The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-03-30

Ill, in the care of an imbecile servant
She nursed him back to health.
Consuelos exposure and excitement
In this midnight expedition produced
violent fever and Albert's love and care
deepened. For a 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, singer. 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
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 1t 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 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, a 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 disfgured
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 q 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 and
threw him down the iron stairway.
Although her rescuer's face was Gov
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 ac'
of the play and she went on the stage
as Zenobia, adding to her triumphs
She sang now for Albert, believing thai
he was somewhere in the audience.
Her conviction was confirmed wher
. amid the flowers which fell around her
, flung by the empress and the people O.
, the court, she picked up a small spri'
, of cypress, which was to her a sig1
of grief and despair. 1t was like
symbol of death.
I In the midst Of her uncertainty
. letter came from the director of tn
Royal theater in Leipsic, Offering her
: fine engagement. An agent brought tn
o papers with him. Consuelo desired t.
! leave Vienna, for the empress was de
o termined that she should marry one o
0 her favorites.
As Porpora had destroyed her lette
l. to Count Albert, so now he pretende
+ to have had a reply in which Count Al
bert renowned all claim upon her.
q With mistaken faith in her oil
a teacher, Consuelo sorrowfully accepte
the new engagement, signed the cor
:. tract and started for Germania.
It happened that the king Of Prui
q STA, Frederick the Great, travelling ir
n cognito, met her and was so please
with her that he gave orders for he
= entertainment in his capital. but con
handed that Porpora should be ser
a back to Vienna.
q All these plans, however, failed. fc
, Baron Rudolstadt. uncle Of Count A
" bert, brought word that the young ma
4 was dying and greatly longed to SC
" Consuelo before he passed away. Will
= out moments hesitation she hasteue
q to the castle.
Filled with exalted love and pit,
II Consuelo kissed the dying man. reali
ing that he was even then hardly mo,
70 than a spirit. He desired her to mn
!. nv him, in order that his fortune an
,s his title might pass to her. and so fir
20 and insistent was his demand thu
4 Consuelo consented.
- Count Albert lived only few hOu'
10 after the ceremony, leaving Consue|
=. sorrowful, but after all. at peace. The
y she turned her face toward the ten
pie Of her art.
n Copyright, 1919. by the Post Publishir
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