The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-08-08

Venice. He had learned how to sing
in Professor Porpora's school. He was
handsome. He had imagination which
colored his fine voice when he sang.
Consuelo, scrawny, dark-skinned
Spanish peasant girl, was another Por-
pora's pupils. She was plain, but had
beautiful voice and spirit.
She and Anzoleto were good friends,
nothing more, but he-an errant phil
anderer-was always falling in love
and coming to Consuelo for hympathy
and advice. He was a rascal and an
migrate.
Consuelo made her first public ap-
pearance in the simple dress OF peas
ant girl, and her voice-filled with the
fire of her soul-took the city. Every
J one was at her feet. Young suitors
sought her hand and among them was
Anzoleto. 1t was the romantic period
in Venetian history. about 1850. Con-
suelo engaged herself to her fellow
pupil, but repulsed the others. Her
genius had won admiration; her dig
nifty and modesty had won respect
The Count Justinjan not only en-
gagged her for his theatre, but fell in
love with her and tried to win her
from Anzoleto. She would not be led
away oiAu 1lduC ~ part VI utT COLI
tract that her betrothed should also be
engaged to sing. Her sweetness and
fidelity the more deeply enslaved the
count
Consuelo's rival, singer named
| Gorilla was bitterly incensed by the
action of the count. Anzoleto played
on her jealousy and pretended to be
her lover. OF this perfidy Consuelo
knew nothing.
At the first public performance Con-
suelo achieved renewed success. but
Anzoleto was almost overlooked.
Her teacher warned her not to
marry Anzoleto and to prove his case
forced her to visit the home Of Gorilla.
They found AnZoleto there and Con-
suelo was convinced of his perfidy
She repulsed Anzoleto, refused the
love of the count and fled to Vienna
on the advice of Porpora.
A little later, Porpora sent her to
his friend, Count Christian Of b.
hernia, to serve as companion to his
niece, the Baroness Amelia, just come
from convent school at Prague Con-
suelo, who arrived at the castle on a
stormy night. was in awe of the count
and his surroundings, but Amelia, a
lovely girl, treasured her and won her
instant affection. That night, as Con-
suelo came, an ancient tree on the es-
tate, known as the treee of misfortune
fell in the storm.
| News of its fall threw the counts
household into confusion and terror
Some evil is abroad" the countess
said, and soon after Count Albert, the
son, entered, handsome. pale and
sad young man, who announced that
q 10 i,
over the house. He smiled at Con.
suelo, touched her hand and withdrew,
leaving her deeply mystified.
Albert, she soon learned, was a gen.
tie and admirable soul, but man Of
morbid moods which in effect frances
and was only mildly interested in
Amelia who was intended to be his
wife.
Amelia told Consuelo that Albert
was not only medium but seer as
we'll as scholar and that she found
him unattractive.
Consuelo, on the contrary, was
charmed with Albert, who seemed
much benefited by her presence He
accepted her as the consolation prom
isd by an inner voice. Her singing
called him from his frances, trans.
ported and strengthened him. She be.
came his physician as we'll as his con.
lessor
She found herself surrounded by
mysteries. Secret doors, inexplicable
flames, gliding phantoms, stirred her
curiosity and allured her to explora
ton. Once when Albert had been
missing for time they led her to a
well. She descended it and found a
secret passage. This she traversed
and hpvnnH If
ed and i'll, in the care Of an imbecfle
servant. She nursed him back to
health.
Consuelo's exposure and excitemen,
in this midnight expedition produced q
violent fever and Albert's love and
care deepened. For time it seemed
as though he might win her hand, but
between these devoted young people
the dissolute Anzoleto thrust himself
Although at first she gave way be
fore him, Consuelo regained her sell
control and put him aside. The gooc
Count Christian, finding her nobly
frank about her early life, not only
expressed his admiration, but request
ed her to marry his son, whose reason
she had restored.
To this she answered, The honor is
very great, but l am singer, l mus,
return to my art"
To avoid Anzoleto she fled by nigh
toward Vienna in order to rejoin Por
pora, her teacher. Consuelo reached
there only to find old Porpora {
master without school or pupil
In her attempts to secure a position
at the Court Theatre she failed BY
: reason Of the opposition of the EN-
press Maria and the enmity Of Gorilla
her bitter rival. The corruption, thu
savage hatreds which marked the at
mosphere Of the court and the theatre
, led her to dream Of Albert and the
marriage he had offered.
At last she wrote to Albert, express
| ing her love for him.