The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-02-24

Tut, tut / am inclined to believe
some lover is the cause of an your
lgris'.t
Louisette colored and dropped her
head.
"The wretch has he broken his
vows?' asked Paganini, with q smile.
"Nol nor replied Louisette. "My
dear Henri loves me too much to do any
thing SO cruel as that"
She could not continue, and, throw
ing herself upon chair, commenced
sobbing as il her heart would break.
Paganini stepped to the window
where she was seated, took her hand in
his, and said, very seriously: "Have you
confidence in me, Louisette ?"
ooh yes. sir" she replied.
every well, my dear child. Dry
your tears, and we will endeavor to
remedy the evil, however serious it may
chance to be-"
"Henri has drawn an unfortunate
number" said Louisette, speaking very
rapidly. He must join the army end
leave for Lille on the morning express"
" Can he not procure q substitute ?"
"a substitute How could We ever
dream of raising such n sum-"
" Would it require very much
money!"
"Fifteen hundred francs are de-
manded, on account Of tho prospect of
war;"
"Well, your misfortune is not so
serious, after all. Wipo away those
tears and let, me see your merry
face once more. 1 will exert my
self to obtain this formidable sum.
! am sure that my efforts will
be crowned with success"
Louisette warmly thanked the violin
ist, dried her tears with the corner of
her white apron, and disappeared, with
q face radiant with Joy and hope.
Winter advanced, and Christmas,
with its feathery garb of snow ar d
crown of holly was on the Threshold
once more. 1t gently raped at the
door Of every dwelling, and at this sig
nal families assembled around the
cheerful hearth, their hearts warm
with love and goodw will to nan. The
little children filled their shoes with
hay and placed them in the fireplace,
that Santa Claus might see them right
away when he jumped down tho CHM
ney with all the presents they had or.
dered; and the little homeless ones
came and offered prayer at the door
while breathing in their hands, which
were blue and stiff with the piercing
cold.
AT the Villa Lutetiana each one cele-
brated Christmas according to his
pleasure. Our four old ladies enjoyed
an animated game of cards; while
Paganini, seated in secluded corner OF
the room, absorbed in an interesting
book, was wholly unconscious of the
malicious looks that were given him
from time to time.
Suddenly the door opened and Louis
ette entered.
"Sir," said she, betraying much ex-
citement, "a large box to your address
has arrived. The porter is waiting in
the vestibule."
ga box?" said Paganini, much aston
ished. at must be mistake. 1 do
not expect anything"
But, sir, your address is on it."
ut is true, bat that is all the game.
l cannot conceiyc-where is the por-
ter q
Here lie is, sir. He says he is in
hurry"
"Whence comes this box /" asked
Paganini, regarding the man with sus-
picion.
From the office, sir. I do not know
anything more about it, except that it
was sent from Lyons or Orleans"
"Stranger and stranger" remarked
Paganini. 81 have not an acquaint-
ance in either OF these cities"
He paid him, however, thanks to the
interference Of Louisette, who had
taken possession OF the box.
The porter had hardly turned his
back when Louisette. glancing at the
box with much curiosity, eagerly said:
81 will assist You to take it up TO your
room, sir."
"No, Louisette," replied Paganini,
trying to refrain from smiling Leave
it there in the corner. Tomorrow will
be time enough to attend to it."
"And you are not going to open t?"
asked Louisette, much disappointed.
Yes, indeed, l will, since you are so
anxious to see its contents. Come, aid
me, and we will have ii open in a few
moments"
They removed two layers of hay,
several bundles OF brown paper, cut
number of strings, and found at the
very bottom Of the box an old sabot.
"Well, | am not much surprised"
said Paqanini, lit is very nice inven-
tion. They have sent mo this sabot as
On sllusion TO my avarice, and wish it to
cay to me that am like children, who
rather receive than give; but they are
very much deceived If they think they
can wound my feelings by this unkind
act. l will say ia the presence OF all
the inmates of tho house that before
the expiration OF two weeks this sabot
shall be worth it's weight in gold"
Thereupon he retreated, with the
wooden shoe, leaving tho spectators in
amaZement easy to comprehend
The old ladies' seemed quite en-
carrlsssd.
1t was they who had sent IT, and Paga-
mini was well aware OF the fact, and
secretly rejoiced that it had not af.
forded them all the pleasure they had
promised themselves.
From this day Paganini was no more
to be seen in the salon of the Villa
Lutetiana. The faithful Louisette was
the only person admitted to his pres
ence. The four cid ladies tried their
uttermost to persuade her to explain
his mysterious disappearance, but she
placed her finger ON her lips and quite
rcsembled the statue Of discretion.
1t was true Louisette knew something
OF his plans; but not all. She did not
know that by remarkable ingenuity
and exquisite skillfulness the old sabot
was being transformed into violin.
which for tone and finish might have
challenged an Amati. Paganini had
given moro than an ordinary soul to
this subject, and the world was to be
the judge OF it.
Soon large blue posters appeared all
around the Villa Letetiana, aud were
freely distributed in Paris,