The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-06-16
THE UGLY
PRIMA-DONNA


Tue small town Of Silver Greek was
IN n state Of intense excitement over
the news that a rare and wonderful
singer, lin fact, one - the dlvinest
voices ever heard upon the stage as
a New York daily had said. was go
ing TO visit them for one night ON her
way 10 san Francisco.
You should have seen the stampede
10 the music store for reserved seat
.ickets-for any tickets-for permission
10 stand inside the hall. In one day
svery inch Of room In the shabby build
Ing was bought up and that week
before the time. All Silver Greek was
either stepped In triumphant satisfac-
ton or plunged IN covetous longings
The day arrived. 80 did the prima-
donna and her attendants.
The crowd Of slght-seers who were
waiting al the mllwoy station saw
nothing for their pains. except three
genilemnnly looking foreigners who led
an impeneirnhly vailed lady into n cab.
Mndcmoiselle Cephise de Fascati was
driven 20 the l,st hotel in the town.
No sooner were the doors Of the
"Alusic Hail. opened than n dense
multitude took their seals. aud there
after cnsucd for one fun hour such
cnmmlngs Of ruilics and squeezing
past knees. and pushing OF elbows.
rs had never hecn seen In that hall
before.
And at last the three gentlemen en-.
tered. aud arranged themselves as the
orchestral; the subdued scmpings Of
vlollns aud roulndlng Of silver flutes,
held the garcon part u the audience
spell-bound In breathless anticipation,
aud everybody prepared 10 be- aston
ishcd.
81 they We're.
The prlma donna glidcd In from a
side door. her hong amber satin robs
trailing over the carpcted platform
her white satin pciiicoat adorned Will
/ lace and embroidery. her gold hiatt
flowing In rinelels. and sprinkled loose
IS with white camcllias. her SNOWY
. throat enriched by gold, her dainl!
white feet deckcd with gilt butterflies
her small. upright figure 30 lissomc. .
3 graceful. rising out Of a gold-and-viilt
J Moorish scarf. which was knottei
b loosely at one side.
o 4 vision Of perfect grace and Paris
Ian taste was she; but the face whlc
confronted the audience was IN
agllest Ia the room.
a short Of shock ran through N
3 hearts 81 the thrung. They had e,
= pcctcd beauty 20 match the famou
IS voice Why noty The papers ha
4 called her young. attractive. the id'
. Of every city.
! Here was yeyltable Gorgon
: There was palrahle silence as III
e swept 90 the front Of the platform
+ where n hank Of flowers did duty Il
n stead Of foot-llghis. The applau,
= which had risen up like a whiriwlu
az the first glimpse Of lie gold aus
white figure. was now hushed an
In d-mbsmitten.
4, Madcmolse.le Ccphisc turned wit
= unmovcd face 10 her orchestra. an
" straightway a low sobblng broke fro
= violin aud silver flute. like the sOfte
u whispers n the Acollan harp. aud q
"a voice rose up, not glad and joyous
m the tones Il those who have fouI
We life a holiday. hut sadly. proudly, pun
M ~. In rs lonely beauty. Ike the vel
4, Of an angel who. wandering throul
sonl,d scenes In search Of the A
Coed. sings a song not Of earth. b
one taught by Heavens ministers.
Ne Oh. voice % r.aicsty. 81 picrcln
he thrilling pulslng. peerless sweeincs
X. How Il turced each vulgar soul In q
h. old hall that night. aud dragged the
from their sordid selves 10 peep vi
awestruck eyes through the gold,
bars 10 heaven! How Il taught GO
hearts their first lesson OF love.
charity. q alteration 10 Him who rul
81 above all, How Il waited the ans
faces Il the dead 20 weeping friens
aud sent the innocent baby cheek ba
- % rcstlc on the mothers yearni
- bosom,
Beloved voice. gcrdon surely Of
"A noble soul!
nd The song or one should say {
divine paalm was ended. when
+ cruak al one ~ the doors broke I
n, intense stiffness which ASTONISHING
ard emotion had bounded the audier
al with. ard an cid woman. dripping n,
the cold mm without. edged hers
'n' into the crowded building She "
ii. ragged. aud bowed together with rh,
Is mailsn: q few sparse white locks {
from her old black bonnet over !
10, poor. thin checks; her faded sha
1 scarcely hid her hony arms from I
en- gaze " the ihrong ard her skirt "
II