The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-11-26
THE COST OF A SOUL.
(Confinund From ma ra 2N

Miss Ellesmont; she has some sweet
tones in her voice and some vibrant
force. Six months training under old
Baumbach would bring it out-at least
enough for my purpose. A light song
the good professor shuddered
fairly sung, with one of her be.
witching smiles annexed, would score
success, know. The crowd would
shout! Yes, she is winning card,
sure!"
Perhaps she would refuse to serve" y
Nonsense, mon cher! They are all
dying for chance to appear. Twenty.
five applicants yesterday for chorus
places, with hard work and poor pay.
can do better by Constance!" Again
the professor ground his teeth. yes,
she'll come when I whistle. They go
for the theater like moths for can
de. the little dears!"
And with this parting shot the mana
ger rose from the table, and went his
way
The thing weighed on the soul of
the professor. 1t haunted him, nighj
after night, like dream of evil He
awolze each morning with boding
dread Of the day. 1t oppressed him
so, that he went to take counsel with
Mother Mary Francis of the Carmel.
ties. He had consulted her before,
and found her woman of good sense
and with warm sympathies. Now, she
felt the reality Of his distress as he
told his tale.
"She is motherless girl, away from
home. Her father lives in New Haven
and is deep in business cares. He sup.
plies her with money and lets her flut.
ter about as American fathers do. Her
young friend, Miss Schwartz, has not
the right influence, am sure. She is
pure as a star now, this Constance-so
innocent Of evil that she does not
know it or fear it. But she is in peril
Adolph Levaseur feels the charm
knows that the world will feel it also,
and means to make money out of it. -
"The old story of Eve and the Ser
pent," replied the grave Superior
looking at him with pity as sud
den uprising of wrath choked his
utterance. But do not be unhappy.
And do not despair! Heaven pro-
tects its own. The holy angels are
her guard of honor Besides, in,
nocence has peculiar ways of pro-
.tecting itself, even in the midst OF
evil. There may be work for us to
do, Also
How? Miss Schwartz is Protes-
tant and friendly with Adolph. l
dare not prove my disinterestedness
She would only think me malicious,
envious of Adolph, and bent upon
injuring his troupe. No! You can
not snatch away a new toy from a
child without his resenting it. This
hope of public success is her bright
toy balloon. Oh, the pity of it,"
Use her musical gift to save her
with, my friend, Do not oppose her
openly, but lead her to the nobler
melodies, to the Divine in music!
And will pray. We will all pray
for your white lamb"
Days and even weeks passed after
this in a silence deeply fraught with
anxiety. The one item of intelligence
that came in regard to Miss Files.
mont was of evil omen. She had be.
gun taking lessons in voice culture
from Herr Baumbach, a competent
trainer for opera bouffe. This, as the
professor knew, was part of Leva.
seur's scheme, and his heart sank
within him. 1t so CHANGED, never
theless, that soon after, on his way
to rehearsal, he came upon her most
unexpectedly. She was alone, trip
ping along with her music roll, a
vision of daintiness. A fluffy feather
boa, curling about her neck with it's
softness, of white and grey, enhanced
the effect Of her black picture hat.
Within the shade of the latter shone
the sweet face, touched to rose by
the sharp winds of autumn. The
glad smile flashed out to him in
swift recognition just as it had done
before. Adolph Levaseur had not
drawn her away from her friends.
Then the professors courage rose.
and he ventured on his first coun-
ter move.
Il have, had some lovely Hunga-
rian music sent me from Budapest
by Herr Potowski of the Imperial
Chapel. Will you not come in some
time and let me play it over for
you? l am sure you will like it..
ooh, thank you!" was the quick
response, and the blue eyes shone
with delight Indeed, I will come
and with the greatest pleasure. You
are good to me always"
Are you at leisure on Wednes,
day afternoon, from to A."
She nodded assent, but only the
angels knew that on that little nod
hung mighty threads of destiny.
Never had the professor striven
or the applause of great audiences
as he now strove for the musical
subjugaticn of Constance Ellesmont.
She sat listening, mute, fascinated,
entranced-her eyes often filled with
tears-al that Wednesday afternoon,
while two girl pupils of the dull sort
sat in the low window seat trying
to write exercises in Harmony. To
her the rare music was harmony
and melody in one, deep blue sky
alive with stars. It's throbs and fine
vibrations filled the very core of her
being. And there were other Wed
nesday afternoons of like experience.
Rich Catholic music, the marvels of