The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-05-21

how do you come by such viOlin?"
Then he had talked to the boy, and il
had ended in his taking him abroat
with him. He had called to see Mrs
Bacon, to tell her what had happened
but she was away and the servant did
not think it worth while to remember
his message.
Fifteen years had passed. In little
room, in a small suburban house, sat an
old woman and Il young one. No one
who had ever seen Mrs. Bacon could
have failed to recognize her, though she
had aged considerably. The girl was
Gladys dc Luce.
Strange things had happened since
those old days when Mrs. Bacon was
her mothers housckeeper. That mother,
left q widow, had married Il rascal, who
lad wasted her fortune, and finally
broken her heart.
Gladys had found Mrs. Bacon her
only friend. The old woman had taken
her little savings and kept modest
home for them both in this little cottage.
while Gladys gave lessons on the piano
to young children.
Tonight she was busy trimming q
pretty though simple bonnet for evening
wear. Two tickets had been given her
for grand affair. A violinist. said to be
unequaled, was to appear for the first
time in London, and tickets were utter
ly beyond her reach; but the bachelor
uncle of one of her pupils had given her
two, which he had intended to use, but
could not, being obliged to leave town
| on business.
at was so kind" says Gladys, land
we shall enjoy the music, / know. Oh,
Aunty Bacon, do you remember little
Giacomop believe he was Il genius.
wonder what became of the sweet little
fellow"
81 wish knew" said Mrs. Bacon. 81
do, indeed. hope it was no harm. He
was a good little fellow, and he might
have stayed in that big house. His
meals would never have been missed by
anyone, but your ma wasn't very apt to
take to poor folks"
So they talked over the past, and
Gladys felt herself on the verge of tears
as she recalled the memory of those
nights in which she was awakened in
her warm bed to hear the little violinist
playing 81 Remember Thee" in the cold
street below her window. She had never
heard any one else play that air in all
her life.
The night of the concert came.
Gladys, chaperoned by Mrs. Bacon, took
her place in the large room, filled with
fashionable women and men of society.
The lights were bright, the dresses ele-
CANT. Great pots OF plants adorned the
Ictn hmm sol, leo, -
cream-colored velvet. 1t formed an cx-
quisite background for the splendid figure
and beautiful dark face of the great
musician rs he advanced toward the
footlights.
He played; none who heard him ever
forgot Thunders of applause filled the
hall. He played again amidst rap
ture of silence. Encore followed en-
core.
In reply to one of these he stepped
forward and turned his face towards the
seats in which Gladys and her old friend
sat-his eyes met those of the girl across
the heads of the other listeners, and sud.
denly she heard music like revelation
from an angels heart, so sweet, so low,
so tender.
Not the less great for its simplicity
was that to which the audience now
listened; they did not know the name
of the composition, but Gladys knew
She had heard il in the street below hel
window many winter night. 1t was
the tune little Giacomo had hidden hel
keep i'm mind-"I Remember Thee "
Yes, he had remembered, for he saw hel
he was playing it to her, and this was
GiacomO.
Shortly after, an usher brought Mrs.
Bacon card. 1t was from the great
violinist, begging them to remain seated
after the performance.
That night they drove to their humble
abode in his carriage. He held hand
| of each.
''But for your gift never should have
been what am, he said to Gladys
and then he spoke of the old times, OF
the little cakes Mrs. Bacon had given
him, and of the kindness which had
kept him from suffering when he was
left an orphan. did you ever hear me
play beneath your Window he asked
Gladys; and she answered:
.Oh, yes; have always remembered
how used to cry for you there in the
lonely street"
Poor little liddler!'' said the great
man. 81 can hardly believe it was /!
Yet here beats the same heart; and
remember, it is to you l owe it all"
Well, reader, you know how this story
ends just rs well as do. Imagine the
wedding, and make it us splendid as
you please, only ! will tell you this
much: In the elegant home to which
Signor Giacomo conducted his bride,
there was place of honor for good Mrs.
Bacon.