The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-12-31
The Remarkable Story Related BY q
Famous Singer.


than that shall try to tell as it was told
to me by one of the greatest singers the
world has ever known. Four wears
ago, said the lady relating the story,
there was young American girl in an
Italian town who was studying music.
She came from quiet New England
village, and with her mother, located
in place, celebrated for its masters. to
undergo complete musical training.
Her master was thoroughly conscien-
tious Italian, whose voice had broken
down just as he began to be famous as
tenor, and so he had to give up his life
long aspiration and train others to gather
In the golden fortune that by his art he
himself had hoped to win. The girl, who
had been given the sweet old puritan
name OF Faith, studied diligently, and
was in her second years course when
an illness attacked her mother The
small sum set aside for Faiths musical
studies was well nigh spent in the
mothers sickness. What to do the
daughter did not know They were
without friends, and the future was
without hope. One night before re-
firing the girl knelt by her bedside
and fervently prayed to God to help
her. She arose from her prayer com
forted, for in her simple way she be-
lieved in God, and that He always
heard the prayers of His children who
prayed believing in Him. That night
she dreamed curious dream She
saw her dead father as he appeared in
life. He said to her Believe in God
He viii help you The next night the
dream was the same The third time
she dreamed she was at Monaco; that
she had gone into the great kursaal
where they were playing. She sat
down to q table and put sum of money
on the red square and let it stay until
the red had won thirteen times. Her
father stood behind her chair as she sat,
and when she finished he put his hands
on her head and gave her his blessing,
and then she awoke. The dream puz-
zled her. She had never seen the
gambling hall, and yet the whole place
had appeared so wildly in her dream!
When her teacher came that day she
told him of her dream and those that
had preceded it. He listened atten-
lively. Like all Italians, he was super
stitious. He thought of it all day
When he saw her again he said, why
not try it. God helps US all in his own
mysterious way That night her father
came again, and said: Go That de-
cided her. She told her mother that
she thought little rest and recreation
would help her. and said her teacher
and his daughter, who were taking a
little excursion, had asked her to Join
them Might she go? The mother
thought few moments, and could see
no harm in it to her child. She would
only be away one night, and she had her
fayorite servant to keep her company
during her daughters absence. The
next morning they (the teacher his
daughter and Faith) took their depart
ure. They looked upon the beautiful
gardens of Monaco, as lovely as was the
| Garden of Eden before the fall At
| nine o'clock that evening the three en-
| tered the kursaal 1t was Just as the
! girl had seen it all in her dreams. The
place was full of Well-dressed people,
ladies and gentlemen, and q band was
playing beautiful music. In corner
the girl recognized the table she had
seen in her dreams. With d swelling
| heart and emotions that cannot be de-
scribed, she sat down, and the Italian
stood up behind her. During the day
she had determined what to do
"She drew from her portemonnaie
two notes, each for one English pound,
and the Italian showed her how to put
them Oh a red spot. What if it were all
superstitious folly? What if she was
simply wasting in wicked gambling
house the little money they had between
them and starvation? She dared not
think. She must do what her father had
hidden her in her dream. Ma amselle
has won, she heard the croupier say.
Let it stay she replied What is the
limit" asked the Italian. We have no
limit, the well-dressed, cold-blooded
man with the suaye voice said. She
won again and again. The red had
come up three times in succession. She
had won ZIG. or eighty dollars of our
money. viii not the lady take up her
money! said the croupier No. she
answered Let it alone; am going to
play the red to win thirteen times He
shrugged his shoulders imperceptibly.
The game went on. At the sixth play
her winnings were S640. She sat like a
woman in a trance When the red had
won for the eighth time she had So, $50.
Oh, what should she dop Before her
there was a small fortune. Ought she
not take it and go? By this time crowd
had gathered. Something new was 90
ing on. A woman with face like the
dead had won eight times in succession
on the red. A few old gamblers began
to back the red to lose. 1t was impossi-
Bile that it should come up again.
The game continued Nothing was
heard but the click of ivory and the
croupier, saying: The red wins again.
At the tenth play she had so, 240. Her
excitement was uncomfortable. Here
before her was more money than she
had ever seen in all her life before. Ii
was hers! Should she take it and Coz
No, she managed to whisper; i will
play it all, lose erwin, till have played
the red thirteen timesr The red came
came up again at the eleventh play. She
had 1924, 480 For moment she hest.
tated. She would take Gods gift-fo1
IL was Ills, she Sald-anu go. something
said to her: Play the thirteen timesi
She did. At the twelfth turn she had
$40, $50. She gasped like one fainting,
give her air, said one just behind her.
Once more, once moren she whispered
Thirteen came and the red won. She
had S81, 800 There was a soft sigh
Give her air; she has tainted, said the
croupier The excitement had commu-
nicated itself to the crowd who had gath
cred and watched No more she man.
aged to utter. 1t was over. The croupie1
gave herher money in English bills, f10C
each. Calling carriage she and her friend
left with an enormous fortune made in
half an hour. At the next turn the red
lost Washington Sunday Herald.
| 1t is proposed to make the guard at