The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1907-03-02
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Madame Midas
BY FersuS Hume
CHAPTER XXIII.-(Continued.)
BY FerSt1r Hume


Kitty turned out to be a perfect treas
ure, as her pretty face and charming
voice soon made her a favorite, and when
in burlesque she played Princess to Fan
ny Wopples' Prince there was sure to be
q crowded house and lots of applause.
Kitty's voice was clear and sweet as a
lark's, and her execution something won
derful, so Mr.. Wopples christened her the
Australian Nightingale, and caused her to
be so advertised in the papers. Moreover,
her dainty appearance carried the audi
ence irresistibly away, and had Fanny
Wopples not been really good girl she
would have been jealous of the success
achieved by the newcomer.
Next year." said Mr.. WOpples, at
supper which they had to celebrate the
success of their tour, well have a thea
ter in Melbourne, and I'll make it the
favorite house of the city, see If don't.
1t seemed, therefore, as though Kitty
had found her vocation, and would de-
yelop into an operate star, but fate in
tervened, and Miss Marchurst retired
from the stage, which she had adorned SO
much. This was due to Madame Midas,
who, driving down Collins street one day,
saw Kitty at the corner walking with
Fanny Wopples. She Immediately stop
ped her carriage, and, alighting therefrom,
went straight up to the girl, who, turning
and seeing her for the first time, grew
deadly pale.
kitty, my DEAR" said Madame, grave
", Il have been looking for you yainly
for year-but l have found you at
last"
Kitty's breast was full of conflicting
emotions; she thought that Madame knew
all about her having married Nandeloup
and that she would speak severely to her.
Mrs. Villiers' next words, however, reas-
sured her.
You left Ballarat to go on the stage,
did you not?' she said kindly, looking at
the girl; why did you not come to me!
you knew l was always your friend
"Yes, Madame" said Kitty, putting out
her hand and averting her head, Il would
have come to you, but l thought you
would stop me from going"
MY dear child" replied Madame, Il
thought you knew me better than that /;
what theater are you at?'
$
had been staring at this grave, handsome
ly dressed lady who had alighted from
such a swell carriage; I'VE are the Nop-
pies Family"
% said Mrs. Villiers, thinking Il
remember you were UP at Ballarat last
year. Well, Kitty, will you and your
friend drive down to st. Kilda with me,
and I'll show you my new houseT
Kitty would have refused, for she was
afraid Madame Midas would perhaps send
her back to her father, but the appealing
looks of Fanny Wopples, who had never
ridden in a carriage in her life, and was
dying to do so, decided her to accept. 50
they stepped into the carriage and Mrs.
Villiers told the coachman to drive home.
but how is it," asked Madame, who
believed her fully, that l could not find
your
Because I was up the country all the
time" replied Kitty quickly, and OF
course did not act under my real name"
you would not like to go back to your
father, | suppose" suggested Madame.
NO." she answered, determinedly; I'm
on the stage now, and l mean to stick
to it,
but why not stay with me, my dear?"
said Mrs. Villiers, looking at her; Il am
a lonely woman, as you know, and if you
come to me l will treat you as daugh-
ter.
"Oh ! how good you are" cried the girl
in a revulsion of feeling, falling on her
friends neck ''but indeed l cannot leave
the stage-Im too fond of it,"
Madame sighed and gave up the argu-
ment for a time, then showed the two
girls all over the house, and after they
had dinner with her she sent them back
to town in her carriage, with strict injunc-
tions to Kitty to come down next day
and bring Mr.. Wopples with her.
wopples saw Madame next day, and a
long talk ensued, which ended in Kitty
agreeing to stay six months with Mrs. Viii
liers, and then, if she still wished to con-
sinue on the stage, she was to go to Mr..
Wopples. On the other hand, in consid-
Grafton Of Wopples losing the services of
Kitty, Madame promised that next year
she would give him sufficient money to
start theater in Melbourne. So both
parted mutually satisfied. Kitty made
presents to all the family, who were very
sorry to part with her, and then took UP
her abode with Mrs. Villiers, as a kind of
adopted daughter, and was quite prepared
to play her part In the comedy Of fash
ION.
CHAPTER XIV.