South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-11-17
BLANCA coRRENI.

! Ane speaker was . kindly, good ma
tnred farmers wife. She stood before
the door of her little white cottage.
nestled among the New Hampshire
hills, and with gesture Of impotence
ordered the old organ grinder and
the little tambourine girl to leave her
door. They turned to obey, when
little Harry Thorne spoke up:
'Oh, mother, see the little girls
low thin and hungry che looksg And
mother she looks like our Lille
Mrs. Thorne turned quickly. How
strange tina. she had not noticed it be.
fore. The little girl did look like her
dead daughter. With tears in her
eyes she drew the little girl toward
her.
What is your name. my clildG'
she asked
'Bianca Correni, madam
is she your child?' Mrs. Thorne
next inquired of the organ grinder
who was evidently i'm the last stages of
consumption.
No. he said feebly. She is just II
nobody, without kit or kin, that
found in New York, aud took her u.
long for convenience.
The Old man had hardly finished
this sentence when lie fell to tho
ground. Farmer Thorne arrived on
the scene. lifted him up. but it was
found that life was extinct
Wild was Biancu's grief OH being
told that Guido was dead. He had
been her only friend and protector
from earliest remembrance.
The old mar was buried by the
town authorities, and tile question IL :
rose ia to what WAS to be done with
the cl:ild.
She must be sent TO the poorhousc,
they said.
'Musl she go To tho poorllouso, mo,
Their asked Harry.
Il am afraid 81, my boy
oh. mother, don t send her there /!
Keep her in Lilies place
Good Mrs. Thornc turned to the
little giil whose large blue eyes plead.
cd so elolnently for love and protec,
ton. She thought of her own little
child in the cold aud silent tomb and
the thought flashed across her mind
that Providence had sent this one i'm
her place. Harry seemed to read her
thoughts.
Perhaps God sent her MOTHER he
said. The poor little girl hasn't any
father nor mother, and you havn I
any little girl. Keep her, and let her
be MY little sister,
Farmer Thorne entered Mt this mo.
ment and Harry turned 10 him. The
farmers large heart had already gone
ont To the little stranger, and he deci.
dcd at once to adopt her; and thus
i'll little Lilies place she was installed
in the Thorne family.
Years passed quietly away, and
Blanca grew into winsome maiden.
Admirers she had many, but none
were more devoted tLan her adopted
brother
One winter fair was given in the
village, and Blanca had IN charge the
flower table. n regular customer
each night was II tall dark gentleman,
about 40 years old, who watched her
every motion with an intense gaze.
The village folks were puzzled at this
stranger. No one knew his name
nor anything concerning him. Every
night found him ut the fair. At times
he would start impulsively toward
Bianca's table, hesitate, then purchase
q bouquet aud leave the ball. The
village girls jested with Blanca about
her unknown, aud the young men
viewed him with jealous eyes.
The last night Of the fair was to be
a gala night, and play was to be
performed. Now it happened that
the leading character OF the play was
an Italian dancing girl, and that part
was given to Blanca. The dark
stranger was there as usual. He
watched the play with uudisguised
disgust until Blanca entered with her
tambourine in her hand. lie started
forward IN great surprise. She sang
a wild. plaintive melody. and began
Il fantastic dance. At this the stran
ger leaped TO his feet with low cry.
All eyes were Immediately turned in
that direction, and he fell back in lis
seat as white rs marble.
Early the next morning the Thornes
were surprised by n visit from the
stranger. His words wore abrupt
and TO the point.
Pardon nay intrusion, sir aud mad
am. | am an Italian composer, ira.
yelling for my health. At the fair
last night Isaw your daughter perform
a wonderful song aud dance will
YOU tell me where she learned it?'
The farmer stared at his wife, but
neither spoke a word for moment.
We'll, really, SIR he at length re
piled, Il can hardly tell you that. Bi.
anca danced that way and sang that
song when she first came TO Us. which
Is nigh unto nine years ago.
Then she is not your own ohiId?'