The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-04-16
tCopyrigst, The Frank A. Munsey Co..

ierful contract, l stand before you
Jean Renault, the greatest of all ten
ors-I who have just been engaged fol
three years by the leading impresaric
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 bab!" exclaimed NJ. Dupre with
some heat. Il. 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
jers
Monsieur" he said quite calmly fol-
Il Frenchnan provoked, mot without
affront, / challenge thee, even thee,
to scan the agreement l have this day
made with NJ. Gatti-Carranza. 1t
means that next season l shall be the
highest-paid tenor in operate history.
You viii doubt me, for heretofore no
singer mas ever commanded such a
salary. This next six months-which
Is the New York season with the Met
ropolitan opera shall earn $500
night, and | shall have a guaranty
of S250,0O0 year for three years, with
additional compensation for extra per-
torrance. beg of you, my friend: to
read my agreement"
Heinz" almost gasped Dupre. 1T
is impossible. 1t is written-I read
St-yet it cannot bel"
so 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. The green hills, the trees.
and the picturesque old mill down by
the narrow stream gladdened his eye.
The most wonderful woman of all
the world was his and he was the
most wonderful tenor Of his time. His
happiness was complete
He thought of the peace and quiet
Of the place and of the hustle and
hurry of New York, but he longed to
be there with Alys and the beginning
Of his triumph.
Now M. Dupre, aged and dignifed,
put down his pipe. rose from his seat,
and took a tottering step forward.
oh, mon fils," he said with a sob
in his voice, Il 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 I'M
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
elgner descended, entered the pretty
garden, and DOTTED 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
race, 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 Renault 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
81. Gatti-Carranza up to engaging me.
congratulate thee"
The new arrival smiled indulgently.
He knew Renault, had before expe-
rienced the vanity and temperament
Of the man.
But congratulate me once more"
Renault went on. 81 am just affianced
60 the most beautiful woman in the
world. What is more, l, Jean Re.
uault, have won her from Heinrich
Berghof-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 Berghoff has
all thought of returning to
the States this season. He has an.
piled for coTmission 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. IN. Renault is so enthu.
'iastic, SO happy, that he has forgot
ZEN to introduce me save by a title
which amounts to but little, except in
hat it gives me an opportunity to
show my appreciation of the art of M.
tenault. / am Richard Van der
Nynt," he said. Pray be seated"
fe had heard of multimillionaires
'cross the sea.
And now" said Van der Wynt as /
le sat down in rustic chair. 81 wish +:
o ask great favor. am music hmm. ,