New-York tribune., 1896-05-03
IN THE FIRST PERSON.
BY MARIA LOUISE POOL.
LONG LIVE THE KING"

II this were a novel think I should know
3ust what thread of the plot to take up, but as
Il is only the record of the life of girl who
once tried to become an opera singer, some
times am in doubt as to what incidents ought
to relate. Have you never noticed that IN ohes
own life all incidents seem important? Just as
when we come down to breakfast In the morn
ing we think 1t is a matter OF interest 10 tel
the people at the table how we slept and what
we dreamed. But they don't care In the least
whether we slept or dreamed; what they care
for is for us to listen to their tale OF how they
spent the night.
However 1t is strictly correct for me to thinK
that the 18th of March of that year was an i'm
portant date to me. 1t was on the morning or
that day that received Miss Runciman's tele-
gram. It was written on the train, between
Buffalo and New-York. and this is what it said;
To Wilhelmlna Armstrong.
The Old Holloway House,
Ially's Falls near Walngford. y. Y
Go 10 New-York on the 215 train II no one calls
for you before that time. Gro TO the S Hotel ana
wait Imperative-Imperative.
LEONORA RUNCIMAN
Do Won imagine that these words set my heart
TO beating? In ten minutes from the time the
message had been received I had satchel
hacked with some Of my belongings; ten min
utes later I had taken those things from the
bag and put in others: I had not the least Idea
what ought to carry, and this was more than
four hours before was to start.
Mrs Ridge whom I consulted seemed to think
I should be "safe"-that Is her word-if hlied
nv bag with stockings She said girl always
fel. a kind of self-respect If she had plenty of
stockings within reach Of her hand. SO packed
stockings; but a half-hour after thus doing
had hCtit cd hQ
kerchcfs.
Between these occupations 1 reread the tele-
gram. and I looked at New-York newspaper
NJ the day before had found in one Of tho
columns an announcement of the coming OF the
Runcin1ar opera troupe The praise bestowed
upon these singers was very great; IL maze me
flush and my temples throb to read 1t.
Void any one call for me? l hated to go
alone had never been to New-York In my lfe
I was afraid Of the city as If 1t were great
rayening monster. But / would brave 1t, never
theless: would run the risk Of being devoured
Nothing would prevent my getting some way
TO the s. Hotel that afternoon. l counted
over my money. l should not dare to try to go
by streetcars from the station to the hotel;
might get lost / would take a carriage. Would
$s 73 pay for a carriage
7 NIT this question to Mrs. Ridge. who hastily
shook her hands from the dsh-water as II sne
could not tell me if she hadn't her hands free
"Mercy, child" she cried. II sh'll go with you
rather than have you go alone. amt much
acquainted in Ne'-York. but sha'n't have you
amending your money on hack drivers
wandsed aimlessly about the house Ii sang
with ft:ui enthusiasm. My hands were cold
my cheeks hot. I was continually looking at
the clock The hands barely crawed over the
face A train from the city stopped here at
,ac7 II would kill little time Il went to the
station. 1t is always an excitement IN lonely
place 10 see a train come in. 1t is as If hand
from n live. palpitating, far-away giant reached
forth and touched you with the tips Of its
fingers.
The engine came putting up dragging Its bur-
den behind II. A March wind whired about the
hit NJ a station, but it was an April sun that
vl,ttered on the building and on the bare fields
about II.
stood staring at the train I saw two
women alight, one OF them with pugdog. who
strained and choked at its leash. pulling his
mistress incontinently over the platform.
watched them. Everything interested me this
morning. To myself was hummng,
'a;i..e- Lace up my shoe:
Put on my BasQuna;
T., Can. you see my black eyes?
---rTs;' am Manucfs duchess --r'
lust as I had reached for the second time the
words '.I am Manuel's duchess" the train drew
s,ons over the rails and went. faster and faster,
out Of sight. e..
The station master was asserting the mall
The first letter ne took In his hand he gave to
me. Il was from mother The man glanced up
and then asked. "Did you miss your visitor?"
said had no visitor.
''Oh yes you have. Man got Off the train
wanted Miss wilhelmina Armstrong. / sent
him to the Holloway place. He's gone"
hurried on up the road AS hurried sang
inaudib1y
Lace UP my shoe:
Put on my Basquina-
All. There was a figure ahead; figure quite
different from that Of Robert Dreer. This must
be the person who had come to take me to New
York-a man in long coat and silk hat. who
was swinging on rapidly.
Perhaps ne heard my footsteps, for he stopped.
gazed down the slope. then fastened toward me.
I am far-sighted and 1t was not until the
stranger was within few yards that recog-
nixed him. It was Mr.. Maverick. He came up.
hat In hand
1T begged Miss Runciman to let me come" he
said quickly, after we had shaken hands. The
mans keen eyes were glancing over me. My
impression OF those eyes was the same now that
Il had been in Chiffon at the Ottawa House.
They were ruling eyes. But his manner was
deferential and gentle in the extreme.
held mothers letter with unconscious close
onsss In my hand e