New-York tribune., 1896-05-03
NEw-YoRK DAILY TRIBUNE SUNDAY MAY g. E06YalRTY-FoOn
did not. She sat gazing seriously BEFORE her anu


The next night the Runciman Opera COMPANY
began their season In New-York Tney pesa.,
w,sh GA sonnambula." and Miss Runciman
commanded me to sit In a box and watch anu
listen She said that must SIT IN hnd ,ne Racks
There were two older women VINO occupied 'he
obeyed. I sat behind backs. but saw and
heard everything. 1t was my first opera
heard Mr.. Maverick, and Bashy, and Leohora
Runcman. . . 90
tell what that first evening was TO me- KNOW
Ing how should fail in the attempt !.
| / was cold and proetrated at the ehd Oh o. ~.
When | was sitting with Bashy and her aunt
in the carriage later / did not wish to speak.
Miss Runciman. when we had reached her ROOMS ro9lns
at the hotel. drew me toward'her. She iooheu
at me keenly. -,
II don't want any of your praises" she said;
but what is your criticism Of me! You ~ teiI
the truth, because you cant heip IT, io"'
| crticsm?' o..
/ hesitated This woman had carried me ne TO 10
heights | had never dreamed of-she had Haue
me live within the last few hours
Your crticsm?' she repeated harshly.
| I opened my lips-she actually pale as
she waited. A., ~
1t was very hard for me to say what did say
Sometimes your voice seemed to be-to have
oh a kind OF thread in ityour breath trem,
| bled across something-oh you make me tell
| it,
| Certainly I make you tell IT,
| Miss Runcman turned away and sat down.
| She put a hand up across her eyes.
| I was suffering with her. At first she ala NOT
seem to notice me. heard her say 70 herself
Il knew &. l knew it. 49,,
After a moment whispered: why cld you
| make me tell you? Oh. | didn't want TO say
| IT! ana you were glorious magniflcent,I can't
| tell how you affected me. l did not know
could feel much!'
Miss Runciman tried to smile. She looked up
at me me. ,,,,s Yankee GIRL" she said softly, you
enjoyed. and thrilled. and criticised at the same
time I'll wager you caught every false note.
every untrue phrasing there was perpetrated
through the whole opera ! knew your r, ear was as
unvitated. You are to hear opera In the BACK
of that box every night this week. Every morn
ing the sisnor is to drill you In "rrovrto3e A'e
you brave? Are you going TO shrink!
said 1 was brave. and was not going to
shrink I did not trembe; was tense Give
up trying to be singer because mother had
fancies?
terness.
one whom have chosen" she said, not to me
APPARENTLY. But" turning toward me. you
needn't expect that can love you. What @ KING
hate you, II | can help 1t. and perhaps youl
fail"-
stiMened myself straight.
no" / said. nercely Il shall not fail"
Miss Runclmans eyes shot a swift glance of
Interrogation.
Not fail?'
She rose quickly.
Il am the count" she exclaimed. you are
Leonora. You know the scene. She sang
My whole desire is for vengeance. Go!
She made gesture Of command. and drew
back dropped on my knees at her feet.
burst out into that egonlzed appeal OF l.eonoras
witness the tears OF agony
Here. at thy feet now raining
How old and time worn the solo seems 10 me
as | write but 1t still moves melt always Will
move me as long as have ears to hear y.
sang Il now with very passion OF appeal:
gave myself up to its anguIshed supplicati'n
but | was conscious every instant OF something
I'm me that governed every note Of my voice
every enuncation. Afterward | was told that
that something was the artistic sense Poss-
bly 1t was; know II was something that was
obliged to obey a boat obeys the rudder
While gave myself up. yet controlled myself
| forgot to wonder whether my listener would
approve. She had drawn further away. and was
standing with her hands resting on the bt.K or
a chair. gazing down at me.
Bu, spare the Troubadour.
I sang and knew that my heart had gone into
the words
rose TO my feet pressed my hands on my
bosom. and felt there my mothers letter
Miss Kunciman did not move; she stood look
ing at me over the chair
When she spoke she used the same words she
hal used on that early morning when the gale
had blown against the house carriage on the
Massa chusetts coast.
The king is dead: long 1--we the king"
After a moment she added. II am satisfied
with you. You Will have some technicalitles 70
oyercome-you may seem fresher t. jaded opera
gpcrs II you never overcome them. I'm sure you
have the essentials. And you are new. ana
young-young! Now. 60. ! hope | shall not
hate you. 1t would be wicked in me 70 hate
girl with violin face-,he very girl l selected
why don't you gO?'
4 great wave II pity had come over me- I
oheyel the impulse that urged me TO go to the
woman and nut my arms about her neck.
"Oh forgive me-! whispered.
CTo be Contnued)