Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-08-04

singer torturins effort. a mockery al
most intolerable; or dreamed how his
heart was aching as he stood there
acknowledging their thanks. Not
TIL the end did he dare look toward
the place where they had told him
francesca was sitting; but, as he
stood close TO the footlights, bowling
mis- acknowledgements, he Ventured
ono keen, searching glance; he would,
at least, learn If she looked well and
happy, would try 10 gauge the counts
character.
But he had expected too much OF
himself; all was confusion; he could
only see that the count avs frantic
ally applauding him, and that Fran
cesca's eyes were shining and her
cheeks glowing. After that brief
glance, the whole house swan before
him, and the only thing for him to do
was to get through, as quickly rs
might be, his brief dialogue with Car
men, and march OF amid the greetings
OF his comrades, while the orhcesra
once more played the toreador air.
The moment ne was behind the scenes,
his brisk, blithe step changed; there
was sort Of relief in being able to re-
lax the strain he had put on himself,
the news of Francesca's marriage,
had he felt such an overwhelming
sense OF loss and loneliness as now.
when he had actually seen her sitting
beside her husband in the theater
His first impulse was to lock himself
into his dressing-room, but some
thing made him hesitate; If he were
alone, he should think, and if he
thought, he should be lost; the only
chance of his being able to keep his
faculties clear for the rest of the OPP
era, lay in avoiding thought as far as
possible. After a minute, he forced
himself to 60 TO the greenroom and to
join in the conversation, and there he
remained through the interval, till the
call-boy summoned him again. and
Sebastiana handed him a striped
scarf instead of the red one. Flinging
it across his shoulder, he stepped on
TO the stage changed himself with an
effort into the toreador with his care
less geniality, received with cool in
difference Don Jose's Indignation, and,
when challenged to fight gave a mas
terly representation of southern pas
sion, springing like a tiger on his foe,
and with drawn knife, fighting des-
perately. All was speedily over, and
again ne waited behind the scenes 70
sing the refrain of the toreador song
in the distance.
You look tired. Donati," remarked
CaffTeri. "Confoundedly hot, isn't
it,"
He assented, though all the time he
was shivering from head to foot It
was doubly hard 70 sing those words
in cold blood off the stage. But he
got through them somehow, and,
leaning YEARLY against the wall of the
passage, waited till the cries of DO
NATL" rose to roar and then he
pulled himself together, crossed the
stage. and stepped out before the cur
tain to accept the homage which just
then meant to him so little.
What must be borne can be
borne, he said to himself again and
again; and at least Francesca is
happy"
And now the end of the opera was
drawing near, and his part was al
most over. Mia watched him with
ming ed wonder and sympathy as
they waited side by side for their last
entrance; he was grave and silent,
and the chorus from the stage of
Viva Escamillo" Jared upon him
she fancied. yet, though the wistful
look in his eyes told plainly of his
trouble, he was still ready as usual to
think of other people.
There is horrible draught here!"
he exclaimed-"you will ttke cold,
Nita."
And so saying, he wrapped his red
scarf round her white shoulders,
snatching II off again adroitly when
they advanced ON the stage. Some
how she had never felt so near to
him as at that minute. She knew so
wei what it was that made him trem-
Bile as, with his arms round hei. he
sang the pathetic little farewell OF the
toreador-knew so we'll what it cost
him to utter the words. IF thou lowest
me. Carmen, thou shalt smile by and
by: thou shalt be proud of me"
Together they were just singing
their mutua, avowal of love. the house
was hushed to catch the exquisitely- !
blended voices in the last soft repeti-
ton of yes, love thee" when from
the gallery there rose a hoarse cry
the most terrible cry that can be
raised in any great gathering-the cry
of "Fire!"
Few of the golden opportunities we