The San Francisco call., 1904-03-13

DurinK the drive Mrs. Willers talked
on outside matters. She was business
like and quiet to-day. Even her clothes
seemed TO partake OF her practical
mood and were inconspicuous and sub
dued. AS the carriage turned down
Mission street she herself began to ex-
perience aualms. What II they had all
been mistaken and the girls voice was
nothing out Of the ordinary? What
cruel disappointment. and with that
sick. helpless mother. What she said
was:
Now. here we arel Remember that
you've got the finest voice Lepine's ever
likely 10 hear, and you're going to sing
your best"
They alighted. and as they turned IN
to- the tagged entrance that led TO the
foyer, Shackleton came forward 10
meet them. He looked older In the
crude afternoon light, his face showing
the lines that his f1ercely lived life had
plOwed In it, But ne smiled reassur-
ingly at MaripOsa and pressed her
hand
"Everything's all ready" he said;
"Lepine's put back a rehearsal for US.
so we mustn't keep him waiting And
are you all ready 90 surprise us? he
asked. as they walked together toward
where the three steps led 10 the foyer.
I'm ready TO do my best" she an
swered; "a person can't do more than
that"
The answer pleased him, as every
thing she said did. He saw she was
nervous, but that she was going to
conquer herself
Lots Of grit" he said to himself as
he gave ear to a remark OF Mrs Will
lers'. She won't quit at the nrst OBJ
stacle."
They passed through the opening in
the brass rail- that led to the foyer.
This space. the gathering place OF the
radiant beings of Mariposa's first night
at the opera, was now a dimly lit and
deserted hall, its tagged flooring look
ing dirty In the raw light. From some
where. in what seemed a far, dreamy
distance. the sound Of a piano came, as
if muffed by numerous doors As they
crossed the foyer toward the entrance
into the auditorium. the door swung
open and two men appeared.
One was a short and stout French
man. with a turned-over collar. upon
which a double chin rested He had
bald forehead and eyes that cleaned
sharply from behind a pince-nez. At
sight Of the trio. he gave an exclama-
tion and came forward.
Our young lady?" he said to Mari
posa, giving her a quick look OF scru-
tiny that seemed to take her in from
foot to forehead Then he greeted
Shackleton with slightly exaggerated
foreign effusiOn. He spoke English
perfectly but with the inevitable ac-
I
and the other man. an Italian who
spoke little English. was presented as
Signor Tojetti, conductor.
They moved forward talking. and
then. pushing the door open, Lepine
motiOned MaripOsa TO enter. She did
so and for a moment stocd amazed,
staring into vast. shadowy space.
where. in what seemed a vague. unde-
fined distance, a tiny spot or two OF
light cut in the darkness. The air was
chill and smelt of table. From
somewhere she heard the sound Of
voices rising and falling. and then
again the notes of a piano. now near
and unobscured. carelessly touched and
resembling. in the echoing hollow spa
ciOusness Of the great building, the
thin, tinkling sounds emitted by smit-
ten glass.
Lepine brushed past her and led the
way down the aisle. AS she followed
him her eyes became accustomed to
the dimness. and she began to make
out the arch of the stage with black
ness beyond, into which cut the circles
of light Of a few gas-tets. The lines OF
seats stretched before her spectral in
linen covers. Now and then a figure
crossed the stage, and as they drew
nearer. she saw on one side Of IL man
sitting on a high stool reading a paper
book by the light of a shaded lamp.
The notes Of the piano sounded sharper
and closer. and by their proximity
more than by her sight, she located II
in dark corner Of the orchestra. As
voices came from this corner. then sud
denly mans smothered laugh.
Mr. Martinez" said Lepine, direct
ing his voice toward the darkness.
whence the laugh had arisen. the lady
is here to sing, il you are ready"
Instantly a family luminous spark
Marip0sa had noticed. blOomed into the
full-blown radiance OF gas-jet turned
+, full cock under a sheltering shade II
projected, what seemed in the dim
ness. a torrent Of light on the key
board Of the piano. illuminating a pair
Of masculine hands that had been NOV
Ing over the keys in the darkness. Be
hind them the girl saw a shadowy
shape. and then a spectacled face under
a name of dropping black hair was ad-
vanced into the light
Has the lady her music?" said the
face, in English. but with another va
riety of accent.
She handed him the two songs she
had brought. "Knowest Thou the
Land from "DTignon." and Farewell.
Lcchaber." In the short period OF her
tuition her teacher had told her that
she had sung "LOchaber'' admirably.
The man opened them. glanced at the
names, and placing the 'Mignon" aria
ON the rack, ran his hands lightly and
csrelessly over the keys in the opening
bars of the accompaniment