The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-05-28
MIRIAM.

M1R1AM.
"That is a sweet voice-veryl |" said Cap
tain Mayell; "and with more cultivation
too than one is apt to find among the gen
eral run of itinerant minstrels."
He was standing on the corner of tn
street, waiting on an uptown car. Some
where down town there was "block" o
vehicles, and the car was slow in making
its appearances but while he waited Cap
tuin Mayell listened to the wild street bal
lad, warbled by fresh, exquisitely tru'
young voice, to the fitGul accompaniment o
cracked violin.
A little crowd had gathered around th,
corner. The blind old fiddler, in his latter
ed velveteen coat and picturesque whit
beard, passed his hat around, and the sing
er, with her face half veiled by the folds o
| the black shawl which was passed oyer hei
head and fell in long, nun-like folds abou
her slight person, stood holding the violin
AS her large liquid eyes fell on Mayell hC
|
spoke some laughing sentence in the musi
cal modulations of the Italian language
She took the money with a mufmured word
of thanks; but the shy, surprised glance
denoted that she had not understood him.
$50 they are not Italians, after ALL" said
Mayell to himself, as he sprang aboard the
car. al was sure that that oive-skin and
those deep melting eyes could only have
caught their glow under the skies Of Italy
Well, it only shows how easy it is 10 be
mistaken. AT all events, it was fair, dim
pied little face, and hope her grizzle- beard
cd ola friend will reap an ample harvest oI
pennies"
And in searching for the abiding place oi
his old friend, Mr.. Castleton, the decayed
artist, he completely forgot the little irci-
dent of the evening.
"No. Al Sea court" he said to himself
"Yes, this must be the place. And yet
glancing up at the mildewed brick walls
aud indescribable shabbiness of the tene-
ment house, "who would Aave expected to
find Warde Castleton here? Warde Castle
ton, the descendant Of long line of auces-
ber as the master of Castle Hill Bad man.
agement, extravagant, bad investments
that is what they have brought him to-
Poor fellow One can scarcely offer chari-
ty to him; and yet, what is to be done?"
And cropping his way into the hall where
a sort Of Cimmerian darkness reigned, he
managed to inquire his way to the floor
where Mr.. Castleton lived.
The majestic old artist came forward ia
receive him, in tattered dressing gown
which had once been ruby velvet, cap OF
the same material on his head, and mahl-
stick in his hand.
"Ah, Mayell, my old friend he cried
grasping the hand OF the unexpected guest
''or rather the young friend of my old days
you are welcome! You find me rather
indiilerently situated; but we all know that
genius is, at times, under a cloud. Walk
Beatrix, my eldest daughter But where ia
Miritm little Miriam, the beauty and the
runaway of the flock. Call her, Trix Tell
her to get us some supper. She will be
here directly"
Mrs. Castleton, little old lady in lace
| cap, who had lost the use of her limbs, sat
knitting in a wheeled chair by the sadly in
sufficient fire. Her poor nose was blue, and
the hand which she held out to Clarence
Mayell was cold as an icce.
Beatriz, a pale young lady Of twenty
drew an old screen before the table, on
which was a plate of cold mush and q
pitcher Of thin tea, and made haste to ad-
just the easel so as to hide the cotbed in the
corner
Mr.. Castleton pointed 70 the easel with a
grand seigneur flourish of the hand.
"You see, Mayell," said he, "that still
cling to the old lA5its. My hand is scarce
y as steady now as l could wish, but 1t
seems necessary to sell picture now
and then. Trix, where is your sister
Why does not Miriam come inP We
have some wealthy acquaintances, May
ell" the old man continued, "who de-
cline to buy my pictures, aud who
contrive systematically To ignore us. But
am told that Miriam frequently goes to
them. Well, well, ] cannot wonder-the
child is young, and this" glancing con-
temptuously around the room, "is hardly
the place to attract girls capricious fancy.
Trixy here is true to her old parents"
"Papo," said Beatrix, coloring, "do not
blame Miriam. She"
"Haye blamed her" The old artist
shrugged his shoulders. "she is young
she is very young-that is all. As was
saying, Mayell, sell a picture now aud
then, and 81 we manage to keep alive. Just
let me show you some of the ideas that I
have sketehed on canvass"
And while Captain Mayell turned over
the old mans portfolio and eogitated within
himself how he might best offer to purchase
picture without hurting the sensitive
pride Of the artist, the silent Beatrix put
more coal on the dying fire, spread a clean
cloth on the table, and set forth a meal that
had evidently been purchased in haste from
the shelves Of the nearest cheap restaurant
half Of skinny, cold duck, a little dab
Of muddy eurrant jelly, pile Of bread and
Yptsto salsd.