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Katie And The Tenor

Katie And The Tenor image
Parent Issue
Day
24
Month
January
Year
1896
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

I have hemd this about a romantic ' young girl who became infatuated with a certain faroous tenor last winter : Sbe fiaw hiin in a favorite role, and his dashing appearance and superb singing made sucb an impression upon her that sho became "opera inad," as abe told herfriends, bnt "tenor mad" would be nearer the mark. All har pin nioney she saved and turned into seats for the different performances. She bonght every photograph of her favorite that she conld find and grev? wildly jealous of the sopranos and contraltos who sang the opposite roles to hiin. Of conrse she oonldn't go on like this without having a confidaüt so she selected a school friend and told her all. Thera wasn't mach "all" to it, bat the friend thought it was delightfully romantic. "Has he ever notioed you, Katiel" "No," replied Katie, "I don't think that he has. There -was one time that I thought ho was looking at me over tha footlights, and, oh, Laura, I became so faint that I was afraid I'd fall off my seat. But I think he was looking at the conductor." "Yes, they look at the conduotor a good deal, dear. I wonder why V' "Oh, I suppose thoy're fond of him." Well, they went to three more performances, and by this time Katie was a oase of "clean gone. " "Laura, dear, if I could just take his hand and look iuto his eyes and ask him for his autograph, I think I'd be willing to die right there!" "I don't see any harm in that." "In my dying?" "No, goosie! In your just shaking hands with him and asking him for his autograph. You take his best photograph, and Til get a fountain pen, and we '11 go, af ter the matinee tomorrow. " "To the theater?" "Why, yes. You couldn't goto bis hotel." So this plan was agreed on, and a nice flurry poor Katie was in. Sha went and heard (he opera the next day in a kind of dream, and when it was over rose in a white heat of excitement. "We must give him time to dress," said the practical Laura. "So vie'l] go and have a cup of chocolate. " They dawdled over this refreshment for 20 minutes, and then started for the stage door. A stout, coarse man barred their passage here, and asked : "Well, young ladies, what can I do for yon?" Katie was simply speechlesa, so Laura spoke tip. "We wish to see Mr. . " "He won 't see you. He's gone to his dinner, anyway. But he's got no time to see anybody unless you have an appointment with him." Then Laura the brazen told a whopper. "We have, "she said, pining. "I don't know how we missed him." "Well, he's dining at the H House," said the door keeper. "He said Borne people inight cali for him. You can go there and send in your card. " So this they decided to do, and to the hotel they went. They sat all a-tremble in the gayly decorated reception room after they had launched their cards, and presently they heard a manly tread. Nearer, nearer, nearer. Katie seized Laura by the hand and shook with emotion. Then a tall form appeared in the doorway, and the tenor stood before them. A little older looking, not so romantic in appearance, and holding a napkin in his hand instead of a truncheon or a sword - but still the tenor. He advanced courteously and bowed as he looked at them and at their cards. "I do not think I have the pleasure" - he began. Then Laura burst in with what they wanted. He frowned a little and then emiled wearily. "I am at dinner," he said, "and I have friends dining with me, but I will do what you desira " So they produoed the pictures. There ■were tour instead of one, and he signed them in a bold hand. "Will you pardon me?" he queried. "But I am pressed for time. I am glad to have met you. " Then he turned to go, and Katie found her voice. "Will you - will you - 1-let me ehake hands with you?" she stammered. He smiled. "Certainly," he said, and he gave her a strong hand clasp. The poor, silly child bent forward, kissed his hand and half feil upon her i knees. He raised her instantly and eaid : "I thank you for this tribute to the artist. It is not for the man. My dear young lady, I am 56 years old, and I have seen too much of the world to encourage the impulses of young girls like you, who are often not in their right minds regarding stage people. Goodby and good luck to you. " So away he went, and the two devotees trailed out into the gloaming, feelíng a little ashamed of themselves and wondering whether operatic and theatrical people hadn't found brave Ponoe de Leon 's fountain of perpetual youth.

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Subjects
Ann Arbor Argus
Old News