Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-05-19

what ms companion would do. He
had yet 10 learn that Italian storms
If violent, are brief, and that an Ital-
ian nature, if it has strong emotions,
mas also a wonderful selfmastery
upon which it can fall back in time Of
need. Carlo rose promptly, rear
ranged his disordered costume in a
business-like fashion, and smoothed
his hair; then, fearing that Mr.. Brit
ton might regret the words which had
escaped him, said in the nj nner
which had won him so many friends.
DO you mind coming with me 10 the
wingE? like to feel that you are
there"
And before the Englishman had re-
covered from his surprise at this I'M
looked-for composure, Figaro was in
the thick of she noisy group on the
stage. acting better than he lad done
all the evening, and endeavoring to
play the part of peacemaker, and 70
put an end to the alteration.
Mr.. Britton could hardly believe, as
-e watched the 1.-THE, active figure,
now here, now there, that few min
utes ago he had seen the same man
lying in the extremity OF mental and
bodily pain; and when once more in
the interval between the acts he and
Sardoni had to restore the Italian to
his senses, he could no longer keep
his establishment to himself
what in the world can our friend
be made Of? he exclaimed 4 should
not have thought 1t possible for a
man Ct his temperament to persevere
in the teeth of such difficulties
Il suppose pluck and goodness gen.
orally do go together" said Sardoni :.
"and though you may be Donat's
friend, no one who is not in this
troupe can have much idea of what he
really is. He's out and out the best
fellow ever came across.
He seems very much liked by
most of the company"
YES, and with good reason. They
a pply to him one OF their express
siyc italian sayings-'Good as a piece
of bread'-a description which would
not hold for the rest of us"
"He is coming to himself said Mr..
Britton, and there was silence in the
room, broken at last by Carlos voice
How much more, JACKIE he asked,
family.
THE second act" said Sagdoni;
three more scenes for you
l. 1fa h l.
noticed that as the evening advanced
he became less and less willing to
speak an unnecessary word.
The opera. which had seemed to all
the singers interminable, did at length
end. and with ii the last remains OF
| Carlos strength More dead than
alive he was carried to Mr. Britton' S
brougham, which had been ordered
round to the stage door, and leaving
the kindly Englishman 10 see him
safely home. saldoni hurried off in
search Of a doctor.
Carlo had fancied that if only he
could get through The opera he should
be perfectly happy but when his work
was really dore he was suffering too
acutely to be aple to bestow a
thought on the future or on Anita,
Too faint TO speak. he allowed Mr.
Britton to help him up to his room,
lever troubling himself to consider
the impression that No. 60 would make
on the rich ship-builder The miser-
able little place was to him now a
haven of rest, and there was deep re-
lief in the consciousness that he could
now suffer in peace, that no call-boy
would rap at this door that there
was no longer the horrible necessity
of acting and singing before a criti-
cal audience. But to Mr. Britton that
dismal little attic was the climax of
the evening. It's total lack OF comfort
appalled, him, and when he had left
the patient to the care of Sardoni and
the doctor ne drove home, vowing
that Carlo should be moved to Merle
| bank the very next day.
To be continued.