The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

“Dada took L The key: fore her weak . beyan h of steady member £ "1 was so anxious. This afternoon aomthilng worried me. I don't know what it was exactlyâ€"a. sort of fore- boding, and I could not help thinking; My husband, you know, sings at a. the- ater. He-he is not strong. and lately he seems} strange, as ifâ€"asif his health was givmg why. He wants rest and change. Only the other week the doc- torr said he ought to get away to the sea andâ€"and he can’t do it. He only alums just enough for us to live upon, mnd lfâ€"if he should be ill, I don't know what we should do. I came to you to knoo‘fv if I could oar-n some money.” Her voice broke a little, and when he 'Jobked up she found the professor's small. twinkling eyes fixed keenly upon her. He said nothing. He stood 1mâ€" movably watching hm, and, as if in‘ map] to some unuttered question. she Wen on: _-..V_, . She paused. A sudden horror at. her own teme‘rity overtook her. She had! come to one of the most celebrated {roa teasers of music in London and b0 dly. asked him to test her voice! Suppos- ing he asked her a guinea or two [on doing it. She could not pay him, and he must be hold so at once. " I think, perhaps, I ought not to have come," he caid nervously. ” I am very For. I should have no money to pay or your opinion; butâ€"but I never thought of that when I came. I forgot sâ€"eff only fhought ofâ€"of Ralaof my- let us The préféssgr" médâ€"a grim‘ sign. Lnficant smileâ€"and she felt in very: filth she was bending a lion in his an. , V -_ mv AvtumULâ€"‘WUU uuu sucn a reputation {in eccentricityâ€"and sha hesitated before she plunged into the story she had so carefme lanned to tell him. When she spoke all her nice~ 1y worded sentences, all her carefully calculated eloquence vanished, and she could pnly stammer helolesslv: ,__ «.0. u.“ could only stainmer helpléssly': “Iâ€"I wanted to ask you," she began "bgrto te§t my voice.” 17, -_._“, a. nu. nun: U]. is neatly dressed servant, who announced that a. young lady was waiting to see him, and, the professor’s curiosity overâ€" coming his usual dignity of manners, he ave orders that the young lady should Ea admit-ted. Nellie came in nervously. She glanced at the big, bearded man In front of her and wished she had not been so hasty. She was more than half afraid of the Profe$oruyvlio had such I: “A-..L4;: A, out She sat dotwn presently to practice. Somehow 10-day her voice sounded clearer and stronger than it had ever (19:16 before. The keys seemed to fall w1th scarcely an effort; beneath her flu- gers, and she found herself singing an aid song that she had lgnquq years {lgo n»... .. J_.n .‘ The Warwick street flats were al- Ways dismal. On a bright day they looked more gloomy and grimy than ever; and when the sun beat down strong and yellow upon the dullâ€"red bricks it seemed to be crushing out the life. and stifling the breath of the hu- man beings who fought: and strug- gled and laughed and wept inside. To- day the heat was almost unbearable. It beat down upon the ugly. narrow, squalid street until the poverty-strick- en neighborhood appeared loathsome, even to its hardened inhabitants. In one of the flats a. woman who was lit- tle more than a girl wandered listlessâ€" ly backward and forward, or strummed with weary effort upon her little piano. She was pale with the heat, and rest- less with a. dull foreboding that had entered her heart; For the first time since her marriage she felt lonely and miserable. and she had been married just six months. During that time nothing had occurred to mar the har- mony of their lives. For six months they had been perfectly happy. Every- thing had gone smoothly. Ralph, who was a singer in one of the theaters, had had continual engagements, and al- though the salary he earned was very small, they had lived comfortably upon it‘, and been content. But now there was a gnawing fear in her thoughtsâ€"a jarring anxiety that refused to be still- ed. She had seen Ralph grow paler and thinner day after day; she had noticed the weariness grow in his eyes, the tired look that was fast becoming habitual to his face, and she was afraid. What of, she scarcely dared own even {to herself; but she knew that Ralph was working too hard, and that the summer heat was undermining 'his strength. ROMANGE Of A SINGER “I a.ugt ak- to aim not oney to pay ut I never me. I forgot Ralnof my- unkindly 111 still Shh I ing bar ano 1b1 As she sat there “the nurse entered and brought her a. letter. Nellie look- ed at it indifferently. VVihat did letters matter now? She took itin'her trembâ€" ling hands and bore it.3 open wearily. As she read a sudden red flush sprang in- to her cheeks and a sharp light flashed into her eyes. She read on confusedâ€" ly. What she read made no impression upocn her at first. The letters danced befo-r eher eyes and the words appeared stupid and meaningless; but after a. minute they became clear and she: be~ Ran to understand. We. Lucille, the i rofessor‘wrote was unable to sing. at i he Albert Hall that night, and she, Nellie Underwood, was Ito take her lace. She-Looked at Ralphâ€"ill, per- aps dyingâ€"(m the bed, and then she turned back to the letter. Her chance had come at last] The chance that she had waited for so eagerly had come at last like a wonderful miracle or else like a. fiendish trick. She Looked at it gain There was no hope! The doctor said so, but Nellie refus- ed to believe it; and: she sat by the bed- side, loaking eagerly into her Imus- band's colorless face, and trying to find same sign of hopeâ€"in vain This very day 'he might either die or live, and the doctor had said that she must prepare for the worst. It was impbssibleâ€"she could not, she would not, believe that Ralph _might die. have a muse; he shall be spared noth- mg.” The doctor glanced at her curiously. He wondered what she was going to do. this little pale-timed girl. He had learned that her husband was an actor. He knew. too, that he earned only asmall salary, and he feared more than he told herâ€"more than he cared to put into words. He said noth- ing further-4:16 only wondered. A_nd Nellie ordered a. nurse, and everything else the debtor suggested, with a reck- less‘disregard of expense. Unde Somebody was saying something to her about Ralph. "He fainted at reâ€" hearsal. andâ€"” She looked up, and found the doctor was speaking to her. '_'T.he truth is kindest after all." he said presently. “He is very danger- 9usly illâ€"so ill that I think"â€"glanoâ€" Inf around the shabbin furnished room â€" think he ought to be removed to a. :hospital. He requires great; careâ€" great care. He must have a nurse, and if his life is to be saved he musm be spared nothing." 4 Nellie looked up helplessly. “Yes, yes." 5319 said__d_ully; “he shall L..__ _ ,, v ~~. have a'mus ingtl! That afternoon Nellie waited impa- tiently for Ralph. to come back from rehearsal. She was burningto tell him the news, and to get his permission to look out for an engagement. The pro- fessor had spoken so favorably of her voiceâ€"had given her so much encour- agementâ€"that she was filled with the wildest hopes. There must be some- thing in it. He had promised to help her out of sheer admiration for her voice, and surely it must be worth. something for so great a professor to take her up. She lag7 back luxuriously in her easy chair and dreamed golden dreams. And the summer afternoon waned and assed, and still Ralph did not come, ‘he sat up listening for his footsteps. Some body was making such a. noise on the stairs outside that she could hear nothing. Menâ€"heavy- booted menâ€"seemed to be tmmping up With some heavy burden. She could hear their clumsy feet clambering up; she could hear the murmur of their gruff voices. and she sighed impatient- ‘ly as thesounds cam nearer. b‘udden- ;ly they stoppedâ€"stopped outside her door; and there was an ominous silence. Ilhe next moment there came a knock. and a policeman looked in. Nellie started up with a cry. The policeman cane forward and tried to keep her back. Some other men followed him. There seemed to be uite a. lot of men crowding into her ittle room, but she could see none of them distinct- lyâ€"only one form that lay stretched unconscious on a shutter; and over that form she bent. with a terribly white face. and stared wildly at the narrow stream of red hlood that. was oozing slowly from her husband’s colâ€" orless lips. i some money 9" .“I think," said the pmfessoer-getr tmg his dignilv and his En Iish. with a, sudden frantic gesture. " think you hafi a peautiful vulce-a. vary peautxful vowel" "Good, oad'rlflsiaid the professor sud- den1{. " ery good; and if something shou’d turn up. will you take it at once " Nellie caught her breath with a. gasp you do thinkâ€"you thmk Ican earn of astonishment . "Take itl'flshze cried. "Thenâ€"then, “Scales l” he said abruptly. Amd Nel- lie wegnt back obediently to the piano. “ Your voice has been well trained." was all he remarked. " I had a good master," said Nellie, with the chill growing at her heart. "and I have always kept up my prac- tice. I have practlced every day since I have been married.” she said. with a halfâ€"sob, taking her gloves. "1 am sorryâ€"Iâ€"â€"" He turned round at the sound of her voice. She did not know that his eyes were fqu of tears, and that the song. had oon‘ured upv recollections of his dead wi e. most fancied he dreamed. He woke with astart t9 find that she had stopped and was puttlng back the music. "Again," he said harshly. “ Sing it again 1" She sang it through once more; and when she looked around the professor was staring out of the window and the sight of his back turned toward her sent a chill to her heart. " I was afraid I should be a. failure," she said. with a halfâ€"sob. taking her gloves. “I am sorryâ€"Iâ€"â€"-” sang throqg] the exquislte 'plain #1110115 uingless; but after a 3.1116 clear and she be- ad. mime. Lucille, the was unable to qinguat’, agretted that Mme. aukeu 111. He was ex- 1 he was angry, too, ;_;1a{ne on the bills pat If filled the house; was to. be taken by igirl, who looked '. rang out soft and ( 3m and the professo: he dreamed. He x find that she had sto; |g back the music. ELI 1‘1 rst velrse wi of which her ualb ULLLLU. maul 10 was ex» and v ,ngry, too, as I( the bills as I c :he house; till 3] taken by those he loplked active. name was tee; sighed mly back I mm clear till she was'ié those tears W61 I tell you am on my son. To-n risen to s e the hat all tram stopped, and was gone. as I could th] Ls I could thr much. but. her very 1)] me. I remember one I can hear her low, 5“ "My dear. it is no slig the mother of an angt take in the fullness 0. then. but I have since. so full of rebellion th did not want to find com I was sorry when the again. "I change cars station." she said. “am I was glad, for from that cruel It was then 1 down by meâ€" sweet, sad face, knowing it, I {4 out my grief to 1 fort to me (min only thought of ed to underst: much. but. her me. I rememh Suddenly the train stopped. husband went out to (ascem‘t cause. It was a broken ran, would be detained about half year? For weeks I had been so happy planning a visit. to my old home With baby. I had told him so much of the dear gramdmamma. he had never seen; I had looked forward so hungrin to the day when she would take him in her loving arms as only she knew how. And now I was taking him to her; not the warm, laughing dim led baby she had longed so to see. T e little still, white clad figure in the casket seem- ed another child. And the cruel cars jolted noisily on and seemed to say over and over till I could scarcely keep from screaming: "\Vhere‘s baby? Where's baby?" 111g so for the sound of his little. lispâ€" ing‘ voice. and the touch of his baby fingers. Haw couldIlive without him? \Vhy did God give him to me, only to take him back after that one ’little year? For weeks I had been so happy planning a visit. to my old home with baby. I had told hv'un so mnnh of Hm oome ‘to me in all its terrible reality, and I would forget everything and everybody and remember only my great sorrow. I wanted my baby; 0. how I wanted him! My heart was ach- TWO MOTHERS. I noticed her when she entered the car. There was something- strangely attractive about her, though she must have been at least sixty, and her face was so carewom, and the saddest I ever saw. In spite of my great trouble, I found myself wondering about her and sometimesâ€"for a momentâ€"would almost forget my grief. Only for a. moment, though. Then the recollec- tion that my babyâ€"my little, tender baby. used only to the loving clasp of a. mother's arms, was in that dreadful box in the jolting baggage car, would Nellie’s voiZe 'had ERIE; from the door. It was a long time before Ralph thorâ€" oughly recovered, but when he did there was no longer any fear of starâ€" vaiiqrgl gtariqg thietng '11} film face,~ as she entered, and then she heard a faint voiceâ€"Ralph’s voiceâ€"speaking to 1131‘ from the bed. She heard neither the doctor’s admonitions nor the nurse’s entreaties. She knelt at her husband’s side, and sobbed her heart out on his pillow. straight toward the gallery. When she opened her lips her voice rang out clear and full across the crowded hall. It never faltered; the notes fell from her lips liquid, wonderful, and the auâ€" dience suddenly became still. They ceased to stare at her; opera glasses fellâ€"it was strange that they had be. come dimâ€"and in that great hall there was scarme a sound to be heard. The song went on. What was there in that old-fashioned air to hold them spell-bound? A girl's fresh voice call- ing to her absent lover. They had nev- er heard it sung like that before. The eyes of beautiful women became moist; strong men leaned forward to hide their faces. They scarcely realized it when the music stopped; then they looked up, to see her disappearing from the stage, and for a brief moment there. was a dead silence. Then the storm began. Artificial women forgot their artificiality; wearied men woke to life again, and shouted Wildly at the empty platform. Nellie heard it faintly at the back, but hea- only thought was to get away to Ralph and while she was speeding homeward in a cab, a man was making profuse apologies to the audience. He was sorry Mrs. Under- wood could not sing again that night, but he hoped and believed they would hear her again very soon. When Nellie got home the room seem- ed to her very dark. She saw distinct- ly two figures which came toward her aeshe entered and then she heard a slams lehled to her face, and she turned to the accompanist. He under- stood hem glance and commenced again. The]; she raised_ hgar eyes and stared "stage murmured Some of Some of them stared at her coldly; some of them put up their opera. class- es to look at her; but they could! not see what she sawâ€"a. man lying tossing, perhaps dying, on a bed; they could not; feel what she feltâ€"that terrible ach- ing at hezr heart and that choking at her throat. Suddenly the mist cleared from her eyes and she saw, Wind] 3. start, the wa'utjng audience before her and the would old U: to serve a Ina-sentence. happiest mother on God if I were in your p1ac< topped. ans} she prgssred 1 little tI 1‘ LONG RANGE ne. 1 v through in bearing amethmg a ay to Bâ€"â€"â€" nt out to (ascertain the 'as a broken ran, and we 'tained about half an hour. for_ba.h§" could have a rest of my ‘stand we since. My bellion that ; heard. The music had fall- er hands, and she was star- fth a. white set face at the L11 befure her. fright, poo: thingl" people found t1 1 Woman for low no an 1118: train stopped: and my joking. lat she came and sat he woman with the and almost without 1nd- myself _p<mring 111‘ 1nd almost withou nd myself pouring r. It was such a. com was selfish grief, i lyself). and she seem- d. She didn't tall; y presence soothed ne thing she said; , sweet voice now. slight honor to be angel." I did not :3 of her meaning ice. My heart was fmy 01 m D13 \Ou 2d her blind'u bli‘ndim fort tr: and finally ceased, " Apparently Nel- 1t played or the next may help burden if myself. I 6 my only the state 3. Iwould } King- Ly that 1nywhere n starte; ist cleared nth a. start, er and the and she He under- seemâ€" ‘ talk ‘othed am 0W I for [number n no Jon er man. t: having a! crowd of. 10,000 or even 1( owe's comprehension; it blag-e made up of units murgber mounts into the thn-ess on her great fete day. She and her escort! will be the real specta- tors. Their eyes will see and their; ears will hear the face and THE VOICE OF GREAT BRITAIN. That, indeed. is a. mighty privilege. Fabulous prices are alread being paid for facilities to see the (Sheen’s prod mssion. Anybody can do that. It wilh be interesting and memorable no douth Ta spectacle which the children's chil- tions scanty and that preference has ‘been given to those members of the iBritish family who come tram distant parts of the empire. The one aim of every human being. in London on Tuesday. June 22, will be to see the Queen and‘ the royal proâ€" cession. The number of persons who will he possessed by that pturopse On that day cannot be estimated at less than six millions. It‘ will probably be more. It will undoubtedly be the larg- est number of men and women ever assembled togethetr in the history of the would. This massing together oi humanity will be the real marvel. the really memorable evenrt‘ of this mem- orable day. The spectators themselves will be the great spectacle. The" most impressive sight I ever witnessed was the silent multitude, three millions in number, who lined ‘the Champs Ely- sees and The Bois de Boulogne last Ocâ€" tobear waiting for the entry of the Czar inlto Paris. I drove the whole length of the zrolute just before the procession passed over it, It seemed like riding along the dry bed of a river wilh‘all limanlilty for its banks. A .- ‘n m” Theme remains onfly railway, but that: in simpst an unspeakal So it is not a very which London holds who think of seeing next June. It is ( festival which the B hold in its capital cit not finvited. not 81 other nations. of The English people are not to be blamed if the year of the record reign impresses them thus far as a. Pente- costal season rather them an occasion of joy and thanksgiving, writw 9.‘ Lon-i don conespondentl.- Even the pros-4 pects of the great Week in Jame are. not altogether enchanting. There in to be a great celebration. one day at which is to be devoted to the public. It: will be a stupendous affair beyond questionâ€"something unmatched in the history of Christmde in certain re-1 spects. The gemtle lady, the great: sovereign, in whose honor all. will be done. is well worthy the homage, which her subjects will pay her. It will be paid gladly and with complete national unanimity, in spite of substantial sacri- fices which it) will involve. London in jubilee week will be a place to fly from for all who value personal comfort! and tranquility. The cost of seeing the Queen, of getting about London. of merely existing here. will be more than: can be measured on a. cash basis. arr. has come ‘to be a. fact that Lon;- don crowded is the most uncomfortable city in the world. For years! its hotel accommodation has been inadequate.. This yearâ€"well. it is exhausted al- ready, and only a. small fraction of those who are coming to the jubilee celebration have secured their sleep- ing quarters. Locomotion in London when the town is filled with people, is slower than anywhere else. It is a; town of great distances, and although the regulation of street traffic is the best in the World, the narrow thorough- fares and immense number of cabs and omnibuses during "the season” have made transit by either of these meth- ods insufferath slow. What the situ- ation will be next June it is It has come ‘to be don crowded is the In city in the world. 1 accommodation has This yearâ€"well. it ready. and only 9. those who are com'm celebration have. nan )Lner nations. Of c vill come, and equally v11] be welcome, but :omplain if they find The Plans for the Gr The Spectators The Greatest Spectacle overwhelmed, and mutant. HOW ENGLAND WILL COMMEMOâ€" RATE HER WONDERFUL REIGN. IN HONOR [IF THE QUEEN. The APPALLING T0 “ not a very alluring prospect ndon holds out to strangers r of seeing this town en fete JLING T0 ANTICIPATE. ains onfly the underground :1: that: in warm weather is unspeakable abomination. It is distinctly a home oh the British empire will apital city. Strangers are i, not even the rulers "of ms. Of course strangers nd equally, of course. they come, bum they must not they find the accommoda- ‘r the Great Jubilee Weekâ€" :mn-s Themselves wm be the Spectacleâ€"London Will be d memorable no doubt :h the children's chil~ will read about, but valuable would be the‘ soldler in the- procesâ€"I ritune by cumnm'isnn illy in all Ven 100,000 is within. In; it IS an assem~ units. \Vhen the ;q>the millions it is )1] 0WD f that 3.11 Prices ‘Vlll be hist< 3.1 t}: ‘ con ames' mga. ison pnvllege newi in fu~ :count Jus 11‘ mourz dispensing with the use of traces, which are aij to break. On entering Rus- sian Siberia they Were transported from posting station- to posting station across the snow-covered lains and step es without rest or in ermlssiona unrif they reached the terminus of that portion of the Trans-Siberian railroad which is already in operation. Tryin as is this journey for fullâ€"grown anfi able-bodied man, one can imagine Whafl it must have been for a. young and dedi- cate gird. In mentioning, a few days ago, the services rendered by the 15-year-old Countess Cassini as Secretary and. in~ terpreter to her uncle. Count Cassini, while Ambassador of the Czar at Pekin, writes a correspondent, I omitted to lmention that she had just accomplish- ed a feat to which no other member of hek‘ sex can claim creditâ€"namely. the overland trip from Pekin to St; Petersburg. The young Countess. hell uncle and a French physician attach. ed to the Chinese imperial hospital left the Chinese capital last December. Un~ til the rolling plains of Central Asia: were reached the travelers had to con- tent themselves with mule litters» These they presently exchanged for Chinese versions of Russian sledges. The Mongolians know nothing about driving, so they fix a bar across the shafts. and a mounted man on eithen side, taking hold of the end of the ban presses it against the saddle bow and gallops for dear life. This mode of progression has at least the merit on dispensing with the use of traces. which are apjt to sian Slbeg‘ia from postmg across the 3.}: \lnde lin- 0verlaml Journey From Pekln In it. Petersbnrg. ,___..,____..7 -â€" royal marines are to have very promin- ent places on the day; in fact, the bluejackets are to share the honor of. the guards of honor at Buckingham Palace and at St. Paul's Cathedral with) the very ick of the Guards battalions detailed or that duty. THE PROCESSION ITSELF -â€" . on“; vvuâ€" ‘tingents and the Indian sgecial repreâ€" ‘sentative cavalry. will all e quartered. in a new special camp at Hounslow, the English cavalry being drawn from Aldershot. Colchester. and Norwich (on the occasion. There W11] be twenty. five infantry regiments employed on the procession (inf, which wifll Include. the seven batta ions of the Houses hold Guards, and the remainder will‘ be drawn from AJdershot. Dover. Shorncliffe end probably places fur- ther away, and will represent Eng- lish. Irish. Scotch, ‘ and Welsh regi- ments, with the‘ King’s Royal Rifles and the Rifle Brigade. . These will be: contingents, not rengents. Along with these will be strong repreSenta- tive oompanies of the Royal Engin- eers and the Army Service Corps. .All these will be in a. special camp on Wall- bledon Common for the occasion. and are to attend there three days before the great ceremony, to go through their work as street guards. The Ad< miralty has not been left out, and. strong coptigents of‘ (bl‘uejackets apt] wul be employed during the day to‘ line the streets and keep order. be- side£ forming ards of honor and I'm- ing salutes. avalry in the arrange. ment forms a ver important element, and it is officialfiv stated‘that thera will be ten cava ry treatments em~ played, inclusive of the First and Seed and Life Guards. the Royal H'orsa Guards the Scots Grays. who are all near London. and contmgents of Lana cars, Light and Heavy Dragoons, HUB-a sars, and ROYal Horse Artillery. These, wihh‘tlge golonial cavalry conâ€" chapel army wi. keep the route lies EMPR the ABOI AI A GIRL'S FEAT. OF AUSTRIA HIT MI 1n nof tipat ‘oms PANT. f the Empress o! 5. So set is be: ;thy that she posi- 16 her morning om two mornings ways bathes in a which she order: bedroom, break- just as the freak )f Elizabeth's ec- Victpri amplon 1n Smc :e thl mug Landau . of thq ’UJ( 1t