Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-09-30

hluS, ulSbucoSp WIN q cP'So "a Oo'o
ness
| Her highness did not take offenSe.
| Rather she liked this frankness. 1t
was a taste OF the old days when she
herself could have chosen vintner
and married him with none TO say her
nav. She surrendered to impulse.
Gretchen. / do not think i shall
marry the king of Jugendheit."
Gretchen grew red with pride.
You love some one else, highneSS|
Her highness did not blush.
You must not ask questions like
that. Gretchen"
This was not understandable to
Gretchen, but locket the princess
wore pleased her eye. Her highness.
observing her interest. slipped the trim
ket from her neck and laid It In Crotch
ems hand
"Open it," she said 1T is a picture
of my mother. whom l do not recollect
having ever seen. will open 1t for
you" Click.
Gretchen sighed deeply. To have had
a mother SO fair and pretty! She
hadn't an idea how her own mother
had looked. Indeed. being sensible
and not given much to cOnjuring. she
had rarely bothered her head about 1t.
Still. as she gazed at this portrait the
sense Of her isolation and loneliness
drew down upon her. and she in her
turn sought the flowers and saw them
not. After awhile she closed the lock-
ct and returned 1t.
$50 you love muster picking up the
safer thread.
"Ah. yes. highness."
II will give you an opera ticket for
the season. How can reward you for
bringing this message? Don't have
any false pride. Ask for something"
"Well. then. highness. give me an
order on the grand dukes head vintner
for q place"
"For the man who Is to become your
husbandY
Eyes, highness"
"You shall have 1t tomorrow. Now.
come with me. am going to take you
to Herr Ernst. He Is the direktor OF
the opera. He rehearses in the court
theater this morning."
Gretchen followed the princess. As
her highncss entered the Bijou thea
ter the herr direktor stopped the mu-
sic. In the little gallery which served
as the royal box sat several ladies' and
gentlemen Of the court. the grand duke
being among them.
II have brought you a prima donna.
Herr DirektOr." pointing to Gretchen.
Herr DirektOr showed his teeth.
"What shall she sing In. your high
ness? We afe rehearsing The Bohe-
milan Girl" he TESTED.
The chorus and singers on the little
stage exchanged smiles.
II want your first VIOLIN" said her
lhighness
"Antou"
4 youth stood up In the orchestral
pit.
Nov. your hishness." said the herr
IdirektOr.
'"rry her voice.
And the herr direktor saw that she
was not smiling. He babe the violin
list to draw his bow over single note.
"Imitate II. Gretchen" commanded
her highness. land don't be afraid"
Gretchen lifted her voice. 1t was
lsweeter and mellower than the violin.
Again. the herr direktor cried.
Without apparent effort Gretchen
Ipassed from one note to another, now
high. now low. or strong or soft: q
trill. a run. The violinist Of his own
Iaccord began the jewel song from
"Faust." Gretchen did not know the
words. but she carried the melody
without mishap. And then Il Dreamt
4 Dwelt In Marble Halls" This song
she knew word for word. and. ali. she
sang It with strange and haunting ten
tderness. One by one the musicians
dropped their instruments to their
knees. All realized that a great voice
was being tried before them. The herr
direktor struck bis music stand sharp
~.
"Your hishness has played nne Jest
this day. Where does madame your
guest sing-in Berlin or Vienna?'
I'm neither" answered her highness.
"She lives In Dreiberg. and till this
morning ! never saw her before"
The herr direktor stared blankly
from her hi.hness to Gretchen and
back to her hlyhness agaiL. Then he
Uaspcd II Here was one Of those
moments when the gods make gifts to
m0rtals.
"You have a great voice. fraulein. ]
shall teach you. ! shall make you Q
great singer"
But Gretchen never became a prima
ionna. There was something different
N the knees Of the gods.
i IN lyrER VIZ