Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-06-16
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CHAPTER VIII-(Continued.)

There's Mr. 6aIcomz over there"
Zelda remarked. casually. He sings
divinely, doesn't he? Don't you think
he sings divinely?" and she looked at
Morris suddenly, with provoking air
of gravity.
I'm sure he was a De Reszke in
some former incarnation" said Morris,
savagely.
That was just what I was thinking,
only I hadn't the words TO express ii"
said Zelda, with a mockery Of joy at
finding they were in accord.
I'm glad then, that we can agree
about something, even when we're both
undoubtedly wrong"
L don't like TO think that I can be
wrong" said Zelda. And it isn't in
the least battering for you to suggest
such thing. ! shall have to speak TO
my Uncle Rodney about you"
ANY interest you may take in me
will be appreciated"
Jack had crossed the room, giving
what he called the cheering jolly 20
several young women on the way, and
he turned quickly:
At your service, Miss Cameron
and he bowed impressively-
Mr. Leighton is crazy about your
singing. He is just waiting for a
chance to congratulate you. But he's
very unhappy tonight. Words fail
him And she shook her head and
looked into BaIcomb's grinning face as
though this were a great grief between
them.
What kind of a jolly is thisE I say,
Morris, you look like first and second
grave digger done into one. We're not
playing Hamlet now. But I can tell
you. Miss Cameron, that when Brother
LeighJon-he belongs to my frat hence
the brother-did Hamlet over at our
dear old alma mater, the gloom that
settled down on that township could
have been cut up into badges Of
mourning enough to have supplied
Spain through her little affair with
these States. That's Walt Whitman
these States. Do you know, I was
OpheIia to his Hamlet, and if I do say
it myself, I was a sweet thing in Ophe-
las"
7 don't doubt you were, Mr.. Bal
comb said Zelda.
There was just one thing lacking
in your impersonation," declared
Leighton; you ought to have been
drowned in the first scene of the first
act to have made it perfect"
No, violence, gentlemen, I beg of
you!" And Zelda hurried across the
room to where Herr Schmidt was as
sembling the principals.
Say. that girl has got the art Of
strinsing down fine. She seems 20
have YOU going all right. You look like
twenty-nire cents at a thirty cent bar
gain counter. But you take it too hard.
I wish she'd string me! They're never
so much interested as when they throw
you on your face and give you the
merry ira la. l tell you I've had ex,
perienee with the sex all right, and
know"
Yes l remember your firtations
with the girls that waited on table at
the college boarding house. You had
very cheering way with them"
Balcomb's eyes were running rest
lessIy over the groups of young peo-
pie He was appraising and fixing
them in his mind as he talked. His
JOY in being among them-these rep
resentative young people of the city
whose names he knew we'll from Ions
and diligent perusal of the personal
and society column Of the daily pa
pers-amused Leighton; but the fell
lows self satisfaction irritated him.
too.
The chorus had been drilled apart
and this was the first time Morris had
heard the principals sing. He had
joined the chorus under protest, but
Mrs Carr had insisted, and when he
learned that Zelda was to be the star
it had not been difficult to comply.
She began now one Of her songs.
When the last notes died away, Bal
comb stepped out at the directors nod
and began the answering song. Bal
comb usually amused Morris; but the
fellow struck upon him discordantly.
Zelda was laughing at Balcomb's an
tics as he began to sing with fervor
and a real sense of the dramatic re-
quirements. As he neared the end,
where Zelda and he sang together the
duet Sat ended the first half of the
opera Zelda put up her hands, and he
took them, gazing into her eyes with
Tine lover-like air. Their voices soar
ed into the climax without a break
while the director threw himself into
strange contortions as he struck the
last bars leading to the high note
which they gained and held perfectly
The dress rehearsal was fixed for the
next night
1t simply can't fall" declared Mrs
Carr to Leighton Miss Cameron
could carry it alone if every one else
should break down"
That is altogether true" said Nor
ris. lie was glaring at BaIcomb. Whose
joy in being a member of the cast was
hard to bear.