The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-17
A MUSICAL STAR.

On coming home one evening found
among lot Of Invitations the following
card
| 1.-THE Countess Foricelli, at home, Thurs
day, January the twentieth-music.
Then below was written in ink;
mile. Vittoria Trajonska"
Who was Vittoria Trajonska? felt quite
distrustful. Perhaps was to hear 30
nata full of complicated harmonies or
grand aria bristling with vocalizations
"most difficult to execute " And recalled
the story Of the man to whom some one
remarked, "You are about to hear very
difficult sonata" and who answered with
a Sigh /" II 1t were only impossible
| 1t was rather queer set besides that
you met at the countess'-an odd mixture
Of about every nationality, and, it must be
admitted, Of every kind of society. Side
by side with well known and well estab-
lished names you met certain overdecorated
majors who had not certainly won their
rank in the regular army, and Russian
princesses who must have acquired theirs
by right Of seniority In excuse 1t was
said Of the hostess, "Shes foreigner"
And as, after all, hers was very amusing
suppers perfect, society went there anyhow,
though with certain restrictions. As for
the young men, It was for them Moham-
med's paradise Many of the fair foreigners
possibly had husbands somewhere, but they
had forgotten them In far distant lands
and seemed to be able to get on beautiful
| ly without them. In short, all things con-
sidered, there was not much risk of being
bored, and on the date mentioned put in
an appearance in the countess dining
rooms.
"Oh my dear friend, 4" she said as soon
as she saw me, gesticulating, as was her
custom, chow very glad am to see you'll
You will hear wonder tonight-Vittoria
Trajonska, You know the Trajonsk,is,
the best blood in Poland. The father
risked his entire fortune in the Instruction
Of 1866. The brother is in Siberia They
are noble hearts Come and be presented"
She took me into little room hung in
mauye satin, with bands of black velvet,
and there found myself face to face with
tall girl with q roll of music in her hand.
She was magniflcently handsome. Her
regular profile stood out against the dark
hangings like IN antique cameo. She was
pale and dark and had great blue eyes
edged with black lashes that turned back
and gave strange energy to her glance. |
Her black satin evening dress fell about |
her in long folds. She wore no Jewels.
A simple spray of white lilac was fastened !
in her jot black hair.
This gentleman is thorough musi-
cian," said tho countess as she presented
me, land quite worthy to appreciate your
wonderful TALENT
bowed.
you'll see," she went on to me, "that
you will be most enthusiastic. Mademoi-
selle sings with her SOUL In every song she
puts Part of her life-which means that
If she is not careful the sword will wear
out the scabbard Now, as you know each
other, l must go and settle my other
guests; so I'll leave you"
And the scatter Drained countess DEPART
ed, leaving me with the fair Vittoria. I
looked at her. BY way Of keeping herself
in countenance, she leaned her beautiful
bare arm on tho inantelpiece and began to
turn over the score she was holding The
silence became embarrassing.
you should save yourself mademoi-
selle,' said, land not trif1e with your
artistic temperament"
She raised her great blue eyes to mine.
Save myself What for?" she answer
ed. II have never been able to do things
by halves. When anything plsases me,
give myself to 1t passionately. love mu-
sic. 1t is a fair land, full of dreams which
allow us to soar above the little vexations
of life and to forget much.
There are some people, " she went on,
"who see in art only trade. Art is
sacred thing, which requires worthy
frame When a bird can no longer sing on
bp trDa xuh ala 4 ~ H. |
mute"
But you forget, mademoiselle, I ven-
tured, THAT there are some poor birds
which must sing to live"
"Then they had better die
/ was really quite moved. This Ian
guage, full of the Polish bombast that car
ries every feeling to an extreme, these
words that would have appeared to me
exaggerated from any one else,
seemed quite simple from the lips of this
tall, handsome girl. AS she spoke her face
bad become TRANSPORTED. We were stand
ing close together. Almost unconsciously
held out my hand to her. She hesitated,
slightly surprised. Then she put her long,
slim fingers into mine and shook hands
cordially. "This is compact of friend
ship" / said, keeping her hand in mine
"Oh do not give my friendship so
quickly. Besides, am not woman;
I'm comrade. We may be good comrades,
I you like
just then the countess came back.
''Ha, hal The ice is broken see. am
'ery glad, for you were made to under
tand each other. My dear, you are going
o have a splendid audience--the Paraberes, ,
he Boisonforts, the Precy- Bussacs Colo
lel Tournecourt has come with Jemil- ( ,
'asha. AS for you," turning to me, "if
on want seat, you had better hurry for
he first drawing room is crowded"
bowed to the fair Vittoria and made !
ny way out to the 'front.' A platform, with
piano, formed the stage. Before this plat /
orm very swell audience, from which, !
owever young girls seemed to have been :
excluded, was crowded on
0 gilt chairs q
Far from following the absurd custom y
collecting all the women together in the ,
rst room and leaving the men to stand up q
q the doorways, the countess was in the I
abit of allowing every man to sit where Y
o liked, next to the woman who happen
I to suit him. This system had many ad-
antages In the first place, it made a
sitter audience. A woman who would
ave remained unmoved for want of some @
pc to whom to communicate her impress a
ons became enthusiastic seated next to !
man who pleased her and who talked to y
sr Besides, it was the men only who .,
ally applauded. When a woman has u
pped on her fan with the tips of her
owed fingers, she imsgines she has dis y 9,
aged the highest degree of enthusiasm. 81
elbowed my way through and succeeded =.
approaching Colonel Tournecourt. =, a.
"My dear fellow, is that your" he re. q q
arked In voice which made the whole %