Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1901-10-24

milton. sydenham Willoughby's
laughter was familiar TO all classes OF
society, for reporters heralded her do
ings and printed her portrait when
there wa ile slightest excuse for it,
and often .aen there was none, be.
cause she was beauty as well as an
heiress. Leaning back in her seat she
was ravishing vision. Her black vel.
vet costume was in sharp contrast to
the ivOry-whiteness Of her skin, and
| there was an unusual charm in her
expression and manner, which her air
of unconcern heightened.
The curtain rose. There was twi.
light and fre-glow in the smuggler's
stronghold. The audience drew quiet
breaths while the strains OF the ex-
quisite prelude sounded. Gilmore Will
loughby looked on as one who, seeing,
sees not, and having ears, hears not.
She had not drifted to the opera house
that day, nor yet had she come to hear
Carmen" for the twentieth time.
Each motif and action she could an
ticipate, but for her there was no
motive Of any importance except that
which was the key TO her own personal
affair. The singers might have been
puppets, might have left the stage, the
audience might have dispersed-and
she would scarcely have taken note Of
ii. She only saw before her those
scenes which for many days had been
filing her mental vision.
She had come 60 the opera for free
dom; to think, to decide; to avoid
questioning eyes and jesting voices
for her world was waiting breathless
to hear the truth. The solitude OF her
own room was oppressiye-sbe crayed
the aloneness that only crowd can
give. 70 come to a decision-why
should she? Life was pure pleasure
as II had been-why must it change?
She was possessed with feeling Of
profound irritation that all the po-
tentialities OF wealth and beauty
which before had shielded her from
every annoyance now ayailed nothing.
Decision could not be bought not put
aside on any pretext. What should
she do? Which should II be? Pros
and cons presented themselves in
quick succession. Moods as varying as
the colors In bubble claimed her for
their own. What should she do?
In the stage twilight Mercedes and
Frasquita shufIled cards and read their
destinies in clear tones. TO Gilmore
the recitatiye brought only the famil-
lar voice of one in her mind-picture;
'Luomo che amnred amaro!" C'IIim
loved and will love ever'). Before
Gilmore there stood form, young and
strong and masterful, with proud
joy in smile and gesture. There was
moonlight-the dash Of waves over the
rocks-a woman's promise given.
"Un amor di Carmen non pua
durarl" ("Carmen's love does not
last'O.
Quickly Ehnore's first mind d-picture
gave place TO more brilliant one. and
in II she was central figure against
background Of the luNurics she loved.
She saw n retinue of attendants, thor
oughbred horses rnre Jewels houses
and lands-and beside her small. bent
and insipnificnnt-the master NJ n all
with nervous restlessness She changed
her position, feeling that emotion was
the voice of calm rem
son. The eurtnin fell on the twilight
scene. the lights flashed biph egain
Gilmore drew herself up in digniRed
erectness as II to DEFY the weakness
Tint ,vos .ntici,o bar ond ,,.ih
In herself.
cit is right and best The other
would be madness should he nm.
hap" but even the Thought shrnnk
back unfinished in the presence Of n
great truth. Hushl--tbe first yiolin-
the haunting. thrilling Tor.ndor mn
sic! Over her nature swept a second
wave of stern resolve. And v,t ,ho
eternal feminine stiu asserted itseIf
Resolycd-irresolnt.. Ern, n,,daai5,I
Fillmore paused, for one recapitulnt.
ing moment before the irreyocahle