Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-02-17

SUI .icldlSu' lie klHu OCnClonlaI
looked at her tenderly, and then con.
tinued
Il have a plan for this poor child.
which will at once relieve you of your
charge, and repay YOU for your good
ness of heart. Good night; little one
I'll come tomorrow. Dry your tears,
for I will yet make you happy. Here
Bridget, is some money for you, aud
be sure you don't send her out to sing
again. have something better for
her to do" s $3.50
Bridget dropped another courtsey,
and her mouth opened wide, for she
was all mystified and bewildered.
An hour later and Mr.. Patron is
seated in his easy chai,. before his
bright fire, with his dressing gown once
more folded around him. The only
difference is that he smiles instead OF
signing as lie did before: r-.
"Ah yes" he says, II see my way
clear. | can now, without hesitation
call upon Madame Victor in her room
to interest her about my little Casta.
l will tell her the story, and engage her
to cultivate the voice of my little pro-
tege. [ will see her tomorrow morn
ing, and perhaps she will accompany
me to Bridget's lodgings. Not very
romantic walk to invite lady of my
heart to share, but then the circum-
stances are peculiar. s.1I VI .... ..5 il.
'sNow think of it, I must engage OF
my landlady the little bedroom next
to mine. I am determined to adopt
that singing cherub for my own.
will change her name to Casta Diva
Patron. It sounds musical, and she
is music itself. If sweet Madame Vic
tor only sees in her what I do, we shall
be an amusing happy family. I de-
clare, feel like husband and father
already. [ shall find enough to do
with my money after all. ''.rr1r
And SO he goes to bed and dreams
of his future boys 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 going along the hall. He
90oilo f'o No. O-hucChS SeHtly HUul
the rich toned 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 beautiful wo-
man who smilingly invites him to en-
ter. Well, | don't wonder he fell in
love with her. They have closed the
door. Let's you and ] go peep in at
the key hole, and hear what they say
I'll never tell-will you? Uark! Well
after all, ] can't tell you what they
said because I promised I wouldn't
but Mr.. Patron has staid in there a
great while, and he didn't ask her tc
play or sing once all the time.
Now the door opens again, and they
come out together; he in his. oyer coat
and hat, and she in her cloak and vel
vet bonnet. He looks very much ex.
cited, and she looks pale, and trelnbIes
so that she can scarcely speak. She
takes his offered arm and goes down
stairs and out the street door. / dc
believe they are going to Bridget's.
And so they were.
Good Mr.. Patron walks slowly with
the sweet lady, for she has every rea-
son to tremble. She believes she is
Lamette's mamma; for she has been
telling her friend how her husband
was killed in mob one dreadful day
because he was great politician, and
when they burned his house they took
her and threw her i'll prison, where she
remained q whole year, and only made
her escape when, during terrible troub
les in Italy, the prison doors were an
| barred to all.
See had sought frantically for hel
child, but in vain; and believing tha
both Lauretta and her nurse were crush
ed in the same mob that had killed he
husband, she came to America to IT,,
to earn a livelihood among hospitabl'
strangers by her fine musical education
and uncommon voice.
Madame Victor believes that Lauret
ia is her child, because their two stor
les are so strangely alike. Five year
have passed since she left Italy; bu
she knows her eyes will not deceiv'
her. Her baby features are indellibl,
engraved upon her heart.
Her Find friend supports her up tn
five flights of stairs, and tl,en she stop
to take breath and nerve herself 70
either intense happiness Or heavy dis
; appointment. ..... .......-. -.
They are about to enter the room
when little voice greets their ca
singing, with wonderful power and ex
preston, an Italian melody which til
! lady herself used to sing in her ow1
sunny land. She stops and grasps tn
arm of her friend.
'Oh, wait she whispers, ''let m
try" and, with a great effort, she COZ
tinues and completes the uninishe
strain in voice that al angel Nigh
not exceed.
He opens the door.
Lauretta stands in the center of th
, room, alone, pale, and agitated; he
{ great eyes dilated with great emotio
long repressed. Her mothers voic
: has reached spot in her heart whic
, vibrates on memory Ike a glimpse {
+ heaven. a
Madame Victor sinks upon cha
and gazes long and earnestly upon til