Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-09-29
GRACE.

ter, the principal play house OF the
metropolitan city in which he resided.
lie was a bachelor, was Thomas Temp
kins, and on account Of the great sue
cess he had made of life he had bet
ter opinion Of Thomas TOmpkins than
he had of any one else, except, or
course, Grace-Grace his seventeen
year-old ward.
Thomas Tompkins. as the head of
the Continental theater, and Thomas
Tompkins, as his individual self, was
Il disgruntled. sordid, frigid, curt and
cross parsonage, that is, he was sordid
and frigid and curt and cross to every
body except Grace; and Grace! Why
he idolized her.
1t was many years before that Thorn
as Tompkins took in a little waif OF
the street; her years numbered few. but
she was a sweet, coy little individual,
the very personifcation, he thought. of
all the graces he had ever heard, and
that's why he named her Grace. He
never knew just why it was that he
was attached to her. because he never
did like children. but he could not help
it. When he had adopted her, he gave
up his bachelor habits at his club and
secured more commodiOus place of
residence in genteel part of the city,
and there he dOmiciied Grace and him.
self, with housekeeper in charge.
AS years sped on Grace grew into
Sirlhood, maidenhood and now she
was fairly blooming into womanhood.
She had known no parents or friends
other than Thomas TOmpkins and his
efficient hOusekeeper, and of late years
had not even been with them much or
the time for the reason that she had
been giving her attention to her stud
les Thomas Tompkins had decided in
his own mind that Grace would have
all the educational advantages 1t was
possible for a girl to have, and. in his
minds eye he pictured her, ut the age
OF twenty-One, as a cultured, rehned,
highly polished and sensible leader in
society.
But Grace did not think much Of So
ciety and had taken fancy to the
stage. On every possible occasion she
would talk to Papa Tommy" of join
ing the professional ranks, and though
this was the very foundation on which
his successes were based. he did not
approve OF his Grace making a show
of herself behind the foOtlight3
to edify stupid audiences" Thomas
Tompkins attempted to diSsuade his
ward from even entertaining thoughts
about 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
ciety.
At an early age Grace had shown
rare musical abilities and as she grew
older she was possessed of beautiful
voice, and Thomas TOmpkins saw to
ii that her musical education was not
neglected. for he considered this val
liable and necessary accomplishment.
One day Manager Thomas Tompkins
cane home in Il turbulent state of
mind. So wrought up over something
was he that he even talked cross to
Grace. However. at the dinner table
his anger OF the lunch hour had
changed to agitation and his counte-
nance showed traces of great worry
and disappointment. Grace deter
mined to know what troubled him and
finally elected the information that
Nine. Yatti. the leading soprano singer
of the opera company he had spent so
much money and time in organizing,
had so injured herself by fall from II
bicycle that she would not he able to
appear at rehearsals for 4 long time,
and consequently would have to with
draw from the cast. Manager Temp
kins did not know where to secure an
other person TO take her place ut the
late hO.r, and even If he did he was
fearful Il change would be detrimental
because already he had featured the
madame's portion of the performances.
During the time of Thomas Temp
kinS' recital Miss Grace wondered why
she could not take Nine. Yattis place
and no sooner had Papa Tommy fin
ished talking than she impaired her
thoughts to him. OF course Manager
Toinpkns considered the proposition
impossible. but after Grace had re;ited
to him her frequent successful appear
ances in private theatricals and con-
certs, lie promised her he would give
her trial mt rehearsal.
She acquitted herself so admirably at
the first rehearsal that Manager Thorn
as 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 Tompliius
was nearly beside himself with joy,
for Miss Grace had excited So much
laudatory comment thar ne could not
but feel that the opera was 10 be Il
success and that Grace you'd win
for herself interna tional fame. and
then, incidentally. and under cover as
it were. he thought of the additional
nOtoriety and wealth il would bring 10
Manager Tompkins- Cruces adj
vanccmcnt was uppermOst ia his mird
The great Continental ihoater was
brilliantly illuminated from top To bot
tom and the hundreds of 'ridesccnl
electric lights threw their glare over
and about one of the largest and most
fashionable audiences that had ever
been within its walls. The occasion
was the opening night OF the theatre
for the season and the piece on tho
boards was the new opera in which
Miss Grace Tompkins was to make hcl
initial appearance and as the leading
soloist.
Manager Thomas TOmpkins was IN
his private stall aud lie was surround
ed by Il number of representatives OF
the press Amidst the blare OF horn:
and the shrill tones of stringcd instru
ments the curtain arose, displaying Il
the audience an immense chorus. "A