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

forehand. Count Carossa and his wife
are in the theater."
An exclamation of wonder and dis
" escaped Carlo. He began to
pace the room in terrible agitation.
from me, Val?" said sardoni. re-
proachfully. And what in Heavens
ma ,, can have made any woman for
sake a man like your"
Carlo turned upo. him with fierce
gesture.
mot one word aga 'st herl" he
cried. "She was free -uit, freel
And what am to deserve her, indeed?
"a stage-singer with a furnished
reputation"
What! You think, then. it was
that SANDER" calculated Sardoni. I'M
derstanding better why Carlo had
kept all from him during this month.
Il don't know.-I can't tell! For
Gods sake, Jack. don't talk, or think
shall go mad!"
Again he walked to and fro, strug-
Cling with the thoughts which rushed
in wild confusion through his brain.
Why did Francesca come to hear him
sing? 1t was so altogether unlike her
to do so under the circumstances.
Had she come to prove her indiffer-
ence?-or did she still care for him,
and snatch at this chance Of seeing
him?-or was she too much in awe OF
her husband 10 decline to go TO the
theater? Each thought seemed to
him almost equally intolerable. But
time was passing, and he must some
how manage 10 get himself in hand.
AS he walked he prayed. and as he
prayed he became once more willing
to face whatever was sent. For he
wasted no time in vain questionings
as to why this particular trouble
should have come TO him, and how it
could possibly work for the general
good. His strength lay in habit OF
taking even the smaller details of life
as Gods ordering, and in a firm con-
viction that no man is ever set to do
anything that is beyond his strength.
Francesca had married Count Ca
rossa. That being so, he must and
could learn to bear the thought.
Nothing was impossibley
Forgive me, dear old fellow. for
speaking sharply" he said, turning
back to Sardoni. After all, Jack,
shall know now if she is happy or not;
and If all is we'll with her, why moth
ing else matters much"
Sardonl bit his lip; when he could
see clearly again he found that Carlo
was putting on his Spanizh hat, and
preparing to go to the wings. He
went with him choosing position
from which he could watch his
friends entrance and reception.
The part of Escamillo, though
small, suited him admirably, nor could
any scene have been better chosen for
his temperance in Italy than the pic
turesque entry of the bull-fghter.
Sardoni wondered greatly how the
Contessa Carossa felt down there in
the stalls, as she watched with the
rest the entrance of the torch-light
procession, and saw the crowd group
itself and look expectantly toward the
back of the stage. till. amid cho-
rus of "Hurrah for brave Escamlllo!"
the slight, graceful figure in toreador
costume advanced through a little
lane OF torches.
Carlos fame had preceded him, and
the Genoese audience greetd him
warmly; he toik off his black velvet
hat and bowed with the mingled dig
nifty and simplicity of manner which
made him at once revered and loved
by so many Then, quickly turning
from the homage of the audience to
the business of his part, and resuming
he drained the wine-cup handed to
him, tossed it across the stage to one
of the chorus, and broke forth into
the well-kuown toreador song.
Ills beautiful voice, the vigor OF his
acting, the imaginative power con-
veyed by each look and gesture, held
the audience spe,l-hound, and Sar
doni marveled how. under the circum-
stances, he could sing the refrain of
Bear thou in mind. when combat
thee elates,
Two bright eyes fondly regard,
For thee a fond heart waits, Torea-
dor"
At the close of the first verse the
theater rang with shouts of "Bravo."
And then once again came the graphic
description of the bull-fight, till, my
mere gesture and expression, he
brought the whole scene wildly be-
fore the audience. Most of them had
heard Carmen" before, and had seen
the baritone more or less energetic
ally flap his red flag But Carlo actu-
ally made them feel the suspense and
excitement of the real contest. He
surpassed himself. and when once
more the refrain had been sung the
whole house rose. and with frantic
cheering gave the new baritone an
ovation. Not one of Tire applauders