Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-04-19

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as the storm had passed by, Fillippo meanwhile
stepped to an open piano and began to play a
favoritenfa, which had lately gained him nuen
applause. Seeing, however, that Grili' IS wrath
was rather in the 1ow than the ebh, he seated
himself and Logan to s:ng the cr'a, Which he
supported with a vigorous accompaniment
He had at first no Other intention than to show
his firm resolution, and TO appear as uncmbar-
rassed and as much at his ca c possible !;
but when he perceived that tlloeld man listen
ed with delighted astonishmclt, instead OF
humming lightly and carclessly as before, Lc
began to sing in style worthy of FillipPo Pal
ma, the most celebrated singer Of his time. y
mirror hanging opposite rejected the face of
the miser, and Fillippo watched with anxious
interest tic varying emotions which passed
through his soul and warmed into life his Stern,
rigid features At FIRST the muscles of his face
relapsed and expanded as The frll, deep tones
tremblcd through the hall ; then rs the swell
ing waves of rich melody rose and sank in wild
sport and play, the angular features gradually
formed themselves into sweet smile, and the
man Of gain who had until now listened only
to the sound of gold, stood spell-bound; al light
was in his lelden, soulless eye, and his lips
trcmblcd 1t was Us though an angel Of beauty
had touched him with his magic wanl, SO COM
pletc was the transformation the clear, rich
tones of melody fell upon bis soul as the warm,
bright rays of the sun upon the earth, after
long rainy season. AS Palma at last with a
lively emotion and brilliant passages drew to-
wards the close, Critic could no longer remain
quiet in his corner; he strove to express by
the motion of his limbs the spirit of the music !;
noiselessly he moved, that he might not by an
unlucky step interrupt the swcct-toned stream
of enchanting melody As the aria was COZ
c.uded and Critic stood painting, wiping the
perspiraton from his forchead, the singer stap-
ped up to him with smile and said:
How is it, Signor Critic? will you loan me
the ducats now? or will you at least listen to
my explanation, and not interrupt me with
your curses"
Curse, curse 9--no Heaven forbid-thc
inoney will count out directly, my son YOU
are magician, you have bcwitched me, upon
your honest face, or your golden yoiec, loan
it without interest, if it must bc so'
"No, no, that is more than ask, my wor-
thy sir; be assured you do ne a great favor,
which shall not forget after the carnival,
when am happy bridegroom and rich
man." Fillippo quickly gathered up the mo-
nev. vanished through the street door, and
Critic awoke, as if from heavy dream, to
consciousness of what he had done. AT first
he seemed to repent his generosity, then shak-
ing his gray locks, inyountarily exclaimed,
. He has voice he can sing and bewitch
with his songs, he shall teach my lslisctta
The carnival wasAgilliant and magnificent
but passed far too qdickly~ for filippo. He
had not. as formerly, cclcbratedit it with his gay
companions; he was seeking his unknown loved
one amid the crowd of masks, and too often
found himself sadly disappointed. His gold at
last engaged an old woman to bring inforna-
ton of her. and also deceived all watching eyes
which guarded the beautiful unknown; thro
her he received few lines from the lady, con-
tanning, however, neither yes, nor no, but
promise to meet him on the coming Sunday
True, he had seen and spoken with her at 1Nok-
kolfs on the evening of the last day of the car
niyal. and confessed his love but while he lis
teued to hear the sweet words of life that trcm-
bled unexpressed upon her lips, the dense
crowd separated him from the fair one, and in
stead. the braves of hundred mocking voices
greeted him as they looked on and boisterouSly
applauded the farce ..sa-esf6
Fillippo sat in his lonely room in sorrow and
silence, when the door suddenly opened and
Critic stood before him, the sight OF whose face
recalled his uncancelled obligation, and struck
new terror to Che unhappy lover. The object
of his visit, however, was by no means such as
Fillippo had anticipated; he came to assure his
young friend that the sweet strains of his gold
en- song were yet floating through h's Drain,
and to request that lac would give his daughter
lessons, and teach her those charming melodies,
with which she might gladden. and solace his
old age. Palma was not more surprised at this
request than at the news that lie bad q daush-
ter. whom he had never seen or heard of, tho
/ lie had been long time a regular customer Of
the old man. Then Grifo told him how long
years ago, the persuasions Of lis friends had iu-
duced linn to marry, AID how in years time
his young wife died. leaving him daughter,
whom the tender cane Of a prudent aunt had
reared. q have had notice, he added, = that
many datterers and idlers, attracted by her
beauty seek to insnare the girl sol sdoubt-
less necessary that she should be suitably en-
ployed, that evil may not take root in the soil
Of her heart"
The next evening, in compliance with Grif-