Middletown transcript., 1920-09-18
rrilby.s that's my name, Irilbx o1er.

sic to close, Trilby remarked It was
not very gay, and offered to- sing "a
song which she knew, and in English,
whereat she sang "Ben Bolt" and fin
ished amid an embarrassing silence;
for her hearers did not know whether
1t was intended seriously or In fun;
such a volume of sound ensued that it
flooded the studio, but without melody
or music of any kind, in fact as if the
singer were tone-deaf as indeed she
| was. y
With her charm and goodfellowship,
Trilby won the hearts of the Three
Musketeers, Billie's most of all, and 1t
was Billie for whom she felt the deep
est affection. She cooked for them at
times, mended their clothing, listened
to their music and the wonderful talks
Of "the glory that was Greece and the
grandeur that was Rome" At other
times she criticized their work; in
fact, was quite zone Of them"
A climax came one day when Billie,
visiting another studio, discovered
Trilby posing for the "altogether." He
was so shocked that he was awakened
to the fact of his great love for Tril-
by, and rushing home to his friends,
declared that he was going to Barbi-
zon to paint the forest and that he
wanted to be alone.
Trilby, too, saw matters in differ
ent light, and after much self-exam-
ination and struggle, decided that she
would pose no more. but would earn
her living as fine laundress with an
old friend who had laundry and was
doing well. Poor Trilby was certainly
one of the frail ones but through ig-
norance, rather than wrong intent;
now she saw her mistake and with her
love for Billie there came new feel
ing, a dawning self-respect.
Nineteen times Billie asked Trilby
to marry him, but she always refused,
feeling herself unworthy. Then one
Christmas night he asked her the
twentieth time, "Will you marry me?
If not l leave Paris in the morning
never to return" and Trilby, fearing
to lose him out of her life, finally an
swered "Yes."
Billie's mother, hearing Of the in
tended marriage, journeyed to Paris
to make inquiries about Trilby, finally
deciding that she was not the wife for
her son, all of which she said to Tril-
by, who in her great love for Billie,
and thinking it best for him, promised
to 60 away and not see him again.
Trilby kept her promise and Billie
became very ILL.,; when he had suffi-
ciently recovered he went back to
England with his mother. his heart, as
it seemed, quite dead.
This was q sorrowful time for Taffy
and the Laird. as they missed both
Trilby and Billie.
Years went by and Billie became q
famous painter, with beautiful home |
in London and many friends.
Then the three Musketeers were to-
gether again in Paris. where they WIS.,
tied the scenes of former times, at least |
going to the old studio. now rented to |
other tenants, but having still upon its |
wall Billie's famous drawing Of Tril- |
by's foot, protected by covering Of
glass; and beneath it some stanzas to |
'Pauvre Trilby, la belle ct bonne ct |
cherel"
One night they attended concert |
in large hall on the Rue st. Honore.
The first violin had scarcely taken his
seat before they recognized their old
friend Gecko. Just as the clock
struck. Svengali appeared-the con-
ductor. Then a moment Of silence,
and two little page-boys each drew a
silken rope, the curtains parted, and a
tall figure walked slowly down to the
front of the stage. The house rose to
meet her as she advanced, bowling to
right and left-"It was Trilby."
Her eyes on Svengali, at signal
from him, she sang without accompani-
ment, in q voice so immense in its
softness, richness and freshness, that
it seemed to be pouring itself from all
around; and then her dove-like eyes
looked past Svengali, straight at Billie,
and all his long-lost power Of loving
came back with a rush.
At last-the final performance Of the
evening. Trilby vocalized, without
words, Chopin's Impromptu in A fiat;
no piano had ever given
out such notes as these! Amid the
wild applause and enthusiasm Of an
immense audience Trilby had made
her debut in Paris.
Her debut in London was q differ
ent matter; Svengali i'll, and unable
to conduct, had taken his place in a
box exactly opposite Trilby, but his
had no effect upon her. When
t came time for her to sing she start
I'd "Ben Bolt" but sang only few
)ars when the house was in an uprOar
If laughter, boots and Kisses. Trilby
lad lost the power Of singing true"
She seemed to be awakening from
;leep, not knowing where she was. Her
,ld-time friends rescued her and took
Ter home to Billie's mother. Svengali
collapsed from shock and died very
suddenly.
The friends learned from Gecko that
there were two Trilbys." Svengali
lad but to say "dor" and she suddenly
'ecame an unconscious Trilby of
Marble to do his bidding. So they
raveled giving concerts, Svengali,
secko, Trilby, attended by Marta, an
Id servant Of Svengali.
The long strain had it's effect upon
oor Trilby, and she dropped and
led, surrounded by the Old-time
riends and Billie's mother. Not long
fter. little Billie, brOken-hearted, fol-