The Louisiana populist., 1897-04-23
A moment later, however, saw him

cUIlplept-y dS iHouSu h"o hS'|i
crossed his path.
On my way home that evening | had
q slight stroke of luck. l fell in with
Charlie East. an old schoolfellOw,
and he hearing of my critical condl.
tiun, insisted on lending me a sover
eign. Out of this | gave Mrs. HuX
table something on account, and went
to bed in a happier frame Of mind than
| had for weeks.
Next Monday there came 4 letter
which took my breath away. 1t ran
thus:
Omitted States Concert Bureau,
8 George Street, W.,
Nov. ., 1855.
"Dear Sir-Alr Kent one of our di'
reCtors has handed us your card with
a view to cur engaging you for series
of concerts promoted by this agency,
Ito be he'd between now and the en-
suing spring. Unfortunately, Mr..
Kent has been called away to New
York since he had the pleasure Of
meeting you. so that he will be unable
Ito go into matters with you personally,
but If you will call here at your earliest
convenience we will endeavOr to meet
your views as far as possible. Very
respectfully yours,
UNITED States Concert Bureau,
(per) &. Willis, Secretary
Two feelings struggled for the mas
terry i'm my heart, as | read these lines
amazement and joy. Amazement that
such a letter should have been ad-
dressed to me-joy that it had come
| at all
My first impulse would have been
to 60 straight to George Street, but
further reflection showed me that such
a course would be impolitic. Evident.
ly the letter mad been written under
| the impression that was a leading
iLgnt' in the musical world ,and TOO
much haste on my part in interviewing
the Bureau would probably destroy
THAT impression. | decided, there
fore, TO write a plain acknowledge
ment, and l did, adding that l would
call as soon as my engagements pa'.
mitted. l could not help smiling iron
icaEy as wrote the last phrase.
On the following Wednesday weu'
to the office. There l was ushered in
to a s1nu.4 room, Uttered with papers
where young man sat writing. Ht
rose 10 receive me with much defer
ence.
Good morning, sir" he said, as lt
paced a chair for ME. "S!t down
I'm very sorry that Mr.. Kent ISM
here to arrange matters With YOU; bu
as l tod you in my letter, he has beet
summoned away. He heard you sin:
...-- Thursday night ait the big con
cert at .-de.aide Hail, and he decided
alt once tina, you should be among gu
barltones for our winter and sprin:
shows. Anat S, of course he adiet
quickly, If we can come to teTms.'
AS he said these words, tne solution
O. lie mystery flashed across my mind
Luigi had handed my card to III
American to whom l had seen biz:
talking after ] left him, believing il
rhe hurry of the moment that the car
Was his own. The American had rhel
left the card with his people, tellin!
llem doubtless (in the sffIhand man
ner in which our transatlantic cous
ins manage these affairs to eng,g
the singer named on that card. YAs
THAT was the secret of the mystery
My last card had turned up trumps in
deed.
What followed ait the interview
need only touch upon in .-le brlefeS
, possible manner. The terms otfere
| me were SUE. as made me feel incline
to jump from my seat W. joy, bu
naturally l did nothing Of the sor
and behaved as much like sane pei
, son as my delight would allow mt
Before | left the room l had signe
, tie contract for tine whole series
concerts.
| The first concert came off three week
, later. How l lived through the eN
3 citement preceding it l hardly know
, My excitement was simply overwheln
ing. for l knew now that the grea
chance of my career, eagerly Waite
for, longed for and prayed for, ha
}. come ait last. Monday night, the mig;
;. of the first concert, would decide N
. fate for me.
D 1t came at length. l trrembled VII
= lenCly until the moment arrived X
!. my appearance, and then all my fel'
| left me, and / faced the brilliant Ill
mighty audience with steadfast hear
4 I sang my first song.
When l TO- back upon that nigh
i I look In upon the nappiest nigI
of my life. After my first song, II
. enthusiasm was intense, and after n
second. : was recalled five times. N
:, triumph was complete.
c Little remains to tell. My progre
Vt from that night on was a t14umpI
|. Irarch-engagements poured in, II
newspapers clron'lcled my success