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

e though the beating of my heart wa
t almost sitting me.
), Guido miO!r' she breathed. ..spea
forgiven, Guido"
[ Lady Arleigh," 1 said, slowly. PA
don me, but have you not mistake
} me-y'
l "Ah, Guido!" she said, her voice fu
of anguish, "can it be that you hav
) forgotten me? That l have remen
bered alone?'
!; And all the time the strains of tina
sobbing, wailing music were in the all
and we We're moving with its move
ment, 1 know not how.
Now. as 1 did not answer her. Blu
looked into her upturned face with
puzzled glance, she stopped suddenly
and would have fallen had not my arm
been still about her. LET me brin:
you an ice," 1 said then. 1.-The warmth
of the room has affected you" 1 seat
ed her and brought her the refresh
ment. She toyed with it a few MON
ents in silence; l talking on of many
things, | know not what. Then the
dance ended, others came to her. an6
1 went away
A little while afterward there was
a slight stir in the room. Lady Arleigh
was doing such a strange thing! She
was descending the staircase to 60 to
her carriage, with the evening ONLY
half over, and no other entertainment
to call her away! 1t was so disappoint-
ing, they said.
Through the winter, while Il sang
there in London, she was rarely absent
from her box; she was always present
for some part of the evening. And I
looked through the little opening in
my curtain and saw the sweet face
with Lord Arleigh beside bcr, as I
had looked at them together one other
night-centuries ago; only now the
face was SAD as we'll as beautiful, and
there were furs and costly draperies
and glittering diamonds instead of the
little white gown.
One night, the first time l stood be-
AOi hOi oSdlu DIS L eIIO-duu SANG
PaolO Tosti's song once more. as the
"per sempre" died away, just as there
had hat other night, a bunch of long
stemmed crimson roses fell at my feet.
l raised my eyes one instant to her
box, which l rarely did, then l caught
some white hyacinths in my hand and
raised them to my lips and went away,
loo vino tho noon racno 70 I;o Dho,
but afterwards 1 picked them up,
every one; and l have them yet.
Sometimes, l OWNED, she was com
PEELED to come without Lord Arleigh's
knowledge, for certain of her friends"
passed from n to the other the de-
licious morsel that he was selfish and
exacting, and that Lady ,Arleigh did
not love her husband as she might.
1 net her everywhere went, danced
with her always, was coldly, gravely
polite to her.
In the spring l left London suddenly,
without telling anyone hood bye. My
summer 1 spent IN "the blue Vesuvian
lbay;' a long, languid, idle summer, so
that when the autumn came again l
was glad that Of all places my engage
ment was at Paris.
On the evening Of my arrival l re-
turned home rather late from supper !
given for me, and 1 was told that
someone vas waiting for me in the
reception room. 1t was a boy of some
20 years or more-a slight, dark-eyed
youth, with close-cropped, black, curly
hair.
cit is NJ. Ferrara?' he began, in a
soft voice in French. 81 nave come
to you to offer myself as valet-as Sec
servant-if you will"
''Indeed!' I said, a little surprised.
but as to a valet I have a very good
one, and as to a second one l do not
need him."
"Ah, Monsieur!!" he pleaded, 81 will
serve you well, and for such a little
consideration! Only try me, them
Hardly knowing why, 1 finally told
he might stay. 1 shall never for
get the look of joy which came into
his face then, for it was more than
pleasure.
SO l opened my engagement and
received the applause of which l never
wearied, and sang as 1 hoped to sing
always. Charny, my new protege, for
he hardly seemed a servant, proved
invaluable to me. 1 was feted and
courted and hOnOred, and in the midst
Of the Season-on Christmas night
four years from my opening night,
fifty years ago tonight-it all ended.
The Vicomte de Barnay, through his
fondness for music, possibly through
some slight fancy for NE, was a man
who had been very kind to me. On
Christmas night, during the first act,
in which 1 had no part-for l was
Ferro once more-I sent Charny to beg
his presence with me in the green room
for one moment. The message return
ed to me was his compliments, but he
begged ito be excused.
What does he mean?" l exclaimed,
impatiently. "You are sure you are
not mistaken, Charny?"
Eyes, Monsieur!!" said the 10Y. Then
suddenly, "Monsieur! Yeste1day-can
it be? All, 1 am ruined!"
He drew forth quickly a tiny, twisted
note. at was to have been given to
Monsieur yesterday" he said, 'by a
servant in livery, while Monsieur was
out. Can it be"
1 had torn it open hastily and read:
clarence Barnay. At theater supper.
Tuesday, December "A. In honor of
Guido Ferrara."