Bisbee daily review., 1903-03-24
A VALUABLE VOICE
toriginaLl

nesslike with the members rf lis com pany. but thc>i all liked hhL
 One morning he was rece wing appl[ cations of cardidates for the chorus A Sirl with brown eyes and comely face snd figure was admitted.
 You are he asked deferentially. looking adiniringly at one unusually refined for a chorus singer. "Leonaretta Traver.'
 You sing
 Soprano"
 After a trial of her voice she was en. vaged.
 Ieonaretta sang so well that she was soou east for one of the inferior parts. At the first rehearsal after the assign ment she astonished the manager by singing a deep contralto. Few women could reach the notes she struck.
 What's the matter with your voice?" asked the manager. astonished.
 Don't know, sir"
 You have been singing soprano for two weeks, and now you have Dloomed into a contradict"
 Sometimes my voice is much lower than at others"
 Your part isn't written for con tralto. Tll have to change il or change you. don't want to do either"
 ''l may be able to sing soprano when % on in costume"
 The manager studied the matter, looking the while al the girl curiOusly. It was very strange case,
 Well" he said presently. ''Ill have to make some change in the part and have it ready in ease you come before the audience with those profundO notes"
 Leonaretta sang contralto till tie evening of the first performance, whsn stc came to the tAuater looking pale and thin.
 By love" said the manager. you book as if you'd been keelhauied, hope there's no new voice to provide for"
 "I've had sick spell replied the girl. "I think my natural voice has come back"
 ''Whaty'
 "l shall sing soprano tonight
 The manager hurried off to attend to another matter. but his mind was on the girl and this remarkable change of voice. When Leonaretta went on. she sang soprano like bird and so delight cd the audience that the manager was delighted also ai:d cast her for higher part at the next performance.
 One morning LeJnaretta was in the managers private office drawing her salary when he looked up at her and said:
 I'm going to put on piece next week with q mans part in it that would just suit that cOntralto voice you took on not very long ago. Now. if you could only call it up at will, I'd cast you for the part and pay you $J0 q week"
 When is the first rehearsal?'
 "On the Eth
 'I may sing cOntraltO by that time"
 You mayT'
 ."Yes."
 What makes you think sop
 Well. I'm liable to a relapse at any time and haven't had one for long while. It's due new"
 Nonsense"
 He engaged a baritone for the part, who deserted three hours before the performance. Leonaretta was with the manager when he received the unweL come news.
 I'll take the part" she said.
 You? Has your voice relapSedY'
 Not yet. but l think it will before S o'clock this evening"
 Well, upon my word! Do you mean to say that
 I'll be here ready for the part, de pend upon it." And she skipped out before the manager could recover from hlS astonlshmeDt.
 At $40 o'clock she went on with one 3f the tihest baritone voices that had been heard in that house during the season. She had been announced yer bally as Signor Barilli te take the part of the man whose name was on the programmes. Al the end of each act SigIor Barilli was called before the curtain and at the end of the opera re celred a perfect ovation.
 "SOw. see here.'' said the manager after the performance. "Yeu're won der. You're worth much more than am paying yOu A girl who can sing soprano or baritone st will is worth q fortune We start on the road next week. and if you'n 20 with me and will guaranteeS 10 sing the different parts SIS 1Jimay require I'll give you 8 hundred 2 week and all expenses You see, save the salary and travelling eX- penses of one principal role. I'll mako you another proposition" He dropped his business1ike tone and spoke fer vently. "Yon know very well that you have long been my favorite in the com pany. Indeed, l may say that ever since l first saw you I've been dead gone on you. will you marry meF
 Tbe girl burst into laugh.
 Come home with me- she said. and tslk it over.'
 The manager consented, and when they reached Leensretta's lodgings she cxrnsed herself for a few moments. She soon returned hand in hand with a young fellow. the very counterpart of herself. her twin brother.
 ''l am Leonard Trayer.' said the boy.