Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-14

to the close of her hVe years study.
She had given her last song and in the act
of getting into her cloak to get back to her rooms,
when she waylad by her old professor. He
patted her on the shoulder afectOnately "You have
done spendidly- -splenddly. grand career is be-
fore you, - he told her
Idalia took the beautifully shaped hand from her
shoulder and pressed her lips upon it. cit is all due
to your care, - she said.
''Not all, the old man protested. ''YOu have
worked, and you favored by the gods you have
that divine gift that few possessa voice of the first
quality. You should be happy woman-a happy
woman, indeed
"Ah!"
The old professor did not know whether her reply
exclamation of gadness or sorrow; it might
have been either, but to him it sounded like sigh.
Idalia bade him goodnight, and was about to pass
out of the anteroom when once more her progress
stopped.
''Miss Heathcote9" inquired a tall smart looking
man, he looked into the luminous eyes of the girl
EYES,, - answered Idalia, encouragingly.
81 am commissioned to make you offer-a very
1attering one, | assure you. l am concert agent
Indeed - cried Idalia unable to prevent flush
of pleasure from mantling her cheek she realized
the honor that hers, that this noted company
actually making her-an unknown singer-a generous
offer for her services. Assuring the agent that she
would at consider his proposal, she passed out
of the academy and on to Alexandra house.
Awaiting her in her room was yet another stroke of
fortune in the shape of agent from an operate
company, with agreement already prepared, should
Miss Heathcote favoraby consider his suggestion of
becoming a member of that distinguished body of
artists.
DiSmsSing this lmportunate visitor with the same
answer she had given to her former one Idaa threw
herself into a chair and wept not quietly but tenn
pestuously though her heart breaking and life
could never again bring to her a thrill of joy.
The day following her debut, made before
sembly of judges and professors, she accepted the
offer made her by the agent representing the opera
company and, within week, marvellous tull-length
portrait of herself adorned all the advertising walls in
and around London.
Her first public appearance was one no one con-
cerned could forget; her second was even
rkah1 md baf0 Sha ad discovered
month she the idol of the people, who loved to
talk of her by her baptsmal name. To everybody she
''Idalia; it a name that caught on, and
presently adopted by both the newspapers and
the advertisers.
There was no doubt now that fame, a lasting
dying fame, would be hers-that thing she had once
much wanted-had so yearned for Now the knowl-
edge that it had come did not cause her an extra heart
beat.
Still she experienced thrill in going before
audience, for always there the possibility of one
pair of eyes-eyes that she had not for five long
years-being present amongst those thousands of
others that eagerly followed her every movement
And the same wild hope caused her to the
cards that accompanied the bouquets of magnificent
flowers that filed her rooms wherever she sang But,
her hopes always proving ilusory, of those pa
thetc trils would break the audience that would
make them catch their breath in sob, and that made
all the world join in proclaming Idalia the greatest
and most sympathetic singer of the age.
But although Idaa could not the face she
eagerly sought it there the dark eyes following
her to and fro with hunger the years had but ac-
centuated.
THE tall, lean featured who occupied a seat
1 in the furthermost corner of the huge building
shrank still closer against the wall the
cited audience demanded a seventh encore from the
singer. For under no possible consideration must
ldalia see him now, ever again; not that it was
likely she would recognize him after long time
and so many changes, especially she certainly
would not wish to he reminded of his existence
The man s lip cured his thoughts flew back to
those years spent in little Devonshire village, when
this woman that was magnetzing a Covent gar
den audience had been school mistress employed by
his own father-the vicar He recalled the night on
which she had first come under his notice; it
while she had been singing the song she