Daily Republican., 1883-10-27
A STREET SINGER.
By CHARLOTTE N. STANLEY.


ture; she comes around every evening
Just as the darkness sets In, and has
doue for the two weeks past. Sings al
ways pretty much the same song, too
that one above all, THE Last Rose OF
Summer She wouldn't, perhaps, If
she knew how bad 1t makes me feel to
hear IL.
The speaker laid his white head down
upon his hands with weary sigh, while
his housekeeper, Mrs. Brown, busted In
serving his tea, looked the surprise she
was too discreet TO utter.
"I'll send her away sir, If you wish,
she said presently, cor tell her to sing
something livelier. She has clear
young voice. I've liked to listen to it
myself, of late, and fancied it might
please you too
Mr. Oakley looked up quickly.
"a young voice." he said, with Pc
culiar and anxious emphasis. ut
didn't strike me &c; the voice of a wo-
man of 80, l thought and sounding 80
strangely peculiar. at times, that felt
almost inclined to call her In. Have you
ever seen her.
"Two or three times, sir. A mere
girl-not over II, anyhow dark-eyed.
and slight, and pale. | can tell her II
you wish, not to sing that one song any
more"
Mr.. Oakley made a.gesture of disgust.
"It's the voice far more than the
song" he sad, az ii speaking to him
self; 81 cannot understand how any
strangers voice should be 80 much like
hers"
"I'll tell you whose voice she re minds
me of, he went on presently, III you
care to listen feel tonight as II
must speak of a sorrow that has been
shut up in my heart these l8 years. .
"I had daughter lS years ago-a
bright young thing Of 16, who filled my
| life with sunshine. cant describe II
YOU how beautiful she was with hel
ewes az blue AZ wood-viOlets, and bel
hair like living gold. Her mother diet
while she was still child, and l set al
my heart on the little one.
Naturally was ambitious for her
Having large means, and moving II
the best society, was yet anxious t.
Improve both for my girl. My objec
was to give her large fortune, ant
500 her make great and brilliant
match.
"No pains were spared to educate
her, no expense was grudged-I forced
yself to endure her absence for two
years, in order to give her the advan
tagss that q school in Paris only Cal
secure.
Among other good gifts she display.
cd an extraordinary aptitude TO-
music, and careful training developed
a voice that under other circumstances
might have been to her fortune.
"At sixteen she came home, was in
troduced into society, and, with he
beauty and accomplishments, created
perfect furor.
" Before long l saw brilliant chanc
for the fulfllment of my hopes. Al
English nobleman, visiting Newpor
during the summers, fell in love will
her, and offered her his hand.
"He was young, handsome, amiable
and an earl. l could not even con
ceive the possibility Of Clara's refusa
what more i'll a lover could the hear
of woman wish?
d" And yet--she rejected him.
"It was disappointment to me, Of
course. tried TO reason with her and pc
suade her to her own good. For all answe
she clung to me with tears and deman
ded :
WAS l so anxious to be rid of her
"What could answer? The though
of parting with her was always bite
lone. Apart from the consideration c
her own welfare would gladly hav
kept her with me always So 1 abandon
ed my cherished desire, and the earl
mortified and annoyed, went home with
Outa bride.
"She showed no preference for an,
of her nulnerou, admirers. Was rathe
unite and grave, considering her you'll
and not very fond of society. Musi
was her passion, and the song yon poo
street singer tunes so sweetly was he
favolite song. had never seen he
approach 40 near enthusiasm and dt
light as she did when her singing-mast
who had trained her voice in Paris, al
rived at Newport one morning, and sh
introd uced him to me"
She recommended her singing les
sons eagerly-l made no objection
though really thought she sang quit
we'll enough for any lady in private ci
cles of society.
AS the summer wansd, began
fancy that its sultry heat had told SOM
what upon her health and strength. Si
became languid, and tritie dispirite
and pale.
cone morning, as she and l WEI
taking carriage ride alone--our con
mon custom--suddcnly she tainted.
al WIS considerably alarmed. Fo
: tunately we was in the vicinity of
! hotel, to which conveyed her, engal
ing rooms for the day, and sending fl
the nearest doctor.
He came at once. A young maj
recently established, and a comparati,
b stranger in the place. He knew neitht
Clara or myself.
1.-The death-like swOon still held he
He examined her with skillful an
understanding hands and eyes. The
suddenly turning to me:
:, " Are you the ladys HUSBAND
sir g he asked.
SIT would be impossible to descrit
Jne bnOCh Iuat qucSIiou ShSu Lic'
didn't know exactly why, but 1t was /
), startling.
"'Her husband ?'I cried, with a
unreasonable feeling of annoyance.
DI "Good God, sir,no l am her fathe
b She Ia not married =
He had been bending ovsr her, bl
he rose now with o most singular look
4 look of absolute dismay.
"'Not married 7 he repeated, an
stood like man benumbed. Not ma
. ried. AEe you sure 2
stared at him in a perfect stupt
of surprise. Was the man mad to az
such a queer question about my ow
daughter.
"Betore 1 could speak, however, IL
restOrativeA began to act. Clara stirre
lightly, breathed, moaned, feebly II
tered word. What was that word
q bent my ear TO catch 1t.
Juan, husband 7
1 @ Har a raaa Waa un1ona and S:aa