The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-09-25

SecuredSa more comm diOuS place SOf
residence Ia genteel part Of the city,
and there he domiciled Grace and him.3
sell, with housakeeper III charge.
AZ years sped on Grace grew into
1 glrlh0Od, maidenhood and u now she
was fairly blooming into Nv oman mood
She had known no parents or friends
other than Thomas Tompl Tins and his,
efficient hous ekeeper and of Int years
( had not even been with them much Of
the time for the reason that she bad
been giving her attention to her stud
les. Thomas Tompkins had decided In
all the educational advantages IL was
possible for a girl to have, and, in his
minds eye he pictured her, at the age
OF twenty-0ne, as cultured, refined,
highly polished and sensible leader In
society. 1. "a F,S.
But Grace did not think much Of So
ciety and had taken q fancy to the
stage. On every possible occasion she
would talk to Papa Tommy Of join
Ing the professional ranks, and though
thisSwas the very founda ton on which
his successes were based, he did not
approve Of his Grace making q show
of herself behind the footlights
to edify stupid audiences, Thomas
T0mpkins attempted to dissnade his
ward from even entertaining thoughts
about q life on the stage but she seem
ed to be imbued with the idea that her
forte would be In opera and not In so-8
+ ciety. I q +.
At an early age Grace had shown
!. rare musical abilities and as she grew
older she was possessed Of q beautiful
voice, and Thomas Tompkins saw to
( 1t that her musical education was not
neglected, for he considered this q val
liable and necessary accomplishment.
One day Manager Thomas Tompkins
came home In q turbulent state OF
mind. So wrought up over something
was he that he even talked cross to
/ Grace. However, at the din1er table
his anger Of the lunch hour had
changed to agitation and his counte-
I nance showed traces Of great worry
and disappointment. Grace deter
mined to know what troubled him ana
finally elected the information that
Nine. Yattt, the leading soprano singer
Of the opera company he had spent SO
1 much money and time IN organizing,
: had 80 injured herself by q fall from q
bicycle that she would not he able to
appear ut rehearsals for d. long time,
and consequently would have to with
draw from the cast. Manager Tomp-
klns did not know where to secure an
other person to take her place at the
late hoEr, and even IL he did he was
fearful o change would be detrimental
because already he had featured the
madAme's portion Of the performances.
During the time Of Thomas Tomp-
kins' recital Miss Grace wondered why
she could not take Nine. Yatti's place
and o3sooner had Papa Tommy fin
ished talking than she impaired her
thoughts to him. OF course Mann ger
Tompkins considered the proposition
impossible. but inter Grace had recited
to him her frequent successful appear
ances IN private thentricals and con-
certs, he promised her he would give
her q trial at rehearsal.
She acquitted herself 10 admirably ut
the first rehearsal TINT Manager Thorn
us TOmpkins invited theatrical critics
to be present on several occasions, and
from that time on the amusement col.
umns Of the papers rang with praises
Of Miss Grace Tompkins, and In no
insignificant manner.
As the time Of the opening night
drew near Manager Thomas TOmpkins
was nearly beside himself with Joy,
for Miss Grace had excited 10 much
laudatOry comment that he could not
but feel that the opera was to he
success and that Grace would win
for herself international fame. and
then, incidentally, and under cover. M.
1t were, he thought of the Mdd :ti0nal
notoriety ana wealth It would brtng to
Manager Tompk1ns but Cruces I'D J
vanccinent was upl,erlnost In his lnird:.
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