The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-05-17
TIE UGLY
PRIMA-DONNA

aTNNA-OoNNAk
S~~pHV'se.'s ''p'vvu's'e' |saFswsst
Ths small tovsb Of :..Iyet cf,ek waa
IN a state 81 inIcnse excitement over
the nsrs niai mrc ~ wphderful
singer, in fact. one q the dlvinesl
voices ever heard upon the stage" az
New<Rk daily had sld was 60
4. sFIsit thsm for one night on her
way 10 san Tfanolsco.
You should nave ben The stampede
70 the music store for reserved seat
lickets-for any tickets-for permission
10 stand inside the hail. In one day
avery inelof room Al the nlIabhF build.
ing was bought up md bat wet
before the Time. An silver Creek was
either STEPPED In triumphant satisfac-
ton or plunged in coyetous longlnga.
The day arrived. SO did the prima-
donna and her attendants
The crowd q alghi-seey who were
waiting at the rallwoy station aaRr
nothing Tor their pains. except ihs
gcnticmanly locking Foreigners who
an impenetrnlly vallrd lady into a q
Madcmoiselle Ccphise de Fascnu v
driven 20 the hcst hotel IN the town
No sooner were the doors Of
"Alusic Hail. opened tlmn q del
multitude took their scsits. aud fha
after cnSupd for one full hour sd
cfnmmlngs OF ruillcs and eQueez
past knees. and pushing OF elbo
a. had never been hcen IN that
before.
And nc last the three gentlemen
tered and arranged themselves a.
orchestra: the sulldued scmplngs
ylollns aud rouladlne " silver 90
held The garcon part Of the audle
spcilllound Ia .breathiess aniicipal
and everybody prepared to he ~
ished.
so they were.
The prlma donna glIded IN from a
side door, her long amber satin robe
trailing over the cnupcled platform.
her white satin petticont adorned with
lace and embroidery. her gold hair
flowing IN rlngiets, and sprinkied loose.
~ with white cdmelllns, her snowy
threat enriched by gold, her dainty
white feet deckcd with gllt butterflies.
her small, upright figure 80 lIssome ~
graceful, rising out 81 gold-and-nhite
Moorish scarf. which was knoited
loosely NJ one side.
A ; ision Of perfect grace and Paris
Ian taste was she; but the face which
confronted the audience was the
agllest In the nom.
a short u shock ran through the
hearts n the throng. They had ex-
pcclcd beauty 20 match the famous
voice. Why notf The papers had
called her young. attractive. the Idol
Of every city.
Here was n reriiahle Gorgon.
Thcre was a lalpable sllence as she
swrpt 10 the frunt OF The platform.
where n hank Of flowers did duty In
stead of fooi-llghts. The applause
which had risen Up like a uhlrlwind
NJ the hrst glimpse OF lie gold aud
white tirirc. was now hushed and
dumb-smlttcn.
Madcmolse.le cenhlse turned with
unmoved face 10 her orchestra. and
siralghtway a low sohhlng broke FROM
violin and silver flute. Ike the softest
whispers q the Aeollan harp. and the
voice rose mp. not glad and joyous a.
the tones q those who have found
life holiday. but sadly. proudly. pure
, ~, In its lonely beauty, like the voice
Of an angel who. wandering through
soni!d scenes IN search 81 the Al.
Coed. sings n song not Of earth. hut
one taught by Heavens ministers.
Oh. yuicc of r.aiesty. q piercing.
thrilling. pnlsing. pcerlcss sweetness.
How Il iunCed each vulgar sonl IN the
old hall that night. and dragged them
frcm their eoidid selves 10 peep with
awc-struck eyes through the golden
bars TO heaven. How II taught cold
hearts thclr first lesson q love. cf
charity. q alteration to Him who rules
above an. How d waited the angel
faces q The dead 20 weeping friends
ard sent the innocent taby cheek hack
TO rcstlc 90 thu. mother's ycamine
bosom. rf a
Beloved yoice, Eerdon surely Of a
noble srcl,
Tho song or enc should say tbs
tivils pasalm- was ep,led. when q
cIeak az enc 81 the doors broke the
intrnFe Stiffness which aslonlshncnl
and cmoiion had bounded the audience
with. aud an cid woman. dripping from
the cold rain without. edged herself
lnio the crowded building. She was
nCred. ard bowed together with rhcu
J matlsn: few sparsr white locks Eel
from her cid black bonnet over hel
poor. thin clreks: her fnded shaw
scarcely hid her bony arms from the
gnzc Of the throng and her skirt was
W cotton, worn % rurs but mende,
somehow 70 hang together. she had
basket on her arm filled with
matches Fpoiis of cotton, tape, ana
needles: bar the matches were spoiled
by the rain, and her whole steel
damaged.
Gene. come. Mother pclletler." sale
the doofkccpef. taking her aihel
roughly ny the arm. you must 80 on
) % this; Il isn't a place for the likes d
sou.- I
"Ah. mon Dlcuv mullcred The oil,
woman. looking eagerly about with
her keen. black eyes. u heard a yolc,
"A sweet voice. Whcrc IL ltt"