Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-09-08

trout streams of the woods, chanced to
hear her singing in the twilight.
81 never heard a sweeter voice in my
life," said Mr.. Milford. "It should be
cultivated"
''ohe goes to singin' school twice week
with Dave and Maggie, " said Mr. Gaskin,
with the air of one who feels that he has
done his fall duty.
Singing school She should 90 on the
stage. Such talent as that ought not to
be hidden away in a napkin"
The upshot of it was, that when Mr..
Milford went away he took Blanca with
HIM, to train her delicious young voice as
he believed il was capable of being trained.
That nightingale throat of hers will
make her fortune yet predicted Mr..
Milford.
"SheIl forget us ALL" wept poor Mrs.
Gbskln, when the hour of parting came.
| "No NAM ma dear, won't" cried Blanca,
with passionate burst Of tears. "Ill love
you elways-always-fOr you were my
friends when l had no one in all the wide
world to turn to"
Five years afterwsrd, and the voice whose
wondrous strains George Milford had pro-
phetlcally heard, had entranced the muSi-
cal world. Blanca Nfanto waN the prima
donna of the operate stage-the canta-
trIce whose ballads were worth gold piece
for every note; and she had come down
to spend the summer with her old friends
in the brown rooted farm house.
AS beautiful as ever star-eyed and
cream-skiDned. with lustrous black hair
worn like a coronal about her head, and
uncoDsciously graceful ways. David Gas
kin, her play mate of olden times, looked
at her with mute wonder. Gould it be
possible that she was the little Blanca who
used to climb the hay lofts with him in
search of eggs, and follow, dog.like. at
his heels when be went at twilight to
bring home the COWS?
| "Ah, Blanca" h said, almost envious-
| y. ''you are rich lady now. and great
| singer. L wonder you remembered u.s.
Blanca turned her soft eyes appealingly
on bin.
"Oh David, whom should remember,
If not your
David got up and began to pace up and
| iUwn he JJr.
II sIppose that young mAu at the hotel
! is rich tIO %
''Whst young man II
"Ihat Sidney WIllouRhby, the one who
| came doWn ir m NCW York ust because
| GU were comIue."
! Yes, he rich, believe"
"And rh4 gentlemaa with the team of
cream olored horhes who is boarding at
| Deacon Moss"
"Ob, Mr. Allaire - said Biapca inno-
Gently. He Is very wealthy too"
''lt must be fDe to have such train at
| ones ht els said David DIT erly.
Is 1t my fauit, David - said Blanca.
III st ready TO burst into tears. "Can /
Uld hen ay away !"
| But David, determlne at all hazards to
be dlspleased, had turned salleuly into the
house.
Nanny" cried Biauca, for by this
name sac Ill adir, ssed good Mrs Gaekin,
what makes DavId Sd cross with ME
What have l done to make hlm CRY %
But Mrs. Gasklu too went III . the honse
without answering. " hat could she. say
to the beau iful young cantatrice Would
it be hitting to make answer? ?
"My son, the hard working farmer lad,
has ventured to fall Ill love with you, queen
IF song and beauty. Even SO tho feeble
gIow-worm aspires to the calm glitter of
the star"
But Blanca could not but notice that
the eyes Of the good farmers wife were
swollen and red the next day.
'Mammy," she cried, "What is the mat
ter Are you sick 2"
"Heert-sick, child" Mrs. Gaskin an
swered, with a great convulsive Sob
david is going away"
''David Going away Where 2"
"To San Francisco, he says. Ah, me
and thought he would be the stay and
prop Of my Old age u
"B But he shan'C go" cried Blanca reso-
lutely. III ask linn not"
And she went out In the orchard, where
David modify gathering a basket of
gold skinned ''summer bonghs, looking
very handsome and very misaLt Iroplc in
the gfeon chequered light that came
strea ming down through the apple tree
leav, S.
David, is it true that you are going
away 2"
" Yes. Blanca. it is true"
And why ?"
Simply because [ am miserable here
Isn't that reason enough 2"
David, the black eyelashes droopeds
and soft, rosy pink stole over the rich
olive cheek, as Blanca stood there before
him In the attitude of a suppliant--" David,
would you stay If asked yon?"
The gOld-cheeked summer-boughs went
tumbliL 6 ia yellow Cascade all over the
short, green orchard turf David iaskiu
had unw4rily let go the basket handle.
Blanca. do you really mean it ?"
Eyes, David 2"
"And Mr.. Allaire, and Sydney Will
loughby ?"
lone hair of your head, David, is more
to me than both of them put together"
He clasped her little hands rapturously.
"Why didn't you tell me this before,
my own dark-eyed darling 2"
"You unreasonable fellow as if q woman
wasn't always obliged to wait until she
was asked -
I've been jealous fool" quoth David,
oeaming all over.
II think you have" said the prima
donna calmly. "And now let Us go in."
David Gsskin did not go to San Fran
cisco, and the two city gentleman return
I'd discOusolate to the metropolis, and
Blanca is 10 be married in the spring; and
n the mean time her voice is sweeter than
ever, as she warb'es the love aongs of
TIA ian romance, with an echo from her
'wn happy heart.