The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-10-11

Ill, In the care of an imbecile servant
She nursed him back to health.
Consuefo's exposure and excitement
In this midnight expedition produced a
violent fever and Albert's love and care
deepened. For time 1t 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, but requested
her to marry his son, whose reason she
had restored.
To this she answered, ''The honor is
very great, but am a singer. I must
return to my art"
To avoid Anzoleto she fled by night
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 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
riage he had offered.
At last she WROTE to Albert, express
ing her love for him. y, '.,ssA----r..-
Porpora, to whom she gave her let
ter to post, burned 1t and wrote one Of
his own to Count Christian. He was
Jealous Of her art and desired to profit
by It.
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 her.
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 CHANGED to see Con-
suelo, and instantly fell in love with
her, as did all men. She was terrified
by his fierce manner and his disigured
One night he forced his way into her
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,
lung by the empress and the people of
he court, she picked up q small sprig |
II cypress, which was to her sign |
II grief and despair. It was like a
,ymbol Of death.
In the midst Of her uncertainty a
etter came from the director Of the |
Royal theater in Leipsic, offering her a
Inc engagement. An agent brought the
,apers with him. Consuelo desired to
cave Vienna, for the empress was de-
ermined that she should marry one Of
Ter favorites.
As Porpora had destroyed her letter
o Count Albert, so now he pretended
o have had a reply in which Count Al
vert renounced all claim upon her.
With mistaken faith in her old
eacher, Consuelo sorrowfully accepted
he new engagement, signed the con-
ract and started for Germania.
1t happened that the king Of Prus-
ia, Frederick the Great, travelling in
.ognito, met her and was SO pleased
With her that he gave orders for her
in his capital, but COM
handed that Porpora should be sent
,ack to Vienna.
All these plans, however. failed, for
Baron Rudolstadt, uncle Of Count A.
,ert, brought word that the young man
vas dying and greatly longed to see
yonsuelo before he passed away. With
mt a moments hesitation she FASTENED
o the castle.
Filled with exalted love and pity,
kissed the dying man. realiz-
ng that he was even then hardly more
han q spirit. He desired her to mar
Y him, in order that his fortune and
is title might pass to her. and so firm
nd insistent was his demand that
consented.
Count Albert lived only few hours
fter the ceremony, leaving Consuelo
orrowful, but after all, at peace. Then
he turned her face toward the tenn
le Of her art.
opyri9ht. 1915. by the Post Publishing