The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-08-15
THE CREMONA VIOLIN.

the year 1843, when on returning from
an excursion in the Taurus l found my
self on the mountain which is the site
of Homburg Castle. The sun was just
setting behind the mountains Of the an
cient kings, and / had just turned away
my enraptured gaze from the splendor
of the Wetherau and the Maingaues,
when the tones of a clear, silver-hke
voice fell on my ear.
lay on the grass behind a blooming
Jasmine bush; therefore, the approach
ing visitors to the mountain, two charm
ing young girls of about eleven and
fourteen years, elegantly attired,
thought themselves alone, and gave me
the benefit of the following converse
tion:
"Is not that enchantingly lovely, Ma
ria" said the eldest of the two, a slim,
black-eyed beauty, to her younger sis
ter, a delicate, pale child, that remind
ed me of the angel heads of Murillo.
"Ah! how I would like to livei in HON.
burg! There is nothing so beautiful in
England, France o. Spain"
"You are right, Theresa" said the
younger. at is very lovely here, and
for the last week l feel my health vastly
improved. The pure air of the Rhine
and the splendid scenery have done me
good, but, oh, / long SO after home; for
our beloved Savigliano."
A food of tears followed, called forth
by painful remembrances.
Nov, Marietta, you are crying
again" said the elder sister, half re-
proachfully, drawing the weeping child
to her. I'm six or seven weeks you
will be home again. We have borne
it for two years; have longed for home,
and never believed that we would be
able TO live through this weary absence,
and now, at the last moment, will you
give up and cry"
II am so afraid. Theresa" sobbed
the little one. "I think inconsistencies
is killing me-
"You are a loving child, Maria; so
please restrain your grief from love for
me. Lock- would it not be q great
trouble to me if the public
"Ohi hush for Heavens sake,
Theresa !" cried Maria, with every sign
Of a sudden fright, drying her tears.
ssIndeed, / will conquer myself. The
public shall never have any blame to
cast at me-
The two sisters renamed silent
awhile. The SUI had disappeared be-
hind the Altkonig, and the background
Of che landscape grew dim and foggy.
Come Marietta, " said Theresa, "the
evening air is bad for you"
"Silently they went down the noun
tain, arm In arm, never guessing there
was some one following. who had heard
their conversation, and, being deeply
moved thereby, wanted to learn what
connection the lovely sisters had with
that frightful goblin-the public.
The streets of the city were soon
reached, and nv first conjecture was
that the girls might possibly belong to
q company Of actors then present in the
city, OF. perhaps to the ballet corps Of
the Weisbaden Court Opera. But their
modest, yet elegant dress, spoke to the
contrary. They seemed rather to bethe
cnildren Of some rich tourist. If the
little one had mentioned Birmingham
OF Roubaix as home, instead Of Savig-
liano, and if that tell-tale word the
public had not been used In such a
significant manner In their conversa-
ton, then / would have seen nothing to
draw my attention particularly to them.
Bbut--ftaiiiians of rank are a rarity on
the Rhine.
i was puzzled.
Look, Theresa said the Younger;
there IS harp hanging in that show
window"
On reaching the city / had heretofore
kept too far behind to hear anything
the two SISTERS said.
Sure enough, Mariain replied the
elder: there are yiolins there also.
Let us GO closeriv
The shop was d small one which I
knew very well, and in whose shabby
little windows cotton, writing materi-
ale, hardware and musical instruments
lay IN picturesque confusion. aEph-
RAIN and Isidor Hirschs was the firm.
Ephraim, ths elder brother, hadinherit-
ed the talent of trading ard cultivated
it to tho highest degree. Isidor, on the
ether hand, was q disciple of art, and
Il r14nakor ~ we've bon.