The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-09-16
AN AlmpIEgs'9D)S;AN
ASPlRANIH
BY
ggMMlE BULL ARD WAT RBEuESNS
COPYRIGHT 1898 BY J.BllppNcorr COMPANY
{coNT1NuEp.l

",
tuition and literature as a record of self
advertisement. They had fine fingered
emotions for SO long that they attrib-
uted their own motives to other per-
sons acts, and III the process Rugged to
themselves the gratifying consciousness
of superlative ability. A little body of
paid workers, they told their truths
with gusto, perceptibly swayed by per-
sonal prejudice, after the fashion Of an
orchestra swayed by the conviction of
the man who holds the baton They
were quite unconscious that in this dis
play of personal prejudice they exhibit
ed their own insignificance as critics
pure and simple.
1t had been agreed that tonight Des-
mouths was to set the tune to their an
tics. He had limited at big spoils in con-
nection with this debus to rush in from
some mysterious quarter. They were
quite as willing to sign their names to
an adequately remunerated appreciation
as to an unjust rebulze clothed in grace
full metaphor and choice vocabulary.
The little figure stepped toward the
footlights when her turn came and sang
the cadenza. The voice was farreaching,
possessed of unusual richness and bore
the impress OF absolute erudition and
musical sense as rare as it was unex-
pected. The new prima donna was
greeted with storm of applause which,
started up in the gallery by the claque
those reprehensibly hired appreciators
in France-happilyf found its way down
to the body of the house. 1t was repeat
ed twofold after the waltz song.
Priscilla, rosily enthusiastic, with
one little dimpled arm crushed up
against the box edge, her hands clasped
speechlessly before her in intense SYM
pathy, sat with confessedly fear haunted
eyes as the full notes scared forth firmly
and saluted her anxious ears. Constance
appeared electrified. Vanished was the
waxen mask of that morning. 1t had
made way for crimson bloom like rose
stains on cream. The pathetic face,
with it's mass of clustering blond curls
caught and held carelessly in their gold
traditional fillet studded with pearls,
stood out like cameo from the back
ground Of Venetian tapestry and wax
lights. Her gestures We're natural, I'M
studied, although Priscilla knew how
many years it had required to assume
their present proportion. The diction,
that most difficult accomplishment for
American s5irls-an complishment sell
dom taken into consideration by the I'M
| enlightened, but which is none the less
the rock upon which most Anglo Saxon
would be vocalists split in France, to
| go down with all on board-the diction
was openly discussed as remarkable. :"
Stornmouth's eyes had been fixed
upon Doxie, who, attired in one of his
employers dress suits, which set off his
broad figure to great advantage, had
restlessly mopped his sunburned brows
while awaiting the rise of the curtain.
He was conspicuously impatient as re-
garded the lack of ventilation and the
development of Stornmouth 8 seemingly
humorous plan to introduce him to a
new singer But the big, honest fell
low had trembled undisguisedly as
Constance walked toward the footlights,
had given vent to cultural exclama-
ton when she began to sing, and then
had broken forth hoarsely, to Aunt
Mildred's visible CONSERVATION, with
"Grit, pure grit! Who would have ever
imagined the little woman had it in
her?"
Afterward great silence had fallen
upon him, but it was golden silence,
fraught with memories. There had
come to Doxie, as there comes into most
lives at the time Of a supreme crisis, ar
atmospherical association which ha6
been with him when he had experienced
his greatest heart swell. 1t was the
faint Whit of new hay, the echo of 6
thrashing sound, the odor Of salt anG
sedge. His mind had travelled back
there in that crowded auditorium pack
ed with the titled and the illustrious Of
the eastern continent, to clover patch
ed meadow, bound in with scrub oaks
which, like frieze Of spice about full
filled promise Of summer, exuded ia
miliar happiness redolent of hope anc
youth and peace
Hush, +" Stornmouth whispered sue
cinctly, with quick comprehension
revelation to Doxie in it's masterful ten
derness and it's subsequent action
"Hush! We will see her after the
opera" Then, very low, "Brace up
) Rome was not won in day." will
which enigmatical suggestion Storm
mouth won his new friends perpetual
allegiance by turning his back abruptly
upon his ungovernable emotion.
In return for that plethoric promise
Stornmouth's concealed hand, which
hung over the back of Priscilla's chair
experienced grip, moment later
which was essentially farmyard in it
unbridled eloquence.
Doxie's blue eyes glanced across his
the way sword glances across steel
. leaving the flash of moro to come be
hind it.
That glance, to Stornmouth, wear,
with the past months smothered pain
and quicksilver evolutions, seemed lilz,
knock at the chained portal of hi
own despair, which he had fiercel,
striven to shut out in order to max,
way for his customary phlegmatic phi