not happy. AS soon as
[ could I went again to the chink in
the curtain. l could not see Signore
Arleigh at first, but when I looked
toward her 1 saw him just entering
the box. and the young Signore Bra
bant, who had been there before, was
introducing them.
All, l shall never forget that third
act! / was to make one last appeal
to Francesca-an appeal foolishly real
me suddenly. "Ah, del milo dulce
ardar brauvato orgetto-" how I did
sing! Throwing into the little song of
Stradella's all the force and passion
of my being, so that Signore Arleigh
his head to listen, though he
still bent over her; with all the love
and longing Of my heart and soul till
l was frightened lest the rest should
all know to whom I was singing.
Does this sound strangely spoken of
myself? 1t may be so; but remember ,
I am an old man now and may be ,
pardoned for my weakness.
Then the curtain fell on the final
scene, and l went before the audience
to bow my thanks for the perfect
ovation they were giving me, and
afterwards the other actors crowded
me, and SignOre Lupez came
with tears in his eyes to congratulate
me, but as soon as l could, declining
invitations to supper, / escaped down
he little passage to her box. Like all
the rest, it was quite empty.
1 hurried home full Of rage and dis :
satisfaction, from my first night too,
and after a reception like mine! At
Signore Verniti's door stood a carriage
his carriage! 1 stood on my door
step shivering; the Venetian blinds
were drawn, but 1 could hear voices
behind them, and then her father
down stairs, and with him Sig
nore Arleigh.
He drove away with a cordial good
night from Signore Verniti and l
turned abruptly and went to my room.
lifted my lamp and sat down by the
window, staring savagely into the
darkness. 1 was angry with myself
for being angry, in which state a man
IS hopelessly and irreconcilably angry
But in a few moments the
door across the way opened and she
out with her father. 1 heard
them ascending the stairs. There was
a timid little rap, and upon my rather
gruff summons she came in, still in
the little white gown she had worn
something scarlet twisted about
her head.
ooh, Guido!' she said, in a low tone,
''Guido mio!!"
Then she came to me swiftly and
ai,,~ both a ~ ahorf nv nnaE che |
kissed me. Then her father, who had
stopped a moment sensibly to fix the
hall lamp, came in, declaring that it
smoked like a sea captain; and | was
overwhelmed with praises. Quite SIM
ply she told me how good Signore
Arleigh Lad been to offer his carriage
to her father to come home, and how
glad she was to know him for my
sake, sin ce he had made me what |
was. Then she clasped my hand
closely and tenderly, and they left me.
l was softened somewhat to be sure,
but still l went to bed thinking of him
and of her rather than my triumph.
And it was as l feared. Day after
day row, his carriage drew up to her
door; and why not? Was not Signore
VernitI painting his portrait and
must he not sit for it? For it was
quite usual of course for rich gentle
man to run around after a poor artist
instead of requiring him to come to
them.
Ole evening at about s o'clock word
came to me that he was giving a little
;p,npon,nt,1 a1innnr no rtv and would I