The Colfax chronicle., 1904-01-16

tempt. She was easily the most useles:
and unpromising living thing in Hobb:
court, for even the dogs were loved BY
somebody.
1t was when Mary was in her fifteenth
year that stranger drove into Hobbs
court in shiny trap with bright rec
wheels. He came to see Tobe Heller
about bull pup. Tobe raised bull
pups for the market, but generally trans
acted business at the homes or offices
OF his patrons. So the shiny trap and
the gloved and groomed stranger was
| an episode in Hobbs court and all the
inhabitants were at the windows and
the children gathered about the trap in
| awed silence.
Then strange thing happened. Mary
was singing somewhere in the Jackson
| fiat, next to Tobe Heller's place, and the
| notes of the song waited through an
open window. AS he came from Tobe' s
puppery. the stranger paused and lis
tened to the notes. He glanced up at
the window and looked surprised. Then
he walked up to the door, knocked and
was admitted. He asked Mrs. Jackson
If he might hear the girl, whose voice
he had heard outside, sing. To be sure
he could. Mary was dragged into the
front room and commanded to sing. She
was so frightened that her voice broke
Then the man spoke kindly to her and
talked easily about many things, putting
ho for hi i'm,
Madam" said he to Mrs. Jackson
may take this girl down town with
me? She has wonderful voice.
would like to have Signor Volenci hear
it. 1t is quite probable can put her
in the way of making considerable mon
ey. Here is my card. Mr.. What's-his-
name-Deviler or Heller-the bull pup
man next door, will tell you that l am
responsible and mean no harm"
Mrs. Jackson glanced at the card
which read Benjamin Ekstein, Manager
International Opera Company"
When Mary emerged from the Jack.
son fiat with the swell stranger, and was
driven away in the shiny trap Hobbs
court nearly had spasm. The calls
Mrs. Jackson had that day broke the So
cial record of the court.
But that was nothing to the sensation
that was precipitated by the announce
ment few days later that Mary Jack
son., the despised, the reviled, was TO
appear at the Garrick theater and sing
in grane opera. 1t was incredible and
Hobbs corrt could not become recon.
ciled to IL. And when sone of the more
and venturesome of the
young fellows of the court went to the
theater and squandered half dollar
(doubtfully obtained) to sit in the gal
lery and brought home strange tales of
Mary (who figured in the bill as Marie
Jacksoni) appearing in maze of silks
and laces and other embellishments
known only by tradition to the Hobbs
courtites, the wonder grew into bewilder-
ment. Ani when the papers spoke of |
Mary as "the child wonder" and "a |
beautiful and dainty creature with q |
voice of marvellous sweetness and power |
and range seldom possessed by the
greatest prima donnas" and recorded the
lact that the new prodigy had taken the
musical world by storm, Hobbs court
became speechless and gave the problem
Up. Hobbs court could understand bull
'ups and strikes and rag men, but
his translation of Mary Jackson was
90 severe strain on its thinking pow-
RS. The Jacksons were more de-
pressed than the rest. They had given
'ver their legal hold on the child to Ben
amin Ekstein for 5000 and had thought
was simply marvellous find. Now II
'egan to dawn on them that they had
old gold mine for a song.
A gay party sat in box at the opera
How remarkably like your Helen
hat girl on the stage looks, Mrs. Van
erbeck," remarked one of the women
D another. who is she, Paul?"
One OF the young men glanced toward
he stage. "Oh, that's the new child
1onder. Marie Jacksoni, they call her
n the bills. Ekstein found her some
here or other in a hovel--and, By
gorge! she has divine voice."
The girl began to sing. The woman
ddressed as Mrs. Vanderbeck leaned
'rward. watching the girl with breath
ss interest. The very intensity of the
lance attracted the singer involuntar-
and she glanced toward the box
nd sang her song straight at the
andsome woman with eyes so like
er own.
Mrs. Vanderbeck sank back. pale AZ
sheet, when the song was finished.
why, you are ill.," remarked the
her woman, in alarm.
THE heat has brought on one Of
y wretched headaches" replied Mrs.
anderbeck, weakly. "I-I-think / viii,
I've to go home, Claude" addressing
gray-haired man.
Certainly, dear, l will call the car
lge." replied the man, rising.
When Mary appeared next on the
age and looked eagerly for the eyes
d face which had affected her so
'angely they were gone. Z