Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-05-04

nanQS, Une luSUy voices rose louder
and louder at each round, and the
very passengers in the streets without
heard and knew that the young singer
had gained a triumph, and set mark
against her name from henceforth
She came forward in answer to their
calls, flushed and radiant, yet grave,
and humbly curtseying A rain OF
bouquets fell around her; gloves, cost
ly single flowers, plucked from the
hair of enthusiastic ladies-some with
the jewel that had fastened them yet
clinging to the stem. One bunch Of
Provence roses, with small lace
handkerchief about it, dropped al
most the first. The young singer
picked it up, and, raising her eyes,
smiled gratefully towards which it fell
"a box close upon the stage, and
whence these first notes had issued
which had given her the start that
night.
The manager, who led her on, picked
up another, and handed it to her, but
she let it fall ere it touched her hand;
and those who were nearest saw her
grand eyes flash as she pushed it from
her scornfuIly with her foot. 1t was a
slight action, and scarcely perceptible
to others, but she had marked whence
the flowers came: yet none applauded
louder than the hands which had
thrown them, and they were OF the
most rare and costly kind.
Twice she was compelled to receive
this homage to her suddenly-won vic
tory ere they would suffer her to re-
+o n WI
On her way out with her mother she
was met by lady, with a profusion
of fiaxen hair, whose sharpened, yet
still pleasing features, frightened into
a gratulatory smile as she extended
her hands and gave her JOY OF her tri-
umph.
Dear Madame Annina," said Ida,
as she returned the greeting with equal
warmth, how kind, how generous of
you, to help me as you did! It was all
gone; for the moment [ was lost"
II give you joy; the first step is
made" said the lady; "the rest is
easy. Your course will be brilliant
one. They will not care to hear me
now, Ida
ooh, do not you say So" returned
the girl, modestly. cit is only the
novelty.
clam not mistaken; / foresaw it,
replied Annina. II congratulate you
too, ma'am," she added to Nellie.
"You refused me once the pleasure
and honor of bringing up this prodigy
Of yours, but she has done as well,
and [ can even bear to be supplanted
by such merit as hers"
She would have offered them a seat
in her carriage, which awaited her,
butIda declined, with manyexpressions
of gratitude. "Mr, Spangles, she said,
chad put his at the service OF her
mother and herself"
Once more, ere she reached the
door, she was delayed. Nelly had
paused minute to reply to thegreet-
acknowledged at such time, and the
opportunity was taken.
A gentleman, dressed in the most
elaborate style of fashion, approached
the singer, and saluted her with the
confidence of a man who. believes
himself to be irresistible.
Ida returned the greeting coldly, al
most haughtily, but he persisted and
it was impossible at the minute to
avoid him.
The carriage was awaiting them.
"Permit me the honor" said the
gentleman, as he took upon himself
the office of handing them to the
vehicle, and in that interval found
occasion to utter a few words in a
low tone to theyoung girl.
She m q do no answer till 0S thew were
seated in the carriage, he fingered to
repeat his question: II may wait on
you tomorrow"
eyes," she said, coldly still, and in
a clear, distinct voice; eyes, to-mor-
row."
He turned away as the carriage
drove off, and smile Of triumph broke
out upon his handsome but dissipated
features.
II knew l must succeed" he mutter-
ed to himself. "Patience and perse-
verance are useful tools to work with.
I've gained move on the baronet
this time, however.
A shout followed the carriage as it
drove off, from the few who hadfound
.out whom it contained, and the crowd
dispersed, each one to his home, for a
few moments, perhaps, to discuss the
merits of the new star, and then for
get her; while Spangles congratulated
himself upon the acquisition to his es-
Enlistment, and calculated in antici-
patton the results to his treasury.
But one there was who had not
Joined in the shout Of applause, nor
clapped hands, nor added his voice to
the call before the curtain, nor
thronged the side door to obstruct
the exit of the beautiful singer. Yet
had his eyes never once quilted her,
his ears ceased not to drink in the
liquid melody OF her notes, even when
she had ceased not to utter them.
In a corner where best he could see
and hear, without himself being seen,
throughout that night Tom Grejous
had sat, following, with an intensity
past description, every action, every
look and movement of the divinity
for she was little less to him-whose