The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-05
THE STAGE FIEND.
Sunday World.l

Sunday World
The wind howlctl and swept down
Fifth avenue with !: dismal moan, rat
tling the shutters and weathercocks OF
the silent s,,mbre mansions which line the
'or>o OF the New World. The day--a
ircary, wet and cold November day--was
.!ra,nally waning into night. Here and
here strcct-lamp tlickercd up, and from
behind the closely drawn blinds of the
windows ruds!y light shone into the
etrcet, suggestive of comfortable homes
and warm fire place~--for those who en-
dyed the supreme happiness of home on
this dreary night.
This was evidently not the case with
IN old fiddler, who stood on the sidewalk
bareheadcd, with his gray hair flowing
in the wind, plying his instrument dill
@ently. Through the stiffness of the
-trtct the sounds of his fiddle were heard
distinctly, and sounded less discorlant
diam performances of street musicians
:ne generally apt to be. His repertoire
was not rmh: 'parigi Cara" from the
"Trayata,' Santa Lucia" and q ro-
nance ly Gordigiani were all he could
play. But he PLAYED these songs with
@enuine feeling, tolerable precision, and
with that peculiar chic which immedi-
atrty betrayed the Italian performing his
own national music. After the close Of
each piece he wistfully looked up at the
closed wiAtloV- on both sides, shiver
N1>-od over his emaciated, poorly, clad
ti@urc, and after waiting a few moments
without result he again took up his fiddle
and ftgan the next piece. ...
While the angry November night
'Io,ed in on this areary picture of human
tlcsohtien and helplessness, the glow of a
Great ire burning cheerfully in luxur-
iantly furnished parlor of the house at
the gate Of which the old musician was
Standing, shane on another picture of
~olitary Grief and misery. A young
woman, dressed with sort of careless
luxury in a morning robe of yellow silk,
paced fretfully 10 and fro in the large
room. Now she approached the piano
and pIayel with one finger he first notes
nf ''pMigi Ia hcllq;" then she sprang up
9gain, wrung her hands, while something
.;capcd lcrlipa which sounded very much
Ike an italian oath, and yawned in the
most dismal and 1--WE are sorry to say),
unplc@ant fashion. Here, in this abode of
wealth and luxury, ennui, the dreadcst
of all the monsters which assail and tor
nent humanity, had evidently fixed his
sl-idcnce.
Suddenly its fair victim pulled at the
nclE with an angry Jerk, which sent the
soupd ringing and vibrating through the
whole house, A young chambermaid APP
peared on the threshold.
Annette said the mistress in French
go and call that musician into the base
mcat. feel terribly duh tonight Per-
iap~ few minutes conversation with
thv man will amuse me- But he must
not know that am the mistress of the
house. | Twill change my dress and 20
down stairs. You and Jean treat me
jlls. as if were the ladies maid or some
hing Of the kind. Do you hearY
The young girl smilmgly nodded and
withdrew. She was evidently used to the
,nany whms of her capricious mistress. A
noment later the iidlling on the street
ceased and the broken voice OF the oil man
wa- heard in the basement showering
blessings in Il very imperfect English on
lie head Of the "noble sienora" who
had t'ken pity on forlorn, helpless old
man.
While he was yet speaking the lady
acr.clf entered the basement room. She
had changed her dress for palmer gown,
and in pursuance OF the directions they
had received neither Annette nor the
man-servant Jean noticed in any way hci
presence.
"Well, have you y good APPETIZER she
asked the old man in Italian. "The lady
has ordered us to give you to eat ant
drink as much as you like"
"Oh, NY most humble thanks to IIei
ExcelieDeyi" the old man exclaimed rap
iurously, pointing to the wine and tht
slices Of cold roast beef which stood be
fore him on the table. I haveneverliat
50 good meal since the blessed DAYS il
our own beloved Italy, when J playet
first fiddle at San Carlo to the singing o
the great.llarberini."
At this name the lady suddenly spran,
up and imposing with an imperative ger
lure silence Oh her servants took q SEA
close by the musician.
so YOU have accompanied the Bar
oerini| she asked, in. an eager tone.
Many a time, Signorina! And ] sllal
never forget those nights if live to b
rs old as Methusalah. Oh, what al
artist, what a blessed child of God sh
las! And what shame it was for he
TO quit the stage!"
You think so?' retorted the lady
sharply, 'Do moi you know that she lcf