The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1915-04-15
Copyright. The Frank A. Munsey Coz


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 ap-
probation, who has the rare good
judgment to acclaim me the utmost in
vocal attainment"
"Ah BAH" 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
a Frenchman provoked, mot without
affront, / challenge thee, even thee,
to scan the agreement have this day
made with M. 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 guaranty
of $250,000 year for three years, with
additional compensation for extra per-
torrance. I beg of you, my friend, to
read my agreement"
"Hein!" almost gasped Dupre. 1T
is impossible. 1t is written-I read
1t-yet it cannot be-"
$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. ''Is 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.
He thought of the peace and quiet
OF the place and of the hustle and
hurry of New York, but be longed to
be there with Alys and the beginning
of his triumph.
Now M. Dupre, aged and dignifled,
put down his pipe, rose from his seat.
and took a tottering step forward.
"Oh, mon fils," he said with sob
in his voice, 81 have read this wonder
full paper of agreement signed by the
great Judge of merit across the seas,
and / am happy and proud to give un-
to thee my daughter. May she be
worthy of thee!"
Renault wrung the old mans hand.
<'Worthy" he repeated. who am
only a great tenor-to deserve herr"
Just then a powerful motor car came
along the dusty road and stopped be-
fore the garden wall. From it a for
eigner descended, entered the pretty
garden, and doffed his hat.
"My dear Renault!" the man ex-
claimed. Then, to the embarrassment
of the new arrival, the great tenor
embraced him effusively. Red Of
face, but accepting the situation as a
part Of his experience abroad, the new
conner permitted Renault to introduce
him to his companions.
"The chairman of the committee
from the wonderful opera company
called the Metropolitan of New York;"
exclaimed Renaults with enthusiasm;
''the powerful and wise organization
that has engaged mclean Renault.
am entranced! You, monsieur, are
come Just In time to congratulate me
and oh, thou sly dog, thou hast put
M. Gatti-Carranza up to engaging me.
I congratulate thee"
The new arrival smiled indulgently.
"But congratulate me once more"
Renault went on. i am just afaanced
to the most beautiful woman in the
world. What is more. I, Jean Re-
nault, have won her from Heinrich
Berghoff-an inferior director of the
orchestra at the, Metropolitan-who
has had the audacity to plead for the
hand of my divinity"
Impossible" said the American.
''Yet ] hear that Herr Berghof has
renowned all thought OF returning to
the States this season. He has ap-
piled for a commission in the army"
"Bah!" exclaimed Renault con-
temptuously. Let him handle a
sword as clumsily as he handled a
baton, and France will have an easy
victory over Germany"
The American laughed heartily.
Permit me-" he said to the company
about them. m. Renault is SO enthu-
siastic, so happy, that he has forgot
ten to introduce me save by a title