The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-11-16

parcel in his hand, and stood before the
door that led to Mile. La C@'s suit of
rooms with palpitating heart. He had
intended to knock and leave the parcel
with servant, but, how. unfortunate
the door stood open. He would steal in
and put his music upon the table. He
crept in; he laid his parcel down softly Z;
but az he did so, his eyes fell upon a
miniature. 1t was portrait of his di-
vinity herself, and it was set in costly
gems. These he neither noticed nor
cared for. All he saw was the sweet
face. He stopped over it; he took it in
his hand.
1T is herselfP' he said.
And think he would have kissed it,
but at that moment he heard scream
and a savage growl.
He turned. The scream came from
Mile. La c., the growl from gentle
man who accompanied her, and on the
instant two hands came down on Fernan-
de's shoulders, and the miniature was
wrested from him.
Chow careless of Auguste," said the
lady, "to leave the door open for thieves
to enter by"
The gentleman Justify called for help.
Fernando said nothing. Conscious of
his position, he was stricken dumb, and
it was as one passing through the chang
ing scenes of dream that he knew him
self to be arrested and cast into prison.
The prima donna appeared against
him when the time came. She had
found him in her room. He had valu-
able ornament in his hand. She believed
that he intended to steal it. She had
never seen him before.
At this the young man felt that it
would be well to be dead. She had never
seen him beforel 1t was only fancy.
He had not caught her eyes. She had
never noticed him.
The gentleman gave his evidence, but
was fierce, and called Fernando thief
and rascal, and Fernando could only
say he was not guilty. He would not
even bring his respectability forward by
way of defense.
81 am named Fernando, and 1 am
twenty-three years, and 1 am nothing
and nobody"
This he said when called upon to ac-
count for himself, and nothing more, and
he was written down vagrant, and con-
demned to six months hard labor as
thief
Mile. La c. went home pouting and
declaring that she "hated to go to such
dreadful places" She ate delightful
lunch, and afterward finding packet
upon her table, opened it, and read Fer
nande's anonymous note, at which she
laughed; and hummed over the song,
pronouncing it every pretty" A few
days afterward she practiced it, and on
being encored one night, bethought her
to sing it.
Poor Fernandez If he could have been
there to have seen how the women wept
over his pretty little lay of love and death,
and to have heard how the applause
rang.
After that the manager besought Mad
amoiselle to sing Loves Dying Dream"
every night, and the lady obeyed the re-
quest.
Amateur singers went mad over it, and
it was published. Having the name of
no composer upon it, it was called Mile.
La C-'s song, and by many was be-
lieved to be her own, and it sold as never
song sold before.
One day, with party, she visited the
prison where Fernando was confined.
She stood amid her little circle of
cavaliers and said to one in authority of
the place:
"What do they like, these people? ?
Shall 1 sing love song%
GAS Mademoiselle pleases," said the
man. every one understands that
theme"
And Mademoiselle smiled, and tried
her voice with little trill, and began
poor Fernande's song, "Love's Dying
Dream"
Oh, the eager, glittering eyes that
watched her.
Oh, the flushed cheek-the hurried
breath! Oh, the mad throbbings of the
heart of number twenty-four as he
whispered to himself:
at is my song! 1t is my song!'
"What is the matter ?" whispered
number twenty-three to number twenty
four. 81 say, mon ami, speak"
"What is the matterw asked the
singer of the superintendent, as the last
notes of her song died upon her lips.
"There seems to be some commotion."
"There is little," said the superin-
tendent calmly; number twenty-four
has caused it."
elias he escaped ?' cried the lady,
looking as though she had heard that
tiger had broken loose.
cater manner, Madamoiselle," said
the superintendent. "He is dead.''
They buried Fernando in whatever
spot of ground is given to pauper prison
ers. And Mile. La c. sang until she
sang herself into the heart of some title;
but as long as she sings, at all, she will
sometimes sing "Love's Dying Dream"
1t is so pretty, and then it was the work
of an unknown admirer. 1t is the favor
lite with Madame, and always has been.
No one remembers number twenty
four, named Fernando, who was SO i'm
polite as to die while Mile. La c.
was singing.