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

90 you WORK Wnen you are. SO weak ana
sick2 ] pray you rest and get strong and
we'll" t.;-.,.
Il can not, Mr.. Westell; 1 am poor. L have
lost all ever made by singing have no
home. no relatives no money,
nothing-scarcely friend" and
she faltered. Miss Crawford, Nina, you
have home; it is here in my heart. You
have friend, LOVING one, if you win only
accept his love. You shall have money,
rest, comfort, quiet if you will let me give
them TO you. have saved something; let
me give it to you. Oh, forgive mel you are
angry; spoke too hastily; regret that 1
was so careless, and you so weak; but, Miss
Crawford, please allow me to aid you. j
have no one but my mother; allow me to
ask you to 60 to her home for a few weeks.
i shall be away. and you two can have a
quiet time. | can not bear to see
you attempt to work in your present
condition, ana, as friend old enough
TO guide you in this matter, let me offer you
a small present. You once did me the honor
to accept my flowers: please take this in the
same way. | shall expect you to do this, as
L do that you will go to my mother. because
it is right and best for you to do so. Do not
refuse" Nina hesitated; then, with scarlet
cheeks, said very quietly ''Mr. Westell-
Homer will not go to your home. l will
not accept anything from you unless''-she
could not say the words. Maidenly modesty
checked the utterance, but only for smo-
Inent-'I can not accept your kindness un-
less you love me-" His arms were around
her in moment, and she was clasped to his
breast "1.ove you Ninal have not dared
to tell you before, because 1 feared you
thought of me as only an old man who was
necessarily in your presence. Love you,
when night and day you are never out of
my thoughts--never even in dreams forgot
ten. My precious darling, can you love me
when l am so unworthy such treasurer
'Ah, Homer, you are the only one of all the
| friends of my days of sunshine who remem-
bered me in the storm. | bring nothing
with me. My voice is gone, my fortune lost;
1 but my heart is true and tender" nina,
may 1 ask one favor? viii you kiss
me of your own free will?" Proud
ly, tenderly, she pressed her lips
to his, while joy and love blessed
the heart that had been so lonely. Five
years were passed by Mr.. and Mrs. Westell
in Italy, and there Nina's voice, finer than
before, recovered its strength and purity,
and they returned to this country. She sang
once or twice in concert but reserved hei
triumph for her old home. Her sisters and
their families fastened to her, for she wa.
rich now, but she waved them all aside. no
ticing none but the little chill iren. yudg'
Vance avoided her as much as possible, bu
the night of the concert sat with the other
awaiting the entrance of the famous primi
donna. Her husband led her on the stage
and played the accompaniment whil
she sang the ballads of her natiy
land. Never had she sung so well
never had she looked so beautiful, thougl
she wore dress exactly like the one Min
Crawford wore at her debut. But no on
thought of her dress-her voice enrapture'
every hearer, and aught else was forgotten
She responded to every encore, but at tn
last said few words to the audience instea
of singing. "My friends, years ago pool
trembling girl sang before you on this stage
rimid, shrinking, frightened, she failed 9
first and left your presence weeping. Agai
she attempted the task and succeeded. Yo
remember her eagerness, her anxiety
please-but few of you knew that she san
for life or death, that her whole future hun
upon the notes that her voice sounded, tbs
failure meant living death, ma
riage to an unloved suitor VIII
pressed his claim upon her b
means of the opportunities of her famil,
Success meant life and liberty. You kno'
/, , the rest, you know the trials and joys of he
public life, you know she lost her voice an
, the money confided to anothers keeping {
the same time. You know she has Iegaine
the one, and, instead of the other, a precior
! owing heart and strong arm to care for he
and protect her for life. This is my last al
pearance on the stage. I go now to my fl
, away home, but, by the memory of my ow
sorrows and struggles, let me beg you to
tender and merciful to the young girls VIII
, may sing for the first time in public befoi
you. You can not tell their trials-aIl thi
hangs on single song-but if they fail, ei
courage them to try again; il they succee,
!, be generous in your praise" The story wei
the rounds and was denied and affirme
here and there by knowing ones out l tie
it as it was told me-for charitable pu
poses, for the orphan and the suffering Min
!, sometimes in public, but always with b.
= husband, whom she laughingly says 81
asked to marry her.
Grant Fighting for Russia
o A latter in the London Times contains n