Putnam patriot., 1910-08-26
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~TelI- rae an ahant veurse.r..

tlFt Ike you AltiSA AiaNG SNFNtAFffts Gretchen hlushed .'Yes. highness. am 10 be married soon. He is q vint- ner would not trade him for your king, hlehneSs." with spice of bold ness
 Her highnesS dsd net take offense. Rather she liked this fransness IL was taste ef the old days when she herself could have chosen yintner and married him wiih none to say her nay. Shg. surrendered to impulse,
 Gretchen. l de not think l shall marry the King of Iugendbeit."
 Gretchen grew red with pride
 "You love some one else. highnessr'
 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 trin- ket from her neck and laid 1t in Gretch- ems hand
 of my mot her. whom l do not recollect having ever seen. l 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 it. 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 it.
 "So you love musieY" picking up the safer thread.
 An. yes. highness."
 "I will give you an opera ticket for the season. How can 1 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 place.
 For the man who Is to become your husband.'
 "Yes. highness.'
 You shall have it 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 highness 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
 T have brought you prima donna. Herr Direktor." pointing to Gretchen.
 Herr Direktor showed his teeth.
 What shall she sing in. your high ness? We are rehearsing The Bohe- milan Girl.'" he tested.
 The chorus and singers on the little stage exchanged smiles.
 '.I want your first vioiin," said her highness.
 "Anton.'
 4 youth stood up in the orchestral pit
 .Now. your highness." said the herr direktor.
 "Try her voice"
 And the herr direktor saw that she was not smiling. He bade the violin list to draw his bow over single note.
 "Imitate it. Gretchen" commanded her highness, "and don't be afraid
 Gretchen lifted her voice. It was sweeter and mellower than the violin.
 Again" the herr direktor cried.
 Without apparent effort Gretchen passed from one note to another. now high. now low. or strong or soft; triil. run. The violinist of his own accord began the jewel song from Faust" Gretchen did not know the words. but she carried the melody without mishap. And then "I Dreamt Dwelt In Marble Halls" This song she knew word for word. and. ah. she sang 1t with strange and haunting ten Gerness. One by one the musicians dropped their instruments to their knees. All realized that a great voice was being tried before them. The herr iirekfor struck his music stand sharp ly.
 our nignness ms pidyeu a une Jsst this day. Where does madame your guest sing-in Berlin or viennaT'
 Tn neither" answered her highness. "She lives in Dreiberg. and till this morning l never saw her before"
 The herr direktor stared blankly from her highness to Gretchen and back to her highness again. Then he grasped IL. Here was one of those moments when the gods make gifts to mortals.
 You have great voice, fraulein- shall teach ys.. l shall make you great singer"
 But Gretchen never became prima donna. There was something different on the knees of the gods.