Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-06-08
CHAPTER III.
Continued.

butante who, but a month before, had
stood up before great assembly OF
expectant listeners, beautiful, fascinat'
ing, but tongue-tled. A wonder, With
every promise of song in her blazing
eyes and upon her trembling lis, but
with no voice at her command, no an.
swering sound to the Orchestra's invit.
ing tones, nothing save the moan With
which she finally gave up the struggle
and sank, overcome and annihilated,
behind the falling curtain. Selma Val.
li! He remembered the name well,
and all the talk and criticism which
followed her defeat, and, moved by q
boundless compassion he took her by
the hand. Immediately she added:
AT least that is the name by which
was known to my teachers and eX.
nected to be known in the world. My
real name is Jenny"
Why did she not finish? Why did
she look at him so strangely and drop
her eyes and shake her head? His OK
preston had been one of expectancy,
and all his manner was encouraging.
But she seemed to tremble before him,
and did not speak the name, only muir.
INJURED:
But forgot. l have sworn not to
tell my name. am Selma Valdi with.
out the success which was to make
that name illustrious.'
Poor child" The words left his lips
unconsclously, she looked so desolate
and forsaken. Poor child. your heart
was set Oh success, then. You expect.
ed 70 be u singer
"Ohw
The exclamation spoke volumes. She
had claspcd her hands and was trem
bling now. not with weakness. but
eagcrncss.
II had right to expect it, she de-
clared. Il can sing; | have voice
that has made every master who has
taught me patient and gentle and
eager. The rooms have rung, just
rung with the notes have raised. but
/ cannot face crowd. At the sight
Of faces surging in sea before me
such terror SPizcS me that l want to
Shrek instead of sing; something
catches me by the throat and I am suf
foCated. lost, drowned in flood of
horror, to which | can give no name
and against which it is useless to strug.
gle. Oh, is is Il cruel fate. But | can
sing: listen"
And with sudden impetuosity her
voice scared up in an Italian air. so
sweet, so weird, so thrilling, that he
stood amazed. entranccd, suhdued.
maryellng at the freshness, the power,
the soul-moving quality Of her tones as
well as at the perfection of her man.
ner and the correctness of her inter
pretation. 4 living. breathing genius,
glorying in her own gift, was before
him, and he could but acknowledge it
with delight
She saw his pleasure and rose in dig
nifty and flushed with power. Her
voice left the intricate ways of italian
song and dcepencd into the broader.
deeper channels of German opera. 1t
swcled, it rose it triumphcd, till the
strange and shabby room became an
elysum. and the atmosphere seemed
laden with the breath of gods. A &C.
Mus? She was more, or seemed so
while her voice thrilled and her beauty
flushed, but when all was still again,
and she stood painting and dcpr2catory
before him then she seemed only ten
der child again, craving sympathy and
expecting confidence.
"Marvclous. Marvellous" SO he
spoke, lifted ont. Of himself. first hv
her power and then by her humility.
"And with such gift as this YOU
could be discouraged hy one failure,
overcome by one fright
"Ah." she murmurcd. that is how
can sing to YOU, but l can never sing
like that to the multitude"
Never"
"Ncver."
"But, dear child, you are not sure Of
this. You are very young, and after
some few months of training you will
gam tOuitot hh' iNub a. ihii ouNNNHc'
You cannot help it, with your genius.
God does not give such voice to be
smothercd in obscurity."
"God!"
With what an indescribable intona.
tion she spoke. He looked at her in
amaze.
"Do you believe in God?" she asked,
and her face took Oh strange look, al
most like that of fear
II do" he returned. land so will you.
when you have lived long enough to
realize His goodness"
She shuddered; change came over
her; she no longer looked so young.
Il have not been taught she mur-
mured. Il have not been trained in
church ways and church thinking.
Would it have been better If had?
You look so good; would that nave
made me good, too?"
The old simplicity and childlike man
ner were coming back, but with some.
thing new in it, that, If not comprp.
hended, affected him deeply.
"Arc you not good?" lie smiled. you
have committed one sin. | know. but
that was the result Of frenzy, and Ger.
tainly does not argue bad heart. But
good, as man reclions goodness, you
must be, or your eyes would not be Sc
clear, or your smile so inspiring If
you were happy"
IF were happy?" A fresh change