The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-04-05
TRI-WEEKLY EDITION

seated In his easy chair before his bright
coal fire, with his dressing gown once more
folded around him. The only difference
ls that lie smiles instead OF sighing as he
did before. -.
! "Ah, yes, " he says, II sec my way clear
lean now without hesitation call on Madame
Victor In her TOom to interest her about
my little Casta Diva. l will tell her the
story,and engage hcr to cultivate the voice
OF my little protcge. l will see her to-
morrow morning, and perhaps she will nc
company meto Brldgets lodging. Not q
very inviting walk to invite the lady of my
heat to share, but then the circumstances
arc peculiar"
"Now l think of it I must engage of my
landlady the little bedroom next mine.
am determined to adopt that singing che
rub for my own. will change her name
to Casta Diva Patron. Itsounds musical,
and she is music itself. If sweet Mime
Victor only sees in her. what do, we shall
De an exceedingly happy family. declare
feel like husband and father already. !
shall find enough to do with my money,
after all.
And so he goes to bed and dreams of his
future joys till he fairly laughs aloud in his
sleep.
Now 1t is morning; and If you will put
your head out OF your door you can see him
going along the hall. lie stops at No g.
knocks gently; but the rich toned piano,
touched by u thrilling hand, does not allow
80 lovelikc a tap TO be heard This time
he knocks louder; the music stops, and the
door is opened by beautiful woman, who
invites him TO enter. Well, | don't won
der he fell in love with herl Let you and
l go peep III ut the keyholc and hear what
they say; I'll never tell-will you2 Hark2
Well, after all, can't tell what they said
because l promised wouldn't; but Mir.
Patron has staid In there great while, and
he didn't ask her to play once
NOW the door opens again and they come
out together; he in his over Goa, and hat she
III her cloak and bonnet. He looks very
muck excited, and she looks pale and
trcmblcs 80 she can scarcely speak. She
takes his Offered arm and goes down stairs
and out tae street door. do believe they
are going to Brldget's
And 80 they were.
Good Dir. Patron walks slowly with the
lady, tor she has every reason to tremble;
she believes she Is Lauretta's mother; for
she has been telling her friend how her
husband was killed in mob one dreadful
day because he was great politician, aud
when they burned his house they took he1
and threw her mo prison, where she re-
NAMED whole year, and only made her
escape when, during terrible troubles in
Italy, the prison doors were unbarred to
all.
She had sought frantically for her child
put III vain; believing that both I'auretta
ana her nurse were crushed in the same
mob that killed her husband, she came to
America to try to learn livelihood among
hospltable strangers by her fine musical
education and uncommon voice.
Mime Victor believes that Lauretta is her
strangely alike. Five years have passed
since she left Italy but she knows her eyes
will not deceive her. Her baby's features
are indeibly engraved upon her heart.
Her kind friend supports her up the FIVE
flights of stairs, and then she stops TO take
breath and nerve herself for either Intense
happiness or heavy disappointment.
They are about to enter the room when
little voice grects her ear singing, with a
wonderful power and expression, an Italian
melody which the lady herself used to sing
III her own sunny land. She stops and
grasps the arm Of her friend.
''Oh wait" she whispers, ''let me try"
and with great effort, she continues and
completes the unfinished strain In a voice
that angels might not exceed.
He opens the door.
Lauretta stands in the center of the room,
alone, pale and agitated; her great eyes di-
lated with emotion long repressed. Her
mothers voice has reached a spot in her
little heart which vibrates on her memory
like a glimpse of heaven.
Nine Victor sinks upon q chair and gazcs
long and earnestly upon the little motion
less figure; then he stretches out her arms
and whispers, Come here"
Laurctla slowly advances, and when she
Is close to the beautiful lady, she nestes
her head upon her bosom and draws a long
deep sigh.
''Tell nc your whole name, sweet one."
:Lauretta Victor"
The lady presses the little form still
closer
"Darling, am your mother"
81 know it," slghs the child
"You know 1t, my angela"
"YGs; have seen you in my dreams,
! and always called you mother; and when
you sung just now it brought it all back. ,
Good MIR. Patron went to the window
and wiped his eyes.
|
Once again we sec him sitting in his easy
chair before the bright coal Drc BY hi!
| side sits beautiful lady; one hand lies il
his, and the other Is tcndcrly slroking hi.
hair; but her eyes are resting upon a little
| fairy who sits at the plano, silently dream
| ing over some of Handci's music whicl
! her papa" has brought home to her.
The little fairy is ''Casta Diva"
The coffin In Russian Households,
| A b,oro ,,o bco,,oI, of tI,o N,,oo,.x ,,.>