The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-03-14
By SPECIAL REQUEST.

BY SPECIAL REQUEST.
| Albert Ferrars was dying. As b,
laid there, friendless and alone-sav'
for the kind attention of his landlady
who had been more than mother tt
him-thoughts of happier and bright
er days would keep fitting through
his brain. He had been an operate
singer, a humble member cf the cho
rus. He had fondly hoped that some
day he might become principal, >
but it was not to be. Death wait.
for no man, and Albert Ferrars wa:
dying with all his hopes unfulfilled
all his ambitious projects unrealized
It was the morning of the last day
The dying. man had passed a restles:
night. Suddenly he turned to his
ever watchful nurse, whom he always
addressed as mother
What is today, mother?"
"wednesday, dear; why?''
LET NE look at the paper for mo-
ment," he replied. AS he took it in
his hands his face lighted up with a
beam of pleasure, and he burst forth
Faust, Faust : how glorious p
"What is, dear?' asked his land
lady. Then she remembered that
there was only one thing in the news
paper that had any interest for him
the opera for the evenings perfor.
nance.
Faust, did you say 7" she con-
tinued. That's one of the best,
isn't it z"
Zone of the best, mother ?-the
best, the best beyond compare. All
1 shall never hear it again, never
again.
mo, no, don't say that, dear
don't say that We live in hope"
"Hope No hope for me, mother.
shall never listen to the sweet mu
sic again.
After pause he exclaimed, breath
lessly almost
"Fetch me pen and ink and some
paper. mofhsf-q QUICK, quick.
s'Pen and ink, dear?"
''Yes, quick"
.What are you going to write
about?"
my beloved opera Faust ;"
"Who to, dear1"
Marguerite -
1t was a grand night at the opera.
Inpumerable carriages we're bringing
the elite of society to the most fash
ionable entertainment. Many we'll
known faces in the world of art could
be seen in the crush. The popular
parts of the house had long since been
crammed to the fullest extent by en-
thusiastic amateurs, all anxiously
awaiting the opening bars of the well
known overture.
One need not be told that the opera
was popular one-..'Faust."
But there was double attraction
on this evening. The celebrated
prima donna, Nine. Madeline Lii,
was about to make her re-entree.
She had just driven up to the stage
door with her maid. As they passed
through the little swing door bun
die of letters and kilograms was hand
ed to the latter.
They were carried to the dressing
room and laid upon the little table,
which was already strewn with the
choicest flowers. As the great singer
was in plenty of time, many of the
letters were looked through at once.
All, or nearly all, were from intimate
friends, and of congratulatory ma
ture.
How happy they made the recipi-
ent feel. Her friends were true, and
their good wishes did much to cheer
her, and gave her courage to over
come the great nervousness from
which she always suffered. One let
ter, though, brought tears to her eyes,
1t was as followe:
"Dear Madame-I was once tenor
chorister, and as such have often sung
in the same opera with you. But,
alas I shall never do SO again. ]
am dying. Will you pardon me if
ask a favor-an immense favor-oi
you? 1t is that I may hear your
sweet voice once again before I die
know it is more than Presumption:
on my part, but will madame spare
but short space of her valuable time
to soothe the last moments of one
who could die happy listening to the
sweet notes of her angelic voice?
with dutiful respects, madam,
am, your obedient servant.
"ALBERT FERRARS."
With tears dimming her eyes, the
great singer could only murmur tc
herself:
"How sad Poor boy, poor boy.
Instead Of making her feel more
nervous than she already was, that
letter, with all its sadness, seemed to
put new life into her.
That letter touched her heart
That letter told her there was was ont
who, in his dying hour, could thinl
of nothing but her voice-"her an
gelic voice''-God's precious gift
What better use could she put
to then to soothe the last moments o
him who had asked such a favor II
such delicate manner?
Yes, she would go. Go as soon a
the curtain had fallen at the end o
the opera, and-yes, why not!-g'
as Marguerite, go without changing
her stage costume. 1t was a prett,,
wilma dainty thought.
Marian" she said to her maid, a
she placed the letter of Albert Ferrar
] in the bosom of her dress, "be read