Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-07-11

manager, smoothly "a debutantC
could do no better, my dear Fix YOU
attention on that pretty girl, and SEE
nobody else. Not that | have the
slightest apprehension about your sue
cess, Melita. You are in splendid voice
and the debut down here is simply
practice"
The pupil made little, mockine
salutation to the audience beyond the
curtain, and retired to her dressing
room to prepare for the ordeal in store
for her
Dolores, the innocent Psyche, objecI
of these diverse reflections, sat in hei
box, admiring the novel scene about
her
In place of the solitary oil lamp
burning in the hall of the Watch
Tower before the portrait of the
Knight of Malta, chandelier which
seemed to be cone of jewelled light
sparkled and flashed with a wide.
spreading effulgence that filed the
house. Dolores revealed in a lavish
profusion oflight The curtain, behind
which the singer was, at the moment
surveying her judges, was an enchant-
ing picture to be studied. terrace,
blue lake, villa, and mountain
background, with volcanic sky.
Then there were the ladies OF
the ball. Mrs Griffith and Miss Symthe,
who studiously avoided meeting her
frank glance Of recognition. Such
GOODNESS failed to wound her sensibili-
ties No doubt they had forgotten her
by this time.
She stole a look at the grand duke,
surrounded by the group of officers in
rich uniform, and it seemed to her
that he returned the gaze with kind.
ness. Perhaps men were more kind
than women, Dolores reasoned, for
even Mrs. Fillingham made snubbing
rejoinder if she addressed to the chap
erone timid question.
She recognized the Busatti family in
the space below with sudden malice
and amusement. Doctor Busatti was
talking with young woman, while
his parents regarded him with COM
placency. Evidently they were an
engaged couple. The absence of the
physician from the Watch Tower was
thus explained Did Dolores care?
She had not thought of Giovanni Bat
tista of late, and now his value may
have increased with his evident loss.
She felt like the cat suddenly deprived
of the plump mouse that runs away.
All, how ugly and yellow was the
only turn his head, she would
bestow upon him sweet salutation.
But Giovanni Battista, the prudent
man, kept his attention fixed on the
swathy damsel by his side The short
upper lip of Dolores curled scornfully,
and her eyes flashed with a vengeful
CLEAN.
The next moment she turned to
Arthur Curzon with softest humility
of gratitude beaming beneath her silky
eyelashes, and touched, without APP
parent intention, the Maltese cross
on her breast.
'You will always wear il, Dolores?"
he whispered in her ear.
Always" was the no less fervent
response II will use it at prayers in.
stead of the crucifx.
The orchestra was somewhat
shaly, the curtain rose, and the opera
commenced.
The piece was, on the whole, well
mounted and IL Barbiere jolly per.
sonage in good condition. The prima
donna was politely welcomed by
large and sympathetic audience. She
was manifestly nervous and self-con.
scious to an embarrassing degree, yet
possessed cultivated voice of unusual
compass and flexibility.
Mr.. Brown, who had quite ex.
hausted a large vocabulary of iniur.
ious epithets under his breath, at a
critical moment, when to his prac
tised eye she seemed about to break
down altogether, received his charge
at the wings with an expression OF
beaming affability. She looked at
him anxiously, and leaned against the
scene.
ut was abominable, was it not?"
she whispered, hoarsely, and a light
of helpless rage burned in her eyes
Very good, indeed, my DEAR" he
replied, and patted her shoulder reas.
suringly. "You will warm to the
work with the next act"
She moved away with a petulant
gesture. Il hate to be pitied!" she
said, haughtily. 1.-THE audience was
like a sea of faces, heaving up and
down, ready to drown me. Then the
horrible spasm of fear began to con.
tract my throat felt myself nearly
lost"
"Why did you not look at your
pretty Maltese maiden, and no otherP
demanded Mr. Brown, in tone OF
authority.
~ could not find her in the crowd,
confessed Melita hanging her head.
81 sought her, and was wild with
fright"
Mr. Brown controlled a choleric
temper with some difficulty. The
crisis of occasion demanded it He re-
joined smoothly, 'When you go on
again, Melita, look straight before
Won. and a little to the right. and Won