Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-05-07
(Copyright, The Frank A. Munsey Coz

MY friends, said Jean Renault |
81 ask you to wish me untold success. !
This day ! have signed my most won
derful contract! / stand before you, |
Jean Renault, the greatest of all ten |
ors-I who have just been engaged for
three years by the leading impresario |
OF modern times-M. Gatti-Carranza.
1t is he, the most divine Of men in APP
probation, who has the rare good
Judgment to acclaim me the utmost in
vocal attainment"
"Ah bahl" exclaimed M. Dupre with
some heat. 81, who have heard the
most wonderful operate voices of the
age, doubt you. cannot believe what
you say"
Renault, the handsome, the egotist,
the accomplished, shrugged his shout
ders.
Monsieur" he said quite calmly for
q Frenchman provoked, mot without
affront, / challenge thee. even thee,
to scan the agreement have this day
made with NJ. Gatti-Carranza. 1t
means that next season shall be the
highest-paid tenor in operate history.
You will doubt me, for heretofore no
singer has ever commanded such a
salary. This next six months-which
is the New York season with the Met
ropolitan opera shall earn $4,000
a night, and / shall have a guaranty
OF $250,000 a year for three years, with
additional compensation for extra per
Torrance. beg of you. my friend, to
read my agreement"
"Heini" almost gasped Dupre. 1T
is impossible. 1t is written-I read
it--yet 1t cannot bel"
$50 one might think" answered
Renault quickly. yet in America
such things are true"
Beautiful Alys Dupre advanced
slowly across the gravel path. She
put her arms about the shoulders Of
Renault and smiled down at him.
-'You are a dreamer, mon cher" she
said softly. rs this thing true thou
sayest to mon perez"
Quite true" answered Renault
with smiling eyes, will you come
with me over the seas as my wife and
share with me the honors and the gold
that will be mine in New York this
winter?''
Alys gazed into his eyes, her hand
stole into his, and she let him kiss her
softly upon the lips.
Renault gazed over her shoulder at
the pleasant village lying beyond the
garden. The green hills, the trees
and the picturesque old mill down by
the narrow stream gladdened his eye
The most wonderful woman of al
the world was his and he was ths
most wonderful tenor of his time His
happiness was complete.
He thought of the peace and quie
of the place and of the hustle anC
hurry of New York, but he longed t.
be there with AIys and the beginning
of his triumph.
Now M. Dupre, aged and dignified
put down his pipe, rose from his seat
and took a tottering step forward
"oh. mon f1ls." he said with sol
in his voice, Il have read this wonder
full paper Of agreement signed by tn
great judge of merit across the seas
and am happy and proud to give ur
to thee my daughter. May she b
worthy OF theel"
Renault wrung the old mans hant
Worthy" he repeated. who am
only great tenor--to deserve her?
Just then a powerful motor car cam
along the dusty road and stopped b.
fore the garden wall. From it a fol
eigner descended, entered the prett
garden, and doffed his hat
My dear Renault!" the man el
claimed. Then. to the embarrassment
OF the new arrival, the great tenC
embraced him effuElvely. Red G
face, but accepting the situation as
part Of his experience abroad, the new
conner permitted Renault to introduC
him to his companions.
THE chairman of the committe
from the wonderful opera compau
called the Metropolitan OF New York!
exclaimed Renault with enthusiasm
''the powerful and wise organizatio
that has engaged mclean Renault.
am entranced! You. monsieur, al
come just in time to congratulate n
and oh, thou sly dog, thou hast p1
M. Gatti-Carranza up to engaging m
congratulate thee"
The new arrival smiled indulgentl
He knew Renault, had before exp
rienced the vanity and Temperance
of the man.
But congratulate me once more
Renault went on. Il am just Alliance
to the most beautiful woman in Il
world. What is more, l, Jean R
nault. have won her from Heinri
Berghoff- IAN inferior director of t
orchestra at the Metropolitan--wl
has had the audacity to plead for t
hand of my divinity"
Impossible said the America
yet | hear that Herr Berghoff
renowned all thought of returning
the States this season. He has q
piled for commission in the army
BAH" exclaimed Renault CT
temptuously. Let him handle
sword as cIumsily as he handled
baton. and France will have an ca
victory over Germany"
The American laughed hearth
Permit me- he said to the compa
about them. IN Renault is SO emil
siastic. so happy, that he has forg
ten to introduce me save by a ii
which amounts to but little. except
that it gives me an opportunity
show my appreciation of the art of