Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-12-07
A SONG IN PASSING.

tear the minnie SAILS. But us tnlS was
u delightful combination OF weather
which Boston seldom vouchsafed TO the
little would-bc buyers of windmills the
old mans trade was slender. For even
his roses were viewed askance by the
skeptical eyes accustomed to the frail,
pale beauties of our less fiOrid m,ra-
dows. These green, purple. yellow ana
blue blossoms were too impress.Onistic
for even the Boston taste.
Bettina had no mother to insist upon
the polite conventions Of good society
nor to act as chnperOn when her daugll-
ter attended the opera. SO when. after
their scanty supper. Bettlna announced
that she was going to the opera that
night her father expressed only wonder
at her good fortune and rejoiced there.
at with her. For hc was fond Of his
pretty daughter, though he was some.
times 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.
or theaters. But this was to her
land Of pure delight. She watched the
surging crowd, tho beautiful ladies and
their attendant cavaliers, the rows up.
on rows Of happy, smiling faces, and
she knew that she. too, was a part OF
II all.
Then came the ovcrture-the dear,
blessed music that she loved--and then,
oh, wonderful! another fairy world,
even more bewildcring than the ono
about her. was opened to her dazzling
sight.
Bcttina sat motionless. rigid. the
tears standing In her soft, brown eyes.
her head bent forward. with parted
lips. 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.
scious delight. And their eyes moIs.
tened. too. seeing her happiness. and
they wished that II was nll as new to
them. as real and as beautiful, that
they. too. might enjoy 1t rs a child,
with all Its glamour.
Then he came forth-oh. the beautiful
gentleman! Her signore, In his plumcd
hat and velvet cloak. A prince he was,
tho glittcring, jewelcd hero Of Bettina's
dreams, Of the fairy tales which the
dark italian mother used to tell long
ago In that sunny land across the sea-
Breathlcssly she watched him, the
color flushing deeper In her olive
cheeks. the soft eyes growing bright
and luminous with excitement. as his
clear voice rose high among the rafters
Of the great hall.
oh. how he sang! Bcttina had never
heard 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
col0rs which the chorus wore. the mu-
sic Of the great opera itself--all these
were to her but an indistinguIshab bic
blur Of color and Of melody. 1t was
all only a background to that central.
glorious figure. which was the essence
Of 1t all; the divine spirit Of music II.
self; the good genius who had permit.
ted her this taste of bliss.
So the opera went on. act by act. and
Bcttina sat there like ono entranced,
drinking In deep draughts Of ecstasy.
At last, at the very end, came the
tcnor's grand solo. A few soft flour.
ishcs. a tremulous note Of prelude and
then--her song: her own little song,
which she ground out day after day,
and hundred times day. In the rnin
and the snow; In the cold and the heat.
But 1t was her tune SO glorihed and
made perfect that to Bettina 1t seemed
an dir chanted by one OF the very an.
gels Of heaven. SO hutelike was It and
so clear. so round and full. SO tremu.
lousy soft and tender.
1t was farewell love song which he
carOled to the beautiful lady with gold.
en- hair. a. she stood on the balcony
above. But a. no 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 II had been sung to her.
Yes, hs sang 10 the master would
have wished. but better; oh. better than
any one but the angels could!
Then came the mighty storm Of ap.
plause that wakened Bsttina from her
trance. and through her tear.dimmed
eyes she saw the whole house wildly
waving handkerchiefs and cheering
She heard the cries Of bravo. bravov
In her dear. native tongue. a. the grea,
bouquets fell at his feet. at the feet OF
the grand gentleman who sang hel
little song.
Then Bettlna rose, and as she leaned
far over the balcony. she. too. shouted
"Bravo! Bravo. signore!' In her soft
italian tongue. And. with all the nigh,
Of her little brown arms. she. too. duna
her Offering. the great gorgeous bOu
Quet. 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 bewlldered mass
Of bright colors and vivid green.
There was hush. a moments pause
and then. thinking 1t some huge joke
the great hall resounded again with
clapping and cheering and shouts Of
laughter.
!. But he turned and looked up at hel
and singled her out from among then
; all for his sweetest smile and loves
J bowler, the little Bettina, at whom
} the whole house was looking In laugh
ing wonder.