The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-05-23

strong and reliant when singing, she would
have fled from the crowd who always await
ed her with congratulations. Sometimes
she would ask him to play while
she sang, and with a tenderness
and, beauty approached by none other,
he would make the violin echo her flute
like notes, and to reward HIM for his kind
ness she would sing for him alone the songs
he loved. When at last she was engaged to
sing In opera, his purpose unknown to her
he left a good situation to be near her, and
though he was in the orchestra yet nightly
he watched her and loved her, He was get
ting old, people said the gray hairs were
coming fast and the hand that held the bow
often trembled, but only when Nina sang
the love songs that he coveted to another
and when her white hand rested for mo-
ment in that of the great burly basso, he
wonld clinch his fingers until they snapped
the strings of his violin.
But the prima donna was growing rich
and the gulf widened between them. No
more did he offer her flowers; she could
wear flashing jewels now. No more did she
call him to play for her; she was occupied
with her characters and her costumes. Once
in awhile when accidentally they met she
would laughingly chide him for his neglect.
Poor Westell, il ever heart was crushed
with the weight of love surely his must
break. for every word that she spoke or sang
but made him worship her the more. Her
mother was deao, her sisters married. Ad-
die captured or rather Judge Vance cap
tured Addie, and Nina was alone. Between
the three sisters there had never been much
affection, for the elder ones had al
ways repulsed the youngest, and she
could not remember moment when she
had not been considered an interloper in the
family circle. Her money had started the
did not begrudge the means, provided they
were happy. Addie had teased her until she
had confded to Judge Vance all of her
money, and she held his notes for the
amount. He was getting along splendidly.
and had seemed to forget that he had ever
tried to win her for wife, and she was glad
this was so, for she loved his children, and
went now and then for days visit to her
sisters home. Addie professed to enjoy her
society very much, accepting the pres
ents given her, and allowing her children
to do the same. But Nina was not
altogether deceived, yet tried to forget her
past grievances Judge Vance continued
borrowing and using her money, always sat
isfying her of his safe financial condition
and bewildering her with technicalities.
When she was away Mr. Westell was moody
and morose, but never approached her on
, her return unless sent for. He knew she
regarded him as an elderly person, fair
, violinist, and that was all. And he loved,
5 worshipped her.
One night, missing her carriage. she
walked home through the snow; sore
} throat annoyed her the next day and though
, she was warned of the consequences she
. filed that evenings engagement, and
: consequently was i'll for a month
At the end of that time hel
e physician pronounced her doom, "You
will never sing again; your voice is hope
! lessly lost" It was like blotting the sur
t out of the sky, like turning the fairest day
s into the darkest night, and stunned anC
bewildered she received his words without
r groan or tear She sent the news to her sis
e tiers and awaited their reply. She was ricl
n enough TO take care of herself for her life
$ time, but she hoped they would offer her
t home with them. She was willing, yes anx
e ious, to pay literally for all she received, bu
J. she craved home, place with her kinderd
t After long delay the answer came. Clara
e house was too small, her children too man.
b and her husband unwilling, and she advises
n Nina to go to a good country boardin
l. house where she could live cheap
IS Z hope you have saved something, but yol
;. were so foolishly extravagaut imagine yol
e have not thought of a rainy day." MIN
70 thought bitterly OF her foolish generosity il
It spending hundreds of dollars upon her AM
II her many children and husband. Addie'
D letter did not reach her for month, an,
IS then Judge Vance wrote all but short post
y script He told her that they could not fin'
d room for her. that she had forfeited al
j. right to their care or love by entering he
y chosen profession, and lntimated tina
le the correspondence would close wit
sr that letter. Addie explained that he
d husband had been adjusting his financis
1T relations with Nina, and that countin
le board bills during her visits, and legal I'D
er vice from Judge Vance, they were abou
j. square, enclosing check for s25 the ba
ID ance. The notes were worthless, and striI
lie ped of every hope Nina faced the world wit
" nothing but brave heart between her an
to despair. Her fortune stolen, her voic
ruined, her family turned enemies, she ha
ut no one upon whom to lean. She decided
ne go to large city and teach music, an
Z, | thor,erI, aho had aold oil har iawairr her do