(Continued) CHAPTER VI.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2051, 29 August 1885, Page 5 (Supplement)

(Continued) CHAPTER VI.

My enemies flay that [ am a weak man, unduly influenced by poisons of rank — because of their rank. l( this wero true, I should have found little difficulty in consenting to adopt the Baronosn'o smg(;entior>. As it was, tbe longer I reflected on the scheme tho less I liked it. I tried to think of some filfornativo that might be acceptably proposed. Tho time passed, and nothing occurred to mo. In Inn embamsu'ng position my mind became furiously dißtnrbod ; I felt tho nee,sssity of obtaining somcrohef, which mi»ht turn ruy thoughts for a while into a new channel. Tho pecrctary called on me, while 1 wan et'U in doubt what to do. Ha reminded ino that a new prima-donna was advertised to appear on that night; and ho HU*gp<Ued that wo chou'd go to tho opeia. Feeling aa I did at the time, I readily agreed. We found tho theatre already filled before the performance began. Two French gentlemen wero seated in tho row of stalli behind us. They wero talking of the new singer. 11 She is advertised as " Madcmonello Coraly," ono of them said. " That sounds like an assumed name." " It is an assumed name," the other replied. " Sho is the daughter of a Frsi.ch singingmaster, named Bonnefoy." To my friend's astonishment I started to my feet, and left him without; a word of apology. In another minute I was at the stage-door, and had lent in my card to " Mademois ello Coraly." Whilo I wai waiting, I had time to think. Wan it possible that Joanna bad gone on tho stage? Or were t'aore two singmi* masters in existence named Bonneloy ? Mj doubts were soen decidod. The French woman-servant whomj I icmembered when I wan Monsieur Bonnefoy's pupil, ruado her appearance, and conducted me to her youn.i; mistress's dressing room. Dear good Jeanne, how glad sho was to ace me ! I found ber standing before tho glass, having just completed hor preparations lor appearing on the stflgo. Dreaeed in hor picturesque costume, sho vraa «o charming that I cxproKßev.l my admiration heartily a? beuatno her old friend. "Do you really like mo?" bLo sail', with the innocent familiarity which I recolLc tpd po i r . - 011. " See^how I Jouk in the glass — that i"» the great test." It wni no. eu i >j to apply the test. Instead of loo Ling nt her iraugo in tho glftse, I fc was far more a»rr cable to look nt herself. Wo were inteirup f cl — too soon interrupted — by the call-boy. He knocked at the door, end announced that the overture had begun. j " I h&vo a thoueand things to ask you," I told her. " Wh.it haa mads this wonderful change in your lifo? How ia U that I don't sco your father " Her faco instantly saddened ; her hand trembled an oho laid it on my arm to eilenee mo. "Don't speak of him now," nhc caul, "or you will unnervs me ! Corae to mo to morrow when tho sta^o will not be waiting ; Annetto will give you my r.ddres*." Will you think me rery unreacouab'o if I ask you not to mahe ono of my audience tonight? lon have remibded me of the dear old days that oan never oomo again. If I fool that I am singing to you " Sho left me to nnder stand tho lost, and turned awtvy again to tho door. Ah I followed her out, to say gocd-bj-o, sho drow from her bosom tho litt'.o brooch whioh had been my parting gilt, and held it out to me. "On tho stage, or off," Bhc aaid, " I always wear it. Good-night, Ernest." I was prepared to hear sad newa, when we met the next morning. My good old friend and ma3trr had died suddenly. To add to the bitterness of that; aflliotion, he had died in debt to a dear and intimato friend. For his daughter's sake he had endeavoured to add to his little savings by speculating with borrowed money on the Stock Exchange. He had failed, 'and the loan advanood had not been repaid, when a fit of apoplexy struck him down. Offered tho opportunity of trying her foituno on the operat c stage, Jeanne mtvdo the attempt, and was now nobly employed in carniag tho money to pay her father's debt. " It was tho only way in which I could do justice to bis memory," she said simply. " I hope you don't ohjoot to my going on the Btage?" I took her hand, poor child— and let that simplo aotion answer for me. I was too deeply affected to bo able to speak. " It is not in me to be a great actress," ahe resumed ; " but you know what an admirable musician my father wa;. Ho hai taught me to sing, so that I can eatisfy the critics, as well as please tho public. There was what they call a great success la-t night. It hua earned mo an engagement for another year to como, and an increase of aalnry. I huvo already sent some money to our tood old friend at home, and I shall soon Hcna more. It is my ono consolation — I feel almost happy again when I am paying my poor father's debt. No moro now of my sad story 1 I want to hear all that you can tell mo of yourself." She moved to tho window, and looked out. " Oh, tho beautiful blue sky 1 We Übed sometimes to tako a walk, when wo were in London, on fine days like this. Ia thero a park hero ?" I took her to tho palace g&rdons, famous for their beauty in that part of Germany. Arm in arm we loitered along the pluaaant walks. Tho lovely flowers, tho bright sun, all helped her to recover hor epintf. She began to be liko the happy Jeauno of my pant experience, as easily pleased aa a child. When wo sat down to rest, tho lap of her dress was full of daisies. "Do you remember," she said, " when you ii^st taught me to make a daisy chain ? Aro you too great a man to help me again, now?" We wero still engaged with our chain, seated close together, when tho Bint.ll ol tobacco smoko was wafted to vi on the uir. I looked up and saw l.he Doctor passing uh, enjoying his cigai. U« bowed ; eyed my pretty companion with a malicious Bmile , and pasfcd on. " Who is that man?" she ftoked. " The Prince's phyeician," I replitd. " I don't like him," sho said ; ' why aid ho smile when he looked at me?" "Perlmpp," I suggested, "ha thought wo were lovtrs," Sho blushed. " Don't let him think that I j tell him wo arc only obi friem'°." We were not destined to liuuh our flower chain on that day. Another person interrupted v?, whom I recognised aa tho elder brother ot Mjribicui Bonnefoy— already mentioned in the»e pnpes, under tho namo of Undo David. Having It ft Franco for political reason. , tho ohl republican had taken caro of bin nieco after her father's death, and had uccepted tho portion of Jeanne's business manager in her relations v.nh the stage. Uncle David's project, when

he y in i\ w in tho gr.nlcn, Ht"i to Mii'lJtl I h-r (1 :il flic was wanUd c.t rdienr«eJ ( uncS ' lTiu-it r/ onuo return wilh him to tho thratre. r:u I'll, lifting anary, p <l that I was to see tV '.KiformßUco on that ni(]ht. again. '• Lei. mo apologia for Laving mi«understood jou ycPtcrdij," r\n- mhl ; "an<l let ma oiler yy r >a my be 3f < congratulation". You have don' 1 nondeis abojuiv in tho way <,{ mislead mc th* Doctor. Tl.eie i=i only one objretion to llmt «t tb« thc-tic —I hrpi sho la *o pretty that aKo mny possibly (UrpUea^e tlie Piir-ccip. In other r?"pfctn, pho is jiinf in the pi blic position which will make your attuntiona to her looV like the beginning of a ocr ous intiigue. Bravo, Mr. Ernest — bravo i" I waa too indignant to place any restiaint on thp language in which I answered her. II Understand, if you pleaee," I said, " that I am renewing an old friendship with Mademoiselle Jeanne— begun under the sanction of her father. Renpeofc that young lady, madam, as I reepcel her," The detestable Bareness clapped her hands, as if she had bpen at the theatre. "If jou only say that to the Princes?," pbc rcmaihed, " P3 well aa you have said it to roo, there will be no danger of arousing her Jl:>,bneps'« jealousy. I have a meesagc for jcn. At the concert, on Saturday, you nro to retue to the conrervatorj, and you may hope for an inttrviow whrn tho siDgera login the second part of the programmr. Don't let me detain you any looger. Go brick (o your young lady, Mr. Ernest— pray go lack 1 '