El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-04-24
A short Story.

chair and led her visitor into the draw
| ing room. They were soon chatting
! like old friends
What amuses me most" said Vim
] cent?" is that should find you dressed
/ like a maid
well. when 7 have no other work to
! Go love to do homework and cook for
! my mother and sister" she said, I am
| really not a bad cook"
! And you are right, for to be a true
/ artist woman must first all be true
/ woman"
He left and Julia once more put on
! her apron, when the doorbel rang
This time I am not going to open
l it myself" she thought. Emma the
/ front door bell, I am not at home to
/ anybody"
The maid opened the door and a
! young man walked in despite her pro-
/ tests.
Not at home. That is not meant
to apply TO me Emma 7 must talk
to Miss Julia Immediately. but per-
haps you don't remember my name"
oh, yes 7 do. Baron Dietenfeld.''
Then hurry and tell her I am here
like a good girl"
Two minutes later Julia came in.
GU were told baron. that was
not at home to any one"
She sat down on the stool before the
piano and opened a book OF music.
so am baron now" he said.
though it is several weeks since was
promoted TO KOnrad."
Yes but I don't like it. Things
must be as they were before. You must
admit II is better so, baron"
Not at all, Julia Nothing in the
world could make me see that"
why not. baron? You have lived
without me for 50 years and you viii
find II very easy to 90 on living
without me What am I in your life?
nothing but an episode. Having
courted hghbOrn and aristOcratic ladies
Tor years 1t now amuses YOU to court
an artist, that is all"
and l. baron. can never be anything to
each other"
He turned quite pale
DO YOU really mean that. Julia
yours"
And why? You must tell me the
reason, Julia Am 7 nothing absO-
Iutely nothing to you2 You must tell
The truth-weT. 7 confess I an
very fond OF you, KOnrad,-"
I do not understand you. Julia.
You are fond of me and I love you.
what is there then TO keep US apart7
/ am absolutely Independent and ex-
cept for Lucia, 7 am alone in the
loves you through my description or
lula shook her head.
No, 1 will tell YOU frankly what
STANDS between US If you had learned
10 know me as an ordinary girl in her
home, should have been so happy to
pc yours But am a singer and IL is
the singer you love. You do not love
poor Julia. but the gay Rosina, the
unhappy Gilda. the lovely Julia. the
dreaming Senta- You do not see me
as really am but merely through
my art When the day comes and il
comes in every marriage, when YOU see
am only an ordinary human being
with all the ordinary short cOmngs
and faults. no longer in the glare OF
the foothghts- then your love will dis
appear and we shall both be very un-
happy 1t is this I want to avoid Just
because 1 love you as I do"
he tried to interrupt her, but she
We will have plenty Of chances to
TAX TINS over I cannot do il today.
Emotion is bad for the voice Leave me /
now my friend and come back the { "
after tomorrow. Tomorrow shall
sing Michaela in Carmen. Shall you I
be in the Opera?''
itor''
We'll, then au revoir."
On the stage singers and chorus
people, mechanics and stage hands. /
smugglerS. gypsieS. women and chill |
dren were talking and mingling.
The decorations, a wild canyon in I
the mountains. had already been set.
the leader gave a few final instructions 1
ana the third act of Carmen" was !
about to begin.
Julia Berger walked slowly towards /
the curtain
He was. not here during the first
act. she said TO herself. that is the
first time in many months He has
always Deen here when I have been !
singing. But that is so. he said he
expected visitor" She looked through {
the little peep hole in the curtain at
the audience below.
"A very good house" said her COL /
league, Escamillo; there is even some
body in the royal box
Julia however looked only at the
Ter hn
.Caramba.' she suddenly exclaimed |
and stepped back quickly.
W hat IS the matter. asked Es-
camille Something extraordinary !
must have happened to change YOU. !
who are always so calm, into a real :
Spaniard."
esES o Nothing at all"
There he was sitting way back in his (
box where nobody could see him ex- I
cept from the stage. Next to him sat 1
a young woman with whom he talked 1
eagerly Suddenly he bent over and
actually kissed her.
A bell rang and everyone left the
stage as the overture began. Julia felt
as II about to faint as she walked
toward hcr room Her great scene"
was to come a little later Would she
De able to sing tonight She did not
know. but she did know that she
could not give him up. This was clear
to her the moment she saw another
woman at his side
w nile FraSQulta and Mercedes lay
up The cards and Carmen read in them
ne message Of her death. Julia re-
covered her calmness. She was once ,
more the great singer and she felt II
more than ever tonight She had never
been so conscious OF her divine powers
and she knew she would sing as never
before.
Her great aria over. the applause that | |
shook the building. did not make her I
eel happier What did those people ]
'uI Ihere know about sufferings?
FINALLY reaching home il was nearly
daylight before she was able to fall /
.Sleep.
II was bright day when she awoke.
What time is il. Emma 90 she asked I
Ter maid.
HALF past ten
To-day 1 am not at home to any