The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-02-14
HIS TOP NOTE.
FREDERICK R. BURTON.

Miss Mary Emerson was acknowl-
edged to be the prettiest girl in Brad
ford.
Among the many who sighed for bel
were two who seemed so far advanced
in the court they paid that they might
be called suitors.
One, Charley Norton, was toward the
front because he deserved to be there
for he was a good fellow, bright and
earnest, albeit guilty of harmless vani-
ties, not to say the selfconceit with
which some people charged him.
His one dangerous rival was the con-
cert-master of the Bradford orchestra,
Theodore Sehreiner. Sehreiner's ap-
parent lead in the race for Miss Emer-
sons affections was due wholly TO bis
boundless assurance.
The proof of this came to him with
unpleasant elearness on the day when
be proposed, only to be rejected.
Mary let him understand distinctly
that she was promised to Charley Nor
ton, and that her accepted lover had
her entire affection and trust.
For day or two Schreiner was mo-
rose and inclined, so he said, to suicide.
Then came the annual charity con-
cert, for which long program had
been arranged.
Norton, who was popular fellow
and good singer, was down for song,
and the piece he had chosen was one OF
his own composition.
Az manager of the enterprise had
encouraged him to sing the thing. |
hada't heard it, and, to tell the truth,
cared very little whether or not it was
meritorious. 1t struck me simply as a
good feature to advertise song by a
popular local composer, written for
the OCCASION" as | unbIushingly an
nounced in big type on the bill-boards.
The fact was that Charley had ham,
mered out the music in the ecstasy fol-
lowing his acceptance by Miss Emer-
son, aud the piece was privately dedi-
Gated to her.
The accompaniment was arranged for
the string band, and as it was simple
thing there was no necessity for con-
ductor. Sehreiner, as first violin, mark
ed the time from his desk, as well as
played his part in it.
At the rehearsal the song went well.
The violinists read their parts without
an error, and Charley sailed up to the
climax, very high note, in the most
effective style. We were all sure that
it would be the hit of the evening, and
that Charley would score a brilliant
success with that fetching top note.
~ hope so,n he said good-naturedly,
''for If they want higher note than
that they will be disappointed. It'smy
limit. 1 couldn't sing half tone high
er to save my life"
Evening came and there was crowd
ed house. Miss Emerson was in q con-
spicuous box with the members of the
family.
There was an overture, two or three
arias by imported talent, and violin
solo by Schreiner before il came Nor
toms turn.
Norton was in the green room while
Schreiner's solo was in progress, and
there he was approached by Gustave
Molleahauer, the first clarinet of the
orchestra. MolIenhauer looked wor-
ried.
Charley" said he, "did you mean it
when you said you couldn't sing higher
than that top note in your song?"
"Fact," replied Norton, eomposedly.
1t is B fat. Why do you ask? ?'
because those fool violinists, led on
by that ill-tempered coxcomb, Schrei-
ner, won't let you sing B fiat"
"What the mischief do you mean,
Gus?n
"You may well use the word mischief,
Charley. Schreiner has put up a job on
you. When it comes your turn, every
stringed instrument in the band will be
turned up a whole note Sehreiner tells
them that you want it that way in or
der to make a more brilliant climax.
He wants you to break
Mollenhauer stopped abruptly, for
Charley was as pale as ghost. He bad
awful visions of the break in his voice,
the ridiculous squeak that would occur
il be tried his top note at the high pitch
set by Schreiner, the laughter of the
audience, the modification, but, above
all, the exhibition of himself before
Mary Emerson in the proscenium box.
''Can it be stopped ?'' he gasped.
MolleDhauer shook his head.
81 tried 10 say something" he ans
wered, ''but the conductor called me
down for making a noise. The thing
wasn't cooked up till after the men got
on the stage. You'll have TO sing some
other notep'
"And ruin the climax" 1t WON'T
do! 1t would spoil the song! But, con-
found il, what can l do?"
For moment Mollenhauer was in a:
great despair as Charley was. Then
his face lightened.
"Have you another copy Of the
song?" he asked.
Charley shook his head gloomily.
"How many measures is it from ths
beginning to the top note?"
The composer singer counted hi