Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-02-02

fho person
Snihkin sat on the window-ledge in the wintry sun
shine, grooming his damaged head
Kelensen wrapped about In his beautiful red robe,
was pacing up and down the rooms, pausing now and
then at the piano to strike few chords and all the
while singing tremendous basso roles Often he came
to the window seemingly to look at my house,
and once catching sight of me, he waved his hand
in friendly fashion, turning away at once to go on
with his study. The more thought Of It, the more
it seemed to me that had heard the name Hendrix
Kelensen before. have kept little track or musical
matters in late years l knew Bob Tradigan to be
fond of those things, however foolish as It may seem
in a man of his years and this morning called him
by telephone at the Presbyterian Hospital and SAID
"Tradigan, have you ever heard of an opera singer
named Hendrix Kelensen?
What? Keensen? Man alive, you do not mean to
say have heard Of the great Keiensen! Why
the world has never known such voice: heard him
early in the week in Aida, and he sings again on
Friday. But why do you ask?"
ooh, find that he is my neighbor. and some cir
cumstances which cannot go into now have caused
me to become greatly interested in him. Have you
ever heard anything concerning him that was out OF
the ordinary"
well really nothing more than vague gossip
There has always been speculation to why there
so few roles that he would sing. have noticed
that he seldom sits down when singing
Also, he is eccentric in that he keeps entirely to
himself lunches dimes out and never leaves
New York for concert work or tours. know from
my personal acquaintance with her that Madame Men,
tona has been in love with him for two seasons, yet
he her anywhere but on the stage or about
the opera house. though he writes her the most beau
tiful letters every day She is dear creature one
of the sweetest of women, and he apparently has nc
ties In the world to prevent his marriage TO one
whom he might love. Certainly his old mother, who
lives in the little village of Ryndam Holland would
not constitute obstacle His story as have heard
II, is that when a lad, his mother having been
left widow and he the only child, he left home and
went to sea- On one of his voyages somewhere in
Australia his letters and remttances ceased. Later
she heard his ship had been wrecked and she gave
him up for dead. After two years had passed. there
came letter from San Francisco with good round
sum In 1t and bearing the news that Hermann Gross
the late manager had heard him singing one day
In barber shop where he was the cashier had said
that he naturally great singer and after year
or two of study could go into opera. He has been
singing three years now, and he and Gross the
closest of friends TIL the latter died last year Mad.
anne Mentona has told of the visit which she paid
to the mother In Ryndam in the summer. Frau
Kelensen has a fine house bought from her sons
earnings and is very proud and happy, only she
grieves deeply that Hendrix will never visit her.
Since you interested. Siddons, why not go with
me and hear him when next he sings? think 1t is
Fgday night"
had a message from Tradigan later and we went
Madame Mentona was not in the cast that night
Mrs Trsdigan had asked her TO join the party in
box. OF course Kelensen was almost the sole topic
of the conversation.
Throughout the evening whenever he was on the
stage oppressed with feeling of uncertainty
and anxiety which could not altogether analyze.
His singing was superb his dramatic action won.
most peculiar way. Just what it was l could not
tell.
After the opera Mrs Tradigan Joined by Madame
Mentona. sent him line inviting him to supper With
u.s. but he declined in most deferentia reply There
two sentences of his note which have stuck in
my mind and have left all the deeper impression in
view Of what know:
This would have been one of the pleasures for
which would yield any all of the few things in
my life which are worth while, but arm denied It.
l go to mine own place but I leave my thoughts to
attend you, and If you could but read them all |
sure you would forgive me, and realize my profound
gratitude"
Every little thing about him was family tinged
with some element of mystery. and some things which
knew black with It! What the riddle
the two voices the two chairs his exclusveness, his
sadness his odd mannerisms that terrible face that
awful cry
reached home that night about one o'clock and
was letting myself In quietly after seeing that the
shades were drawn. when something impeed me to
look back Keensen was Just raising the shade.
could see entirely through the lighted rooms Filled
with curiosity, left my stoop and walked nearer
concealing myself in deep shadow.
He standing with his hand on the cord Of the
shade looking out when suddenly he seemed smitten
with the most terrible commissions. | got but one
glance for he contrived to drag down the shade
Again that horrible cry broke forth on the night
Stiffness sounding along the deserted streetand II
it struck me with q chill when first heard It. now
the effect trebled My hair tingled my flesh crept
my bones and shuddered with unexplainable
horror.
Within the light was extinguished and perfect
babble going on. The voice of Kelensen was very
easily distinguished but not more so than the iran
tic querulous thin whine and chatter OF the other
Of the terrible unknown Thing. They were quarrel
ing violently and Kelsnsen was uttering commands:
The Thing was refusing to obey Now the awful
twisted ana tossing arms showed at the window
then l Kelensen, and instantly some mighty
power dragged both down and out OF sight behind the
shade
I darted from my hidingplace and about to
hammer on the door when stopped to consider
What could have happened The more resolved
the matter in my mind the more profound panic
took possession of and, after about ten minutes
of standing there in the light suddenly rushed
madly across the street into my house, shut and
bolted the door behind me- and when went to bed
It with pistol lying on a chair beside my
pillow.
When awoke after bad night Kelensen, as usual
was pacing up and down. singing blithey, stopping
now and then at the piano. There was not sign
about him about the place Of the tragic crisis OF
the night before.
This day after the singer had left the house,
saw old Peter Hahn dart into the rooms and look
hurriedly about Fully halfscore Of patients were
waiting for me- but left them to their own devices
and went over
Old Peter met in the hall
!. "See! See!" he exclaimed franticaly. Look for
Nyourself He has just gone out alone and yet a mo-
ment ago two were In here One should be here
and there is none-ach, there is none"
In his hand he holding two unsealed letters,
nervously pulling the enclosures from the envelopes.
One saw written In Chinese and from 1t New
York draft futtered out and fell to the floor.
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