The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-07-14

be over in time, that she would be "tot
late" Her mind was full OF the erran,
OF mercy she had gel herself to per
form. She could not help picturing /;
herself the dying man lying there
gradually sinking, becoming weaker
and weaker, aud she felt thai, of al
the vast audience III front of her, there
was not one who, knowing what she
knew, would wish to detain her.
1t was nearly midnight before the
curtain tiually fell. Without stopping
to change anything, she, with her
maid, was one of the first to leave the
opera house, merely pausing to gather
up two or three of the tloral tributes
that had been showered upon her.
Her order to the coachman as she
gave him the address of the man she
was going to see wa, Drive as quick
" as yon can
Mother, mother, listen. There's q
carriage stopping ut the door. lin
sure it's somebody for me. | know; |
can guess. | AN sure | AIN light
Run mother, quickly; it is 'Margue-
rite = -
1t was Albert Ferrars who spoke.
| His quick ear has caught the sound of
wheels, and his instinct told him that
his letter was ans Hered.
He Was excited and overcome with
joy.
THE eXertion OF talking so rapidly
had brought on Il bad ii Of coughing,
which left him well nigh exhausted.
just then his laEulady returned,
ushering into the room one OF the
greatest artistes Of the day--Madame
Madeline Li.i. S "a was developed IL
a long cloak, which she kept tightly
rUund heraS he advanced towards the
bed. She was alone, for her maid had,
by her directions, remained in the car
riage.
IN poor boy" she gent, said, as
she rendoriY placed her hand upon the
sick mans feverish brow" Il have come
answer To your Litter. have come
to 81 & to you."
"Ab, Madame, how kiud, how good
of You. What can say to thank you
There, mother" turning to his kind
nurse, Il told Oh Marguerite would
come-God bless her."
Look, are you fond Of flowers ?
I'm so glad" as he answered more
with his eyes than by word of mouth;
TAX them, they can be puI into water
after leave you"
i will ney rpart wi Ii Them, never"
the happy man ferventJy replied as he
pressed them to his lips; when | die
thew shall be buried with me-"
"NoS You must not talk like that"
gently replied Madame. II will not
hear of such thing. Tell me, what
shall sing -
"Oh, Madame, | would not dictate;
anything, anything"
Then the great primU donna, the
woman famed in both hemispheres for
her power of attracting crowds to listen
TO her Get voice. Sat down on little
low chair by that hum Die bedside, aud
sang air after air with as great Il finish
as if her audience consisted of all the |
crowned heads of Europe instead of
dying man AMI a half-frightened wo-
man, while the principal listener lay |
with his eyes closed and sweet look |
of unalloyed happiness upon his wan,
white face.
Ever and anon he would join in as a |
familiar passage fell upon his ear, and |
while his voice was far from being |
robust, yet it still retail ned much of its |
old sweetness. Suddenly there was a |
pause Ferrars opened his eyes and
How h avenly. 1 dreampt l was
listening to the angel voices. Madame,
how good of you; low kind, how noble.
Will you sing one more-but oEe
duet?'
Yes, oh yes, many more if you like"
"No-only--one.
(which one, then p she asked.
1.-The 'Tardi-si-fa' duet. will sing,
if l may, with-Marguerite."
- |
and in the presence of the dying, like |
of the famous duet:
ut groweth late, farewell"
Fcrrars joined in. The occasion seem,
ed to put life and artistic fire into his |
weak frame, and lie sang with surpris- |
ing energy AID sweetness,
- but inplore in vain"
But he paid the penalty of the exer-
ton. By the time he had finished
From yonder sun that shines
Ger thy beauteous features,
Shedding its faint but glorious ray"
he was thoroughly exhausted and sank |
back upon his pillow with the death
sweat upon his brow. "Marguerite'
co, tinued-
"Oh, what silence reigrs around
when Just as she noticed the change
upon the invalid's face, she was stop
ped by a cry of anguish from the other
watcher, who il Il hoarse whisper eX
claimed:
Look, Madame, look; he is dead"
1t was true. F"rrars had left tits
world of care The sweet tones of that |
angelic voice had waited his spirit |
home Madame was silent for a few
seconds az the tears welIed up into her
eyes She bent ever the bed, kissed |
the pale brow, placed the flowers on
the breast and rose to go. She gazed |
for a moment on all tnf was left of
Albert Ferrars, and murmuring-
poor boy, poor boy; God rest his
SOUL
Turning to the other woman, who
was weeping as though her heart
would break she said
Remember his wish--the flowers;n
and left the room without trusting
herself to say more. Her directio to
the coachman, as she entered the car
riage, were brief-"Hom
La Comtesse de Tri lilies reception
was failure. forit lacked the presence
of the great singer, Madame Madeline
Lii, who was passing sleepless night,
with one air ringing in her ears, that
nothing could silence
ut groweth late, FAREWELL
IT WAS RETURNED.
81 came upon couple of boys fight
ing Oh the street the other day." said
the portly man as he laughed at the
recollection. "They were both smear
ed over with eggs and were fighting
like a couple Of young wildcats.
las usual thing, do not believe
in interfering with quarrels among
children, believing that it is better to
let them fight it out and settle their
difrerances in their own WAY