The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-07-31
SISTER THERESA.

SISTER THERESA.
The operate season was at its height in
Paris, and the new prima donna was taking
all hearts by storm. Her beauty, her won
derful genius, and, above all, her magnifi-
cent voice, had created marked impress
sion even in the gay capital of France,
where that which is false either in science
or art soon loses it's glitter and stands out
in its true colors. But the Sgnori Fonti
had genius and merit enough to stand a
dozen such tests and she went through
the ordeal without suffering.
or course she had many admirers, but
among them all she had not single lover.
The men said she was, cold and. heartlcss--
that she was incapable Of loving but one
glance at her lovely face was sufficient to
refutc this SANDER, for one could read there
the token Of a warm and loving heart. But
the signora's heart was proud one also !;
it had been steeled in q school Of ad-
versity, and she was cautious how she
gave people claim even to her friend
ship-a caution very necessary to woman
in her position. But that claim once given,
she was true and loyal friend through
good and evil fortune.
She had Just adopted her profession,
and this was not only her first season in
Paris, but also her first season on the
stage. The director Of the Grand Opera
had engaged her merely as an experiment ;
but her success had been so marked, aud
she had taken such firm hold upon the
Parisians, that she had been retained as
first prima donna; and fortunate engage
mcnt it proved for the management, for
the receipts of the treasury were, larger
than they had been for years, and upon
the nights when the signora Appeared
there was no such thing as an empty seat
in all the vast theatre.
Among the admirers of the signora was
q certain Colonel Dufour, a gallant Off
Ger of the army, who had won his way in
Algeria and the Crmea from the ranks to
his colcnelcy. He was a very quiet man,
and was not given to much talking; but
he was one of those rare specimens Of the
Almighty's handiworl1 who make their
way into our esteem and friendships ire
their way through life.
Colonel Dufour was thirty-siX years old,
and the siguora twenty seven. They were
we'll suited in age, but entirely opposed to
each other in personal appearance, for he
was as homely as she was beautiful. This
was unfortunate for the Colonel, as the sig
nora was an ardent lover Of manly beauty e;
but il was perhaps atoned for by the fact
that she looked for something more than
beauty in a man.
Towards the close Of the Signora's en-
gagement the energy of the metropolis was
directed to the all-absorbing topic Of the
approaching war with Austria for Italian
liberty. The gauntlet had been thrown
down, and France was about to take it up.
Colonel Dufour was, of course, keenly
alive to the situation, for his regiment was
one of the famous "First Corps" and was
already under orders to march towards
the Alps. He was true soldier, and was
resolved, if the war came, to seek still
higher promotion in it; but for the first
time in his life the thought of being called
into active service made him sad. The
reason was, the Colonel was in love.
The signora, also, was sad at the thought
of her friend being called away. She did
not love him but with woman's tact she
had discovered his secret, and she knew
he loved her better than he could ever love
any woman again. She valued his friend
ship as one Of her dearest treasures; and
it panied her deeply that he should love
her when she could not return his passion.
The night before he left Paris was a
holiday to the signora, and she refused to
see any one but the Colonel, saying to him
with sad smile that she would not per-
init the world to como between them at
their parting.
"For you KNOW" she said gently, eve
are very good friends to each other"
The Colonel's heart beat titfully. Ii had
never even so much as fluttered when the
encmy's bullets whistled round his ears in
battle !; not even when, with his heroic re-
giment, he drove back the last Russian eff
fort to retake the Malakotl, but it trembled
now at the tender voice of this woman he
loved so well, but who, alas loved him
only as she would have loved her brother.
Almost before he knew it, he told her all
his passion, and begged her to be his wife
if he came back safe from the war. The
simple, manly offer of the brave soldier
touched the signora deeply, and she was
almost tempted to give him the promise he
asked for; but her innate truthfulness re-
bclled at this, and she told him frankly the
true state of her feelings for him.
81 do not love you as wife should"
she said, sand l will not wrong you BY
you. l love you only as sister
might love brother. You will some day
earn to be satisfied with this; and then
you will find another woman who can make
you happy; and I shall be your sister, and
% happy in and proud Of my noble bro
her" ea-
The Colonies face was very sad but it
vas calm and tranquil, and as the sisnora
spoke smile passed over it.
"That day, signora, will never come" he
said. 81 must rest satisfied with your de-
,iSion now, but will not resign the hope
hat you will yet be my wife; for l as
'ure you l shall never marry any other
al wish did love YOU" she said, soft
y; "for desire above all things to make
'ou happy"
"That is good beginning Colonel
)ufour exclaimed, Frightening. 81 love
'ou too well to fail to win YOU"
The signora did not contradict him. In,
Iced, she did not think 1t unlikely that his
Prediction might be realized; and SO she
answered him only with a blush. AS they
parted, the Colonel asked her for some
oxen to carry with him. ga.sg
i shall not need it to remember you %
le said but when am far away, march
ng and fighting, or perhaps dying, it will
make me happy and contented with nv
OF to have with me something that has |
'een yours" .a ~ Il