Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-02-28

the opening night of new opera and
new singer-his pupil-lent new in
| terest to everyone.
! Through cbink In the curtain
could see her and her father in the
! box to which had sent them tickets
nd she was looking so beautiful that
forgot everything in watching her;
and I saw the glasses Of many below
and in the opposite boxes turned to-
! ward her. In a little while / saw
1 Signore Arleigh enter his box: had
not seen him yet, for he had only ar
rived that night, but | saw that he
looked the same as before, only more
handsome, II possible.
! Then the little bell sounded, and the
curtain rolled up. The first act, In
\ which | had no part, passed off WELL
and was followed by Il round of APP
plause. Then l found my heart beat
| ing 50 that | was almost suffocated
\ I have the pictures Of hundreds Of
! green-rooms in my head, but that one
with its piles of costumes, its table
scattered with powder and pencils
the excitement, the peculiar charac-
! teristlc ordor-stand out distinctly
/ from all the rest. The bell sounded
I again, the curtain was drawn slowly.
\ there came a mist before my eyes. a
sickening. giddy sensation, a sound
\ as Of rushing water In my ears; then
I the mist cleared away and | saw the
sea Of upturned faces before me. Then
( unlocked my lips with difficulty and
began, mechanically at first, and then
I raised my eyes 10 the box where she
! sat, to her face, and my whole heart
burst forth In song:
see thy face wherever / go,
Forever and forever!
But like Ferro, whom | was repre-
! sennng, / was not to lose my Frances
I ca; If were, ah, If | were
! All mol | could not bear the pain
\ or never seeing thee again!
cling TO thee with might and
main,
\ Forever and forever.
! per sempre 81 per semprcr | sing.
! then the last strains died away and
with almost sob as | made myself
4 Ferr0 and her Francesca, | ceased.
/ 1t may seem strange to you, but l
/ had forgotten where ! was 50 far that
when the mighty burst Of applause
rang out | looked up in wonder and
saw her leaning over the railing. her
eyes shining, her cheeks flushed and
caught the cluster Of crimson roses
she threw me. | looked at Signore
/ Arlelgh and saw that | had chased
away the expression of cold indiffer-
enca. almost Of dlsdain. he generally
wore, and that l had more than
! pleased him. Then / thanked God in
my heart that He had answered her
prayer.
! 1t was toward the close of the sec
! ond act that | looked once toward
Signore Arleigh He was not watching
me or the stage, he was looking with
4 m expression had never seen on his
/ face before, toward the opposite box
! the box, | saw by following his gaze,
where she sat, and then l saw with n
/ start that there was someone with her
! father and her--a gentleman whom |
recognized as the son of a wealthy
i Florentine banker.
! When the act closed in spite of my
triumph was not happy. AS soon as
i could | went again to the chink In
+ the curtain could not see Signore
Arleigh at first, but when I looked
toward her saw him just entering
4 the box. and the young Signore Bra
bant. who had been there before. was
i introducing them.
/ All, | shall never forget that third
act! | was to make one last appeal
! to Francesca--an appeal foolishly real
to me suddenly. "Ah del MIC dulce
ardar brauvato orgetto-" how | did
sing! Throwing into the little song of
Sradella's all the force and passion
of my being so that Signore Arlelgh
raised his head to listen, though he
still bent over her; with all the love
and longing of my heart and soul till
was frightened lest the rest should
an know 10 whom was singing.
Does this sound strangely spoken of
myself? 1t may be 50; but remember
| am an old man now and may be
pardoned for my weakness.
! Then the curtain fell on the final
scene. and went before the audience
to bow my thanks for the perfect
ovation they were giving me, and
afterwards the other actors crowded
around me, and Signore Lupea came
with tears in his eyes to congratulate
me. but MS soon Us | could, declining
invitations to supper. escaped down
the little passage to her box. Like all
the rest it was quite empty.
! | hurried home full OF rage and dis
satisfaction. from my first night too,
and after a reception like mine! At
Slgnore Verniti's door stood 4 carriage
his carriagel | stood on my door.
step snivering: the Venetian blinds
were drawn, but could hear voices
behind them and then her father
came down stairs, and with him Sig
more Arleigh.