Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1857-06-11

to sing again. have something better for
her to do"
Bridget dropped another courtesy; and
her mouth opened wide for she was all mys-
titled and bewildered
An hour later and Mr.. Patron is again
seated in an easy chair before his bright
coal fire. with his dressing gown once more
folded around him. The only difference is
that he smiles instead of signing as he did
before.
"Ah, yes." he says. see my way clear.
| can now, without hesitation, call upon
Madame Victory in her room, to interest
her about my little Casta Diva will tell
her the story and engage her to cultivate
the voice of my little protege. i will see
her tomorrow morning, and perhaps she
will accompany me to Bridget's lodging.
Not very romantic walk to invite the
lady of my heart to share, but then the
circumstances are peculiar.
''Now | think of it. must engage of my
land-lady the little bed room next to mine
l am determined to adopt that singing che
rub for my own. 1 will change her name
to Casta Diva Patron. 1t sounds musical,
and she is musical herself. Ii sweet Ma
dame Victor only sees in her what / do, we
shall be an amazing happy family. de-
clare / feel like husband and father al
ready. l shall find enough to do with my
money after ALL"
And so he goes to bed and dreams of his
future joys till he fairly laughs aloud in his
sleep.
Now it is morning, and if you will put
your head out of your door, you can see
him walking along the Hall. He stops at
No. S.--knocks gently; but the rich-toncd
piano. touched by a thrilling hand, does
not allow so love-like a tap to be heard
This time he knocks louder, the music stops,
and the door is opened by a beautiful wo
man. who smilingly invites him to enter.
Well, l don't wonder he fell in love with
her, They closed the door. Let's you
and go and peep in at the key-h and
hear what they have to say. I'll never
tell-will you? Hank! Well, after all l
can't tell what they said now; because l
promised | woulden't. But Mr.. Patron has
staid in there great while, and he don't
ask ncr to sing or play all the time.
Now the door opens again and they come
ont together; he in his overcoart and hat;
she in her cloak and velvet bonnet. He
looks very much excited, and she looks
pale AMI trembles so she can hardly
speak. She takes his offered arm, and
goes down stairs and out of the street door
| DO think they are going to Bridge;'s.
And so they are.
Good Mr.. Patron walks slowly with the
sweet lady, for she has every reason to
tremble, she believes she is Lauretta's man.
ma for she has been telling her friend how
her husband was killed in a dreadful mob
one day, because he was a politician, and
when they had burned his house they took
and threw her into prison, where she re-
mained a whole year and only made her es-
cape when during the terrible troubles in It
ally, the prison doors were unbared to all.
She sought frantically for her child, but
in vain; and believing that both Lauretta
and her nurse were crushed in the mob that
killed her husband. she came to America to
try to earn livelihood among the hospi-
table strangers by her fine musical education
and uncommon voice.
Madame Victor believes that Lauletta is
her child, because their stories are so strong
ly alike. Five years have passed since she
left Italy: but she knows that her eyes will
not deceive her. Her baby's features are
indelibly engraved on her heart.
Her kind friend supports her up five flights
of stairs and she stops to take breath and
to nerve herself for either intense happiness
or disappointment.
They vera about to enter the room, when
a little voice greets her ears, singing with
wonderful power and expression, an Italian
melody, which the lady herself used to sing
in her own sunny land. She stops and
grasps the arm OF her friend
ooh, wait" she whispers, ''let me try"
with great effort, she continues and COM
pletes the unfinished strain in voice that
an angels might not exceed.
He opens the door.
Laurette stands in the centre of the floor,
alone. pale and agitatcd; her great eyes
dilated with emotion long reprcssed. Her
mothers voice has reached a spot in her lit
tie heart, which vibrates on her memory
like glimpse of heaven.
Madame Victor sinks upon chair. and
gazes long and earnestly upon the little mo-
tionless figure; then she stretches out her
arms and whispers, "come here"
Lauretta slowly advances, and when she
is cl to the lady, she nestled her head
upon her bosom and draws long and deep
sigh.
Tell me your name. sweet one"
''Lauretta Victor"
The lady presses the little form still
closer.
Darling. am your mother!''
Il know it," sighed the child.
"You know it, my angel"
Eyes; have seen you in my dreams,
and always called you mother" and when
you sang Just now it brought it all hack!"
Good Mr.. Patron went to the window and
wiped his eyes.
Once again we see him sitting in his easy
chair before the bright coal FIRE. BY his
side sits beautiful lady--one hand lies on
his, and the other was tenderly stroking
his hair. but her eyes are resting upon the
little fairy who sits Mt tho piano. silently