The Nevada journal., 1852-05-29

and spoke it well. And by perseve-
rance soon trained Alice to study with
him. The old grandmother left them
to their own course she already look.
ed on Walter as the future husband of
her child, though he solemnly and
firmly declared that he would never
be a burden to any woman, If one
C 'uld be found generous enough to
marry the blind fiddler.
About two years had passed, and
Walter was between 18 and 10, while
Alice was a pretty girl of Is. The
blind youth had learned to read and
to write. He had made remarkable
progress, too, in music, and began to
be asked to 60 to balls, and even con-
certs He had beautiful collection
ct violins, once the idols of the peor
Italian, and this was greatly in his fa-
vor. One afternoon he was playing
some exquisite piece Of Italian music
to silent crowd, when a youth about
his own age, in the d. css Of midship-
man, pushed forward, and stood with a
blank and astonished air gazing at
him. Presently Walter finished; and
the crowd, after showering half pence
upon him, moved away. But the mid
shipman remained.
Walter Arnott.' exclaimed he in
tones of deep astonishment.
All /! Frank Prescott cried the
blind youth with genuine satisfaction
Is that you? How kind to notice me
now
Notice you now! what, the son oi
the former captain of our ship! Good
Heaven. this is shameful, this is dread.
full
Not at all; 1 am very happy--I
could not be more So, replied Walter
Nonsense; you could and shall. just
put your fiddle under your arm, and
come and dine with me at the Grey
hound. No denial. must tell you my
story, and you must tell me yours.
wanted friend in Greenwich; I've
found one.'
Walter could not resist such hearty
kindness; and after bargaining tha,
they should call at his home, that he
might leave his fiddle, and have thu,
an excuse for explaining his departure
from his post, they walked arm in arm
up the town. A hearty greeting die
the MILDLY get from every sailor and
invalid he met. Every one was pleas
ed to see the blind fiddler taken notice
Of, and Alice was quite proud when,
handing her his violin, Walter told
where he was going. The MILDLY Or
dered very good dinner, after which
he informed the young musician that
he had an uncle in Greenwich whose
daughter he was very much in love
with, that being poor, with very small
prospects he concealed his affection
from his uncle, who wished his cousin
Gertrude to marry some one her equal
in point of fortune. To Gertrude he
had not spoken distinctly he was
too young for that; but he was sure
she responded to his affection. HI
was now, however, about to leave Eng
land on three years cruise, and he
was in a state Of great nneasiness o
mind. He knew not what might hap
pen in the interval He could mo-
write to the young lady, as he knew
she would decline carrying on clan.
destine correspondence-and he loved
her the more for her delicacy. Blu,
still he wanted some friend to give him
news Of her, and her news Of him.
Blind Walter readily volunteered te
do this by the hand of Alice, il he
could at any time pick up intelligence
Of interest. But Frank Prescott had
q better plan than that-he would gst
his uncle and cousin to patronise him
next evening there was to be quie
dance, and he must come and play
And Walter did SO, and the evening
was twice as pleasant as it otherwise
would have been. The blind musician
entered into tn, spirit of the affair
played rs long and as often as they
liked; was general favorite with thu
ladies, especially with Gertrude Pres
colt; and pleased every body so mucl
with his playing, that he henccfortl
found his engagements multiply.
From that day he abandoned hi
station in the street; he played at eve
ming parties, he gave lessons, and al
without neglecting his education or tina
of Alice. During the stay Of Franl
Prescott the young people were inse
perable; the midshipman was delight
ed with his old acquaintance, and the!
parted attached friends.
Blind Walter actually loved Frank
for with him kindness was irresistible