The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-05-09

u cr0uchIng be nsnd the
stove. Mademoiselle Ceph1se reap
peared, this time rapturously applaud
ed, and began q tinkling French chan
son, to the tripping measure Of the
accompanying orchestra. ls f8
As the lark-Hke voice rose and rose:
to higher flights of piquant melody.
and the flute crept softly after, and
the violin mimicked the gushing trills,
the brea tllless audience gradually had
their attention diverted by a strange
incident.
Old Mother Pelletier at first saw
nothing but the rings of blazing lights,
and the medley of gayly dressed
ladies, like flowers in a we'll ll-stockeds
garden-bed with their huttering fans
all In motion, and their faces looking
very white and patrician in the strong
light; and then she saw the burning
pile of conservatory flowers on the
platform, and one figure standing up
in gold and white which glimmered,
thought the old Parisienne In her
heart like the blessed sunlight and
the holy moonlight caught and bound
in one sheaf;;' and then the voice.
Mother Pelletier was tottering up
the crowded aisle, pushing between
the people, Wedging herself past every
thing, slowly but resolutely up to tho
platform, until, at the last verse of the.
song, she was directly in front, her.
Withered hands holding onto the edge
of the stage, her stock in trade lying
forgotten at her feet, while fine ladies'
and mustached gents looked on In dis:
may. ri s,a
Mademoiselle Cephise, pausing after
brilliant roulade for the instrument
to echo it, saw, for the first time, the
Wrinkled face at her feets
Suddenly her white-gloyed hands
came together, and that form Of grace
became strangely rigid. The echo
died away, the players looked in sur
prise at their prima donna. Had she
forgotten? Had her voice failed her?
They repeated the echo once, twice.
No answer from the bird like voice.
They family sketched the next few
| mademoiselle to herself, and the lead
er held toward her the sheets Of music.
| What? Mute still?
| The orchestra rose in alarm, every
! soul in the house did the same, as if
moved by one common panic.
| And at this moment the prima- donna
| began to walk across the platform, and
to come down the steps into the hall,
with her long, golden train floating
behind her, and every satin fold be-
| traying the tremulous motion Of the
limbs. while she held her white arms,
all laden with clanking bracelets, out
| stretched toward old Mother Pelletier.
| Mother mother!'' lsobbed the prima-
| donna, falling on her knees, and clasp
ing the faded, dripping relic Of human
ity to the silken breast. "a h! do you
1 reInehber your Petite .st' -sss
his is my daughters voice, but not
I Petite's lovely face, returned the old
/ woman, trembling. NJ M s5
Then Mademoiselle Cephise tore off
/ a cunning mask, and disclosed the
sweetest girl-face ever mother gloated
over to the bewildered gaze Of the
audience
| And there was stupefed silence,
while the pair clung together in an
| embrace which seemed as if it would
have no end. @ #
At last the leader Of the orchestra
went down and spoke to the prima,-
donna, and presently, with that lovely
young face still exposed, she swept
back to the platform on his arm, and
said in clear, though falteringt tones:
/ My friends, cannot sing again to
you tonight A great joy has come to
me. left my mother five years ago
in Paris, because she would have me
wed one who was worthless, though
| wealthy, and came to this generous
land to earn my bread thus. Pardon
me, If, to be kept pure and stainless, I
wore this mask. | shall wear it no
longer. Ny mother will protect me.
After I left her, she fell into poverty,
/ and followed me to America, hoping
to find me. Ah, thank Heaven, that
is over: Now, dear friends, / will stay
one day longer, and sing tomorrow
/ evening for you without the mask . 8
And then they all applaude6 until
the hall rocked to its foundation