Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1926-10-07
Charlotte's.
Voice
By H. IRVING KING

A'A their daughter Charlotte was a
musical marvel. They were rather
commonplace. well-to-do people. Mr..
Hamilton had some sort of business in
the city, to which he went every week
day from his suburban home-and
Charlotte was their only child. The
young lady was quite of her parents
opinion with regard to her musical
ability; though she did not believe
with them that she could sally forth
Just as she was and soar to greatness
on her first song. But. given proper
training. she saw nothing between her
and the Metropolitan.
So she took her parents in hand, as
dutiful and only daughters are &C
cuStomed to do, and it was arranged
though Papa Hamilton could not af
ford it, really-that she should have
her voice cultivated under the super
intendence of Eugene StOner, who
though still u young man, had
achieved a vast reputation as must.
cal instructor.
So Papa Hamilton took his daugh-
ter to the ''maestr0'-as his friends in
New York called Mr.. StOner-and
stated the case. Just as soon as Eu-
gene saw Charlotte he was so i'm
pressed that he really did not
care whether she could sing or not
that was a secondary consideration.
Ii was the girl herself that knocked
him for a goal,'' as you might say. MIR.
Hamilton left his daughter with the
great instructor and went away
wincing little at the price per les
son stated by the maestro as his
customary terms So Eugene tried
out Charlotte's voice. She had very
sweet, sympathetic voice-one that
was pleasant to hear on the water by
moonlight. But as for her ever be-
coming a great prima donna Eugene
knew in five minutes that that could
never be.
Ordinarily he would have said so
with the brutal frankness for which
he was noted But if he told Char
lotte the truth he would, in all prOba-
bility, never see her again; and the
thought of world without any Char
lotte in it had suddenly become a
world impossible for him. So Eugene
stitled his conscience, suppressed the
truth and agreed to give Charlotte
lessons Moreover, when Mr.. Hamil-
maestro asked if he might come out
to Sunnybank, Mr.. Hamilton'S subur-
ban town, and instruct Charlotte in
her own home evenings. He was so
very busy during the day, he said.
Also, he Informed Mr.. Hamilton
that he had been much impressed by
Charlotte-and her voice of course
and that the matter of remuneration
for his services was one which might
remain in allegiance indefinitely. The
proud and happy father took home
the proud and happy daughter and the
girl played and sang plaintive little
love songs until late in the evening
just to try her voice. That was the
beginning; and you can readily see
how things went on, and what a
into. As the weeks grew into months
Charlotte, with her ambitions fixed
upon prima donnaship, was scarcely
conscious of how deeply in love with
her musical instructor she had be-
come.
At last she began to be impOrtu-
nate with regard to the time when
Eugene would set her free to take her
great and dazzling flight into the
world of song. Now what could the
poor man do? Things could not go on
like this forever-besides he did not
want them to 90 on like this forever.
He wanted to marry Charlotte forth
with and live somewhere in the coun-
try with her, and have her sing Annie
Laurie and "Old Black Joe" to him
of evenings. The thought of her lift
ing up her voice in grand opera made
him shudder. But if he told her the
truth she would never forgive him
never.
Then, one night, ne took the plunge.
He painted for her a word picture Of a
luxurious country place wherein they
two should live like turtle doves and
grow sweetly old together. He was
tired of his profession, he said, and
longed for rest and domestic joys.
He had already amassed sufficient
fortune.
"Oh, Eugene cried Charlotte, land
would you sacrifice your career to be
always with me?"
Eyes, and count it gain" he re-
piled. AS matter of fact he was
aware that his vogue was beginning
to wane. New popular idols in his
line had sprung up and, having made
hay while the sun shone, he was ready
to get out while the getting out could
be accomplished gracefully.
But" said Charlotte, there Is my
career to be thought of. Shall l never
realize those triumphs of which we
have talked so much together2"
"It is hard, darling, 1 KNOW" an
swered the deceitful man, shaking In
his shoes, ''but fear you must
and / do love you so!''
Eugene" laughed Charlotte, you
are q fraud; but / am something OF q
fraud myself. too. Two months ago
went to see Cornelius Haggerty. your
great rival, and he, not being in love,
told me at once that could never be
a great singer. But I could not bear
the thought of not seeing you twice
week as usual and so kept num-"
Eugene gave shout and then
we'll, never mind. They were married
LIZA nna ,,hon Enoena hears his