The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-03-06

up his pencil, and began to sketch. The
picture grew beneath his dexIerous fingers
a woman's head--proud, and wonderously
beautiful. 1t was the face of the little sing
er-Oriole.
After that, every morning, Carl visited
the spot where he had first seen the girl and
with an instructive dread of Severance, he
went alone. Hour after hour he fingered in
the vicinity, but Oriole came no more.
One evening, several weeks after the en-
counter, as he was walking slowly down a
retired street, he saw slender figure stand
ing alone, and with an air of hesitation,
near the door of rickety old house. He
saw at glance that it was the little street
singer. Her eyes fell upon his face, and
with low cry, she put out both her hands.
He took them in his; the girl felt that she
could trust him.
ooh, sir !" she sobbed, "what shall do ?
My old nurse is dead, and II dare not go
into the streets alone, to sing"
She paused, and a storm of grei and pride
shook her childish form. She was very
proud still, this poor, friendless beggar.
"I live in this house," she continued, af-
ter a pause, "but the landlady will turn me
out, homeless and shelterless, unless l pay
her. have no way to get the money, but
by singing, and how can sing in the great
busy streets, all alone?"
1t was a pathetic appeal; Carl's eyes were
full of tears.
"Wait," said he.
Somehow he found his way into the
house, where he soon paid the old woman
the sum due her; then with few encour-
aging words to Orole, he hastened to his
own home. He went straight to his moth
er, a noble, whole -souled, generous woman,
a fit mother for such son, and told her the
whole story.
In an hour Mrs. Sturtevant had driven in
her carriage to the tumble down building,
and had carried Oriole home with her. She
found her all that her son had claimed her
to be and woman of the world though she
was, could find no flaw in her, and no rea-
son to doubt the story which she told of her.
self
Two months later, an outward bound yes
sci bore the young girl back to her native
land, to finish her musical education under
the great maestro.
. 81
The Grand Opera House in New Orleans
is ablaze of light and color. Fair faces, ricl
dresses, flashing jewels and rare perfumes
scene of Intoxicating beauty.
The house is crowded from pit to gallery
for it is the first appearance of young sing
er, whose fame has preceded her from tn,
Old World but who was billed in the pro
gramme and known simply as ogiole.
In a stage box amid a party of richl,
dressed ladies, sat Carl Sturteyant and Guy
Severance. Five years had elapsed sine
the last scene of the story, but they are still
unchanged. Guy wears the same cold lool
OIL NtdIlutsS bll MS udlhi lldlhoOllb ldNN
there IS any change in him it is not for tn
better. Carl, well, such hearts as his cal
never alter. His mother is at his side. The,
keep their secret well but occasional 81,
gances into each others eyes reveal the un
derstanding between them.
At length the curtain arose and the oper
began. 1t was the opera from which oriol
had sung the air upon that memorable da.
in the streets of New Orleans.
Something, remark which Carl careless
ly dropped, brought it back to the memor.
of Severance.
She came ON at last; the audience greete'
her with a round of applause, and slowl.
approaching the foot lights, she began I
sing. Such voice, who can describe it
And she sang the very song which she ha,
sung on the street that day. Guy kne'
then knew with feeling of astonishmen
which no words eau portray, that the beau
tiful woman was Oriole-the street singer
cannot describe her triumph that night
How she made her way, as 10y storm, righ
into the hearts of the kind, generoug Ne'
Orleans people how she swayed them
laughter and TO tears, how she had every
thing her own way, and the curtain fell ol
the last act in the midst of the widest Ell
thusiasm.
When the whole mystery was explained
Guy begged to be presentedi and his reque;
was granted. From that night his haught
heart was at the feet of Onole. At lengt
the time came when he told her so lai
before her his all--his heart, hand and fol
tune-all the boasted pride of race an
blood, and begged her, humbly, to becom
his wife.
But Oriole turned away, as proudly as sh
had done that day on the street when b
had humiliated her, and sneered at her.
was his turn for humiliation now.
"sir," she answered, in her calm, gray
voice you honor me greatly, but | mu
decline. No man who would scof at
friendless and unprotected woman, as yo
did, could ever hold my heart in his keel
; ing"
With a sneer on his hannsome feature
Guy left her presence. He would be r
! venged yet"
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