Lewis Clark State College - Yearbook (Lewiston, ID)

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All right, but whatever is the trouble with you, honey? You aren't worrying about your singing tonight P she asked, patting her head gently. , No, Frau Carson, I can not tell you, said Alfreda wiping her swollen eyes. During the long continued clamor of applause which followed, the stage was literally covered with flowers. The first halflof her pr0- gram was over, and she sat meditating, in her restroom. She was un- usually beutiful that night. Her dress was of a rich black crepe Cle chine with soft folds of black meline draped from her well-shaped shoulders' Her fair neck and arms looker like white velvet 21gHiI1St the black, and her cheeks were tinged deep pink, from excitement. Her only ornament was a magnificent bouquet of white roses, which Weber had sent that afternoon. She sat listlessly dreaming into space, when she heard a soft step approaching behind her. Did I startle you? Never mind, I understand. There is some- thing troubling you. Won't you confide in me PM pleaded Weber. Alfreda gazed at him with soft, blue eyes that shone brightly through tears, and shook her dainty head, in answer. All right 5 I just came to tell you that the audience has asked if you will sing one of your own compositions. Alfreda sat thoughtfully for a moment, and then with a far-away look in her eyes, she said: Yes, Herr Weber, you may tell them I willf' Her father had been uppermost in her mind every minute since She had received her mother's letter. It was not strange that she should have sung his song, the song she had sung for him-now fifteen years ago-neither was it strange that every eye in the vast multitude was moist with tears, nor that in giving this song of reminiscence, she should break downwith emotion and have to leave the stage. T110 last Alfreda remembered as she was entering her dressing room. wfas the sight of an old decrepit, shabbily dressed man, rushing toward her with outstretched arms crying, My child ! A-physician, was hastened immediately and Alfreda was carried un- conscious in Carl Weber's strong arms, to her own rooms on Second avenue. Carl had heard Alfreda speak often of her mother, but had never heard her mention her father, and supposed he was dead, so he sent a message to Frau Schnellman saying that Alfreda had suffered a nervous breakdown, and would be brought home the following day which was just three days sooner than Frau Schnellman had expected Alfreda. Oh, the joy there was to have been in her home coming, but now- to be brought home ill -. For days and nights, did faithful Dr- Strauss, the mother and a prO- fessional nurse work patiently and untiringly by the bedside of the sick girl. . June the first came and went-the day that had been set for the wedding, which Alfreda's illness had made necessary to postpone. ' ' ' IV. It was evening in I-Iamlburg. All the lights were burning in the streets and behind the tall windows of the magnificent lmilllings which jut out into the water. All the lanterns and lights on the boats, float- ing swans, and ships were blazing out in the water, and mirrored themselves in the waves. The scene was like fairy-land. y Does Amonda live here P inquired an old man.

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gate, which gives entrance to thc park called Thiergarten. Here the tall memorial of warfare, the victory monument could be SCCII. This park was one of Alfreda's favorites. Nowhere did the nightingales sing sweeter. The debut of Fraulein Alfreda Amonda Schnellman in operatic repertoire had been the absorbing topic of all the newspapers for the past week. Her portrait had occupied the front page of the musical section. Six-thirty! A vast, restless, critical audience waited impiltielllly fOr the curtain to rise. A few moments mo re and the soft low notes were heard from the pianog as the curtain arose, a graceful figure in pure white glided to the center of the stage. Alfreda was welcomed with a riot of enthusiasm. She stood a moment and faced her first audience with a smile, as if she were saying, I am going to please you. Then she began to sing superbly. Such singing, such music, never was heard in the Royal theatre before. The people sat erect with their nerves tense to catch every note that fell from her lips. lfVhen she had finished, there was a stillness like death, there was nor a sound from the stupefied audience. Then the enthusiasm with whkh the audience was swayed in paying tributes of admiration and congrat- ulations Berlin had never seen before. She did not wait for them to finish their loud applause, but iitigilll again with Sei still, eine Stimme aus der Ferne, and all was instantly quiet again. After her first numbers, Alfreda had established her self-assurance and had forgotten there were hundreds and hundreds of people before her. She was thinking of the song she was singing and the song only. You sang ma1'velously, Fraulein Schnellman, as I knew you would, said Herr Weber after the program. You have made a great name, for yourself. Thank you, Alfreda said, for lack of something better l-Ierr NYeber had spoken truly. The next morning's, papers veritied his statement with kindly comment on Fraulein Schnellman and her unusual soyrano voice, a voice whose full resonance charlried the ear as few mites can, and whose Winsome charm and beautv nade her :l rare genius. i l.-'rau Sclmellman was much elated to hear of her daughterig triumph. She iirsi-eil Alfreda more than anyone knew. though Dr Strauss did his utmost to keep her contented and happy. The day of Alfred's next recital, bnought her a :Long epistle from her liulr mother, wishing her much success on 'lm evening, mm also annrftuncing' news that made her heart ache. Her mother said that she and Dr. Strauss were going to be quietly married when Alfreda came home for her vacation. Her mother going to be married! Long the lonely heafpsick girl sat deep in thought. Well, perhaps her mother was doing right. Perhaps her father would not return as he had promised. She buried her pink-flushed face among the pillows and wept bitterly. A note for you, Fraulein Schnelhnan, Herr Weber is down Stairs waiting. t Alfreda took the note from Frau Carson and read it, then sat down and wrote: l Please, Herr Weber, I would rather not go this afternoon, Give him this, Frau Carson. '

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No, snapped a fiery old woman, slamming the door with a loud bang. The old man walked from house to house asking the same question of all he met. Some said he was insane, others called him a tramp, a beggar, or an escaped convict. Still others who saw beneath the ragged coat and tattered old hat, and read the pained expression in the eyes, were turned to pity and kindness, and gave the wanderer a meal and a bed for the night. Sometimes the door was slammed in his face, and the dogs were set on him, but this did not deter him. On he went, seeking his quest. One evening just at sun-down, when he was very weary. he came to an attractive white cottage, which many beautiful flowers plots about it- He knocked gently. The door was opened by a tall woman, dressed in pure white, with white apron and cap. Is Amonda here? Amonda no. You have the wrong house. There is a lady very ill here. Please leave as quietly as possible, she said. With such good care, Alfreda was soon able to sit up, and then one day Dr. Strauss said she might go for a ride while the sun shone. Frau Schnellman and Alfreda had enjoyed a pleasant outing and were just turning the corner on their way home, when there was a shrill cry, a sharp grating of the brakes, and then tthe car stopped. The driver had not seen the old man and apparently the old man had not seen the car coming. No one ever knew just how it occurred it vwas all so swift. liut in some way the bent figure was caught beneath the wheels and dragged some distance before the car was stopped. Alfreda ordered the injured man to be lifted carefully into the car and taken immediately to her home. Dr. Strauss carefully examined the injured man. He was badly bruised, his right arm and leg were crushed and two bones were broken, but there were no internal injuries, so he had a chance of re- covery- The bones were set at once and he was made as comfortable as possible. It was four hours before the unfortunate man regained his consciousness. Alfreda had helped set the broken bones and then sat watching over him. No one knew who the injured man was, and there was no clue to his identity about him, except that he had been seen wandering about the town for weeks. What a sad, careworn face he has, thought Alfreda to herself as she sat studying it. l-Ie looks as if he had endured many hardships and has experienced deep sorow. I-lad he no home, no loved ones ? Suddenly the stranger moved his head slightly and opened his soul- piercing eyes, which fell upon her with a long, steady gazeg at length he asked weakly: S Do you sing? Yes, I dog shall I sing to you ? she asked simply. Please, he said, still gazing at her. He is somebody's father, she thought and she began the song 'she had sung but twice. As she began, his gaze was still fixed upon her, then his eyes grew bigger and bigger, as she continued- At last he began to twitch, to shake, to tremble, and finally he raised himself from the pillows and stretched forth his able arm, crying- Am0nda, my little 'Singvogellu ' At this Alfreda fell on her knees by his bedside and wept for joy in her father's arms, saying, Oh daddy, I knew you would come backy,