Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-05-14
A SINGER With
TWO VOICES
Episode In the Life OF an
Opera Manager.

A girl with brown eyes and comely
face and figure was admitted.
you are he asked.
"Leonaretta Traver."
You sing
Soprano"
After Il trial of her voice she was
engaged.
Leonaretta sang so well that she was
soon cast for one of the inferior parts.
At the first rehearsal after the assign
ment she astonished the manager by
singing a deep contralto. Few women
could reach the notes she struck.
whats the matter with your voice?"
asked the manager astonished.
Don't know, sir"
you have been singing soprano for
two weeks and now you have bloomed
into a contralto."
Sometimes my voice is much lower
than at Others"
"Your part isn't written for a con
tralto. I'll have to change it or change
you. I don't want to do either"
II may be able to sing soprano when
l go on in costume
The manager studied the matter,
looking the while at the girl curiously.
1t was a very strange case.
Leonaretta sang contralto till the
evening of the first performance. when
she came to the theater looking pale
and thin.
"By Jove." said the manager. you
look as if you'd been keelhauled! l hope
there's no new voice to provide for"
'I've had a sick spell,'' replied the
girl. II think my natural voice has
ONE back"
"What?'
Il shall sing soprano tonight"
The manager hurried off to attend to
another matter. but his mind was on
the girl and this remarkable change Of
voice. When Leonaretta went on she
sang soprano like a bird and so delight
ed the audience that the manager was
delighted also and cast her for Il high
er part at the next performance.
One morning Leonaretta was in the
managers private office drawing her
salary, when he looked up at her and
said:
I'm going to put on Il piece next
week with a mans part in it that
would just suit that contralto voice
you took on not very long ago. Now, if
you could only call it up at will, I'd
cast you for the part and pay you $50
Il week.
when is the first rehearsal?"
"On the 18TH
Il may sing contraito by that time"
What makes you think sop
well. I'm liable to a relapse at any
time and haven't had one for a long
While. It's due now"
Nonsense"
He engaged Il baritone for the part,
who deserted three hours before the
performance. Leonaretta was with the
manager when he received the unwel-
come news.
iii take the part" she said.
You? Has your voice relapsed:"
mot vet. but / think it will before 3
O'Clock this evening"
well. upon my word! Do YOU mean
TO say that
I'll be here ready for tie part"
At $40 O'Clock she went on with one
Of the finest baritone voices that had
been heard in that house during the
season. She had been announced YER
Daily as Si"nor Barilli to take the part
of the man whose name was on the
program. Vt the end of each act 81
gnor BarilIi was called before the cur
tain and at the end Of the opera re-
ceived IL perfect ovation.
Nov. see here said the manawer
after the performance. You're II won
der. You're worth much more than |
am paying YOU. a girl who can sing
soprano or baritone at will is worth Il
fortune. We start on the road next
week. and if you'll go with me and
will guarantee to sing the different
parts as | may require I'll give Won .
hundred a week and all expenses. Yon
see. | save the salary and travelling
expenses of one principal role. I'll
make You another proposition He
dropped his businesslike tone and
spoke fervently. You know very well
that you have long been my f~avorite
in the company. Indeed. | may say
that ever since | first saw YOU I've
been dead gone on you. Will YOU
marry me?"
The girl burst into q laugh.
Come home with me- she said.
land talk it OVER
The manager consented, and when
they reached Leonaretta's lodgings she
excused herself for a few moments
She O. returned hand in hand with q
young fellow. the very counterpart of
herself, her twin brother.
II am Leonard Traver." said the how
land this is my sister. Leonaretta
When she fell i'll some time ago | tool;
her part, though ! couldn't sing so.
prano. Tonight ] sang the baritone
part and received your proposition of
marriage. My sister would answer If