The San Francisco call., 1904-03-13

AZ the stage. Inc lmpTeSdiios NhdAiA@
being short and fat-descended the
stairs.
Now Mademoiselle, he said. speak
ing from the orchestra, If you are
ready, come forward a little, nearer the
footlights there"
MaripOsa moved forward. Her heart
was beating in her throat, and she felt
a sick terrier at the thought Of what her
voice would be like in that huge void
space. She was aware that the man
who had been reading the paper book
had closed il and was leaning his ell
bow on the lamp stand. watching her.
She was also aware that a woman and
a man had suddenly appeared in the
lower procenium box close beside her.
She saw the woman dimly, a fat, short
figure IN a light-colOred ulster. Whis
pering TO the man, she drew one of the
s1nen-covered chairs close to the rail-
- and seated herself
Is the lady ready?" said the pianist,
from his dark corner.
quite ready" replied Mariposa.
hearing her voice like a tremulous
thread Of sound in the stiffness.
The first bars of the accompaniment
sounded thinly. Mariposa stepped for
ward. She could see in the shadOwy
emptiness Of the auditorium Lepine's
bald head where he sat alone. half way
I'D the house and the two pale faces Of
Shackleton and Mrs. Willers- The
Italian conductor had left them and
vas sitting by himself at one side Of
the parquet. In the stiffness, the notes
Of the piano were curiously tinkling
and feeble.
MariDosa raised her chest with a deep
inspiration. A sudden excited expecta
ton seized her at the thought of let
ting her voice swell out into the hushed
void before her. The listening people
seemed so small and insignificant in it,
they suddenly lost their terror. She be-
gan TO sing.
II seemed to her that her first notes
were hardly audible. They seemed as
Intellectual as the piano Then her
confidence grew, and delight with it,
She never before had felt as If she had
enough room. He voice rolled itself
out like a breaking wave. tapping the
walls Of the building.
The first verse came to an end. The
accompaniment ceased. Lepine moved
In his distant seat.
Continue. Mademoiselle." he said
sharply; the second verse. if you
please. Again. Mr.. MARTINEZ"
Mariposa saw the woman in the box
look at the man beside her, raise her
eyebrows, and nod.
She began the second verse and sang
il through. AS its last notes died out
there was silence for a moment In the
silence the Italian conductor rose and
came forward 10 where Lepine sat.
MaripOsa. standing on the stage, saw
them conferring for a space. The Ital-
ian talked in a low voice, with much
gesticulation. Shacklet0n and Mrs.
WfIlers We're mOtiOnless and dumb.
The woman in the box began 20 Whis-
per with the man.
And now the second piece, if Made
noiseIle has no objection" came the
voice OF the impresario across the par
quet. ~One cannot judge well from one
song"
The. second song. .Lochaber." had
been chosen by Mariposa's teacher TO
show Of her lower register-those Curl
Gus. disturbing notes that were so deep
and full Of vague melancholy. She had
gained such control as she had over her
voice and sang with an almost joyous
eXultatlOn. She had never realized
what il was to sing before people who
knew and who listened in this way in
q place that was large enough.
When the last notes died away, the
tinkling Of the piano sounding like the
frau specters of music after the tones
Of the rich. vibrant voice, there was q
sudden noise Of clapping hands. II
came from the box on the right, where
in he 1rfG q
over the rail. clapping. with her bare
hands held far out.
"Brava." she cried in a loud. full
voice. "Brava, La belle voix, Et que
volume, Brava,"
She bounced round on her chair tc
look st the man beside her, and, lean
ing forward. clapped again, crying hel
gay ~brava."
Mariposa walked toward the box
feeling suddenly shy. AS she drew
nearer she saw the woman's face more
distinctly. It was a dark French face
with brunette skin warming to brick
dust red on the cheeks, set in a frame
Of wiry black hair. and with a big
mouth that, laughing. showed strong
white teeth, well separated. AS Mari
posa saw il fairly in the light Of an ad-
jacent lamp she recognized it as that Of
the Leonora Of II Trovatore." 1t wal
the prina donna.
She started forward with flushing
cheek and held out hesitating hand
The fat. unglOved palms Of the singer
closed on il with Gallo effusion. Mari
posa was aware Of something delight
fully wholesome and kind in the broad
ruddy visage, with its big. smiling
mouth and firm teeth like the halve:
Of cleanly broken hazelnuts. The sing.
er, leaning over the rail, poured &
rumbling volume Of French into the
girls blushing, upturned face. Mari
posa understood it and was trying tC
answer in her halting schoolgirl
phrases, when the voice Of Mrs. Willers
st the bottom Of the steps, summoned
her.
Come down, quick, They think it's
fine. Oh. dearie." stretching up a help
ing hand as Mariposa swept her skirts