Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-12-04

snect when there was Just breeze
snough to fill them, but not too much to
tear the mimic sails. But as this was
delightful combination Of weather
which Boston seldom vouchsafed to the
little would-be buyers Of windmills the
I'D mans trade was slender. For even
tis roses were viewed askqnce BY the
,keptical eyes accustomed to the frail.
pale beauties of our less norid mea-
lows. These green, purple. yellow and
blue blossoms were too impress;onistic
!or even the Boston taste.
Bettina had no mother to insist upon
she polite conventions of good society
lor to act as chaperon when her daugh-
:er attended the opera. So when, after
.heir scanty supper. Bettina announced
hat she was going to the opera that
hight her father expressed only wonder
1t her good fortune and rejoiced there
1t with her. For he was fond Of his
pretty daughter, though he was some
imes a harsh master and made her
work very hard.
Bettina had never been to the opera.
Her acquaintance with the stage was
limited to sundry visits to the dime
museums and the galleries of the cheap
ar theaters. But this was to her a
and Of pure delight. She watched the
surging crowd, the beautiful ladies and
their attendant cavaliers, the rows up
IN rows Of happy. smiling faces. and
she knew that she, too, was q part OF
Il all.
Then came the overture-the dear,
blessed music that she lOved-and then.
Oh. wonderful! another fairy world,
sven more bewildering than the one
about her, was opened to her dazzling
sight.
Bettina sat motionless, rigid. the
tears standing in her soft, brown eyes,
her head bent forward, with parted
dps, her hands clasped close about a
great bouquet. More than one Of that
vast audience noticed the girl, sitting
there alone In her great self-uncon.
,cious delight. And their eyes mois
ened, too. seeing her happiness, and
:hem, rs real and as beautiful, that
they. too. might enjoy It as . child,
with all its glamour.
Then he came forth-oh, the beautiful
gentleman! Her signore, in his plumed
hat and velvet cloak. A prince he was,
the glittering. jeweled hero Of Bettina's 3
ireams, Of the fairy tales which the
lark Italian mother used to tell long
ago In that sunny land across the sea.
Breathlessly she watched him, the
.olor flushing deeper in her olive
checks. the soft eyes growing bright
and luminous with excitement, as his
elear voice rose high among the rafters
sf the great hall.
oh, how he sangI Bettina had never
beard or imagined such music as this,
and her little soul thrilled with the de-
light Of sweet sound. The beautiful
ladies' in their satin gowns, the jewels
flashing In the soft light. the bright
eolors which the chorus wore, the mu.
sic of the great opera itself-all these
were to her but an indistinguishable
blur Of color and Of melody. 1t was
all only q background to that central
glorious figure, which was the essence
Of 1t all; the divine spirit Of music 1t.
self; the good genius who had permit
ted her this taste Of bliss.
So the opera went on, act by act, and
Bettina sat there like one entranced
drinking in deep draughts of ecstasy.
At last, at the very end. came the
tenor's grand solo. A few soft -four,
lshes, a tremulous note Of prelude and
then-her song; her own little song
which she ground out day after day
and hundred times a day, in the rain
and the snow; in the cold and the heat
But 1t was her tune SO glorified and
made perfect that to Bettina 1t seemed
IN air chanted by one of the very an
gels Of heaven, so flutelike was it and
70 clear, 80 round and full, 20 tremu'
!! lously soft and tender.
1t was q farewell love song which he
earoled to the beautiful lady with gold
en- hair, as she stood on the balcony
above. But as he finished Bettina's
eyes were full Of tears and her hear
was lifted far above the dome Of the
great hall into another world; for she
felt that it had been sung to her.
Yes, he sang as the master would
have wished, but better; oh, better thar
any one but the angels could!
Then came the mighty storm Of ap
plause that wakened Bettina from heI
trance. and through her tear-dimmed
eyes she saw the whole house wildly
waving handkerchiefs and cheering
She heard the cries of "Bravo, bravoF
in her dear, native tongue, as the grea'
bouquets fell at his feet, at the feet OF
the grand gentleman who sang hel
| little song.
Then Bettina rose, and as she leaned
Tar over the balcony, she. too, shouted
Bravo! Bravo, signorer in her sof
Italian tongue. And, with all the nigh
J of her little brown arms, she. too. nuni
her offering, the great gorgeous bon
! luet, quite at the tenor's feet
He picked 1t up, the huge bunch OF
paper roses. He picked 1t up, smiling
and bowling, and held 1t there before
| the great audience, a bewildered mas
Of bright colors and vivid green.
There was a hush, a moments pause
I and then. thinking 1t some huge joke
the great hall resounded again will
| clapping and cheering and shouts o.
laughter.
But he turned and looked up at he
and singled her out from among then
al for his sweetest smile and loves
bowler. the little Bettina, at whom
1.-THE whole house was looking in laugh
Ing wonder. -
And as the great curtaino opened asai,
and again at the demands of the peopl
for one last glimpse at the.great singer
'Bettins ssN him Standing tasFA I'D