The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-01-08

| ing for q time they led her to a We'll
She descended it and found secret
massage. This she traversed and be-
| vond II found her lover deranged and
IN IN the care of an imbecile servant.
she nursed him back to health.
Consuelo's exposure and excitement
IN This midnight expedition produced
y,olent fever and Albert's love and care
deenened. For "a time 1t seemed az
though he might win her hand, but be-
twaen these devoted young people the
absolute 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-
nressed his admiration, but requested
bor to marry his son, whose reason she
had restored.
To this she answered, "The honor lie
verv great, but I am a singer. l must
return to my art"
Is avoid Anzoleto she fled by night
toward Vienna in order to rejoin Por-
nora her teacher. ConshelO reached
there only to find old Porpora master
without a school or pupil.
Tn her attempts to secure position
af the Court theater she failed by rea-
son Of the opposition Of the, Empress
Maria and the enmity OF Gorilla, her
hitter 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
fer TO post. burned 1t and wrote one or
his own to Count Christian. He was
Jealous Of her art and desired to profit
by 1t.
1 Six weeks passed. Consuelo heard
nothing from Albert, and as sudden
chance to sing in opera came to her,
she accepted it. Her goodness and gen.
erosfty had won even Gorilla, who
!. yielded her part to her.
One day, while rehearsing for Zeno-
Ibia. her first great part, Consuelo
Thought she saw Count Albert in the
dark spaces of the theater, silent,
, fitting, mysterious figure.
J At about this time, Baron Trenck,
| the notorious pandour and freebooter.
coming to the city chanced to see Con-
suelo, and instantly fell in love with
/ lher. as did all men. She was terrified
Inv his fierce manner and his disfgured
countenance.
One night he forced his way into her
dressing room. and pleaded for her
!. Hove. He cast magnificent Jewels at
| her feet and then in a transport OF
!, fury. seized her in his arms as II to
carry her away.
A disguised. powerful man darted
through the door, seized the bandit ana
, threw him down the iron stairway.
II Although her rescuer's face was COW
Il 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 stare
q as Zenobia, adding to her trirmnhs.
: She sang now for Albert, believing that
4 he was somewhere in the audience.
Her conviction was confirmed when
: amid the flowers which fell around her,
4 flung by the empress and the people 81
n the court, she picked up small spris
= of cypress, which was to her sign
+ of grief and despair. It was like q
!. symbol Of death.
al In the midst Of her uncertainty
. letter came from the director OF the
Royal theater In Leipsic. offering her
4 lime engagement. An agent brought the
. papers with him. Consuelo desired t.
i leave Vienna, for the empress was de
. termined that she should marry one o.
Ia her favorites.
AS Porpora had destroyed her lettel
A. to Count Albert. 80 now he pretended
Il to have had reply In which Count Al
bert renounced all claim upon her.
- With mistaken faith In her Oh
I. teacher. Consuelo sorrowfully accepted
{ 1.-THE new engagement, signed the con
I. tract and started for GermAnia.
II happened that the king Of Prus
: siA.. Frederick the Great. travelling IN
q cognito, met her and was so pleases
with her that he gave orders for ne
n entertainment In his capital. but com
! manded that Porpora should Be zen
8 Hack to Vienna.
IL All these plans. however, failed, 70
: Baron Rudolstadt, uncle OF Count a
~ bert. brought word that the young ma
4 was dying and greatly longed to se
~ Cnnsuelo before he passed away. With
~ out q moments hesitation she hastene
II | to the castle.
!. FILLED with emitted love and pitt
m Consuelo kissed the dying man. realls
ing that he was even then hardly NOR
>. than q spirit. He desired her to maj
= ~ him, IN order that his fortune an
- his title might pass to her. and 10 flri
IA md insistent was his demand thu
~ Consuel0 consented.
=. Count Albert lived only few A0ul
10 lafter the ceremony. leaving Consuel
=. sorrowful. but sitter n. ut peace. The
~ she turned her face toward thu ten
lyIo - HOY Apf