The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-12-17

lion. olcr Nhcil Aib<rt uAu Deem ml18-
ing for time they led her to q well.
She descended IL and found q secret
passage. This she traversed and be-
You'd IL found her lover deranged and
i'll. i'm the care Of an imbecile servant.
She nursed him back to health.
COnsuelo's exposure and excitement
In this midnight expedition produced a
violent fever and Albert's love and care
deepened. For a time II seemed as
though he might win her hand. but be-
tween these devoted young people the
dissolute Anzoleto thrust himself.
Although at first she gave way be-
fore him. Consuelo regained her self
control and put him aside. The good
Count Christian, finding her nobly
frank about her early life. not only ex-
pressed his admiration. hut requested
her to marry his son, whose reason she
had restored.
To this she answered, "The honor Is
very great. but am a singer. must
return to my art"
To avoid Anzoleto she fed by night
toward Vienna in order to rejoin Por-
pora, her teacher. ConsuelO reached
there only TO find old Porpora a master
without a school or pupil.
In her attempts to secure position
at the Court theater she failed by rea-
son Of the opposition Of the Empress
Maria and the enmity Of Gorilla, her
bitter rival. The corruption. the saw
age hatreds which marked the atmos-
phere of the court and the theater, led
her to dream of Albert and the mar
rage he had offered.
At last she wrote to Albert. express
ing her love for him.
Porpora, to whom she gave her let
ter to post. burned It and wrote one Of
his own to Count Christian. He was
| jealous of her art and desired to profit
by 1t.
Six weeks passed. Consuelo heard
nothing from Albert, and as a sudden
chance to sing in opera came to her,
she accepted it, Her goodness and gen.
crosby had won even Gorilla, who
yielded her part to ner.
One day, while rehearsing for ZenO-
bia her first great part. ConsuelO
| thought she saw Count Albert in the
| dark spaces of the theater, silent,
fitting mysterious figure.
At about this time, Baron Trenck,
the notorious pandour and freebooter.
coming to the city Glanced to see Con-
suelo, and instantly fell in love with
her, as did all men. She was terrified
by his fierce manner and his disfigured
countenance.
Ore night he forced his way into her
dressing room, and pleaded for her
love. He cast magnificent jewels at
her feet and then in transport Of
fury, seized her in his arms as If to
carry her away.
| A disguised. powerful man darted
through the door, seized the bandit and
threw him down the iron stairway.
Although her rescuer's face was COW
cred, Consuelo believed him to be
Count Albert. She called, she ran to-
ward him. but he was gone. As she
stood looking down the dark stairway
the prompter announced the second act
; Of the play and she went on the stage
as Zenobia, adding to her triumphs.
She sang now for Albert. believing that
he was somewhere in the audience.
Her conviction was confirmed when
amid the flowers which fell around her.
flung by the empress and the people Of
the court. she picked up small sprig
, Of cypress, which was to her a sign
t Of grief and despair. It was like a
symbol Of death.
| In the midst Of her uncertainty a
: letter came from the director Of the
Royal theater In Leipsic, offering her a
l fine engagement. An agent brought the
2 papers with him. Consuelo desired to
| leave Vienna. for the empress was de-
q termined that she should marry one of
, her favOrites.
As Porpora had destroyed her letter
: to Count Albert. so now he pretended
t to have had a reply in which Count AL
bert renowned all claim upon her.
q With mistaken faith in her old
o teacher, Consuelo sorrowfully accepted
the new engagement, signed the con-
+ tract and started for Germania.
;. 1t happened that the king Of Prus.
g sia, Frederick the Great, travelling In
a cognito, met her and was so pleased
with her that he gave orders for hel
O entertainment in his capital. but com
handed that PorpOra should be Sent
@ back to Vienna.
a All these plans, however. failed. f0l
, Baron Rudolstadt, uncle of Count Az
v bert, brought word that the young ma,
d was dying and greatly longed to sec
v Consuelo before he passed away. With
t out moments hesitation she hastenet
q to the castle.
> Filled with exalted love and pity
II Consuelo kissed the dying man. realiz
ing that he was even then hardly NOR,
q than spirit. He desired her to mar
r ~ him, In order that his fortune ant
a his title might pass to her. and 20 firm
70 and insistent was his demand tina
a COnsuelo consented.
II Count Albert lived only few hours
|e after the ceremony, leaving Consuel,