Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-03-25

, after scanty breakfast, she started to
find her old music teacher, in the hope
that he would be able to aid her in OBJ
tanning pupils; but her heart sank when,
arriving at her destination, she was told
that Professor Schwartz had been dead
more than a year.
What was she to do nowp She went
from place to place, but without any sue
cess whatever. She was stranger,
alone and friendless, and in all that
great, grand city there was no place for
her.
81 will make one more effort" she
said. 81 will 90 to the great Signor de
LAMA and ask him to aid me, and if
l can but retryn to my poor lodging and
make a fresh start tomorrow"
Asking the first policeman to direct
her to the residence of the professor,
she started thither Signor de LAMA
listened attentively while she told him
the sad story of her poverty and utter
friendlessness and her anxiety to earn
an honest living.
When she had finished he requested
her to let him hear her play, and seat
ing herself at the piano she played
brilliant fantasia" which he pro-
nounced swell done"
WELL" she said, ''let me sing SOME
thing for you; | want to know if you
think | could earn my living with my
voice"
Then, after few preliminary chords,
she sang, with great expression, Home,
Sweet Home" The professor listened
breathlessly. She began the second
verse-and as the recollection of her
dear old home and the mother she had
lost came back to her, she burst into
tears, and her head sank upon the key
board. De LAMA was deeply moved.
He went over to her, and placing his
hand on the bowed head said earnestly:
"Signorina, you are friendless; let me
be your friend; come and make your
home with us. have a young daugh-
ter who will be delighted to have COM
panion about her own age, and-Signor-
ina, listen-in five years you can make
your fortune with that magnificent
voice. You have one of the finest voices
l have ever heard in America"
You can make my fortune in five
years" she repeated. Are you sure?'
"As sure as that you and are in this
room; that is of course if you will put
yourself entirely under my manage
ment," he answered.
A glad look crept into the weary
black eyes, slight color into the pale
checks, as she repeated over and over
| again to herself:
"A fortune in five years! 1t is long
tine, but can afford to wait"
"You really must go to the opera
tonight, Guy; | don't believe you
have heard Viola de LAMA yet; all
New York is raving over her. She is
quite the fashion"
Guy Travers had just returned from
a three years tour on the continent
He had forgotten all about that little
episode in Virginia five years ago. In
looks he had not altered one iota, but
was the same handsome, careless fell
low, and all his dear five hundred
friends were glad to welcome HIM
home again.
"Who is she-this Viola de Lanza?"
he asked in a careless tone. II do
not remember of hearing of her
aboard. y
mo, she is new star from Italy, /
believe: Her father or uncle, forget
which, is her manager; and deuced
old bore he is, too, / can tell you;
won't let fellow look at her off the
stage, much less speak to her."
"All right, I'll go with you and see
our divinity" said Guy.
That night the Opera House was
crowded to excess. When the singer
appeared in all her regal beauty she
was wildly applauded, and Guy Tray
ers, as he looked at the graceful,
rounded figure the dimpled white
arms, the shapely hands and the glori-
Gus black hair piled high on the
proud head, little thought that this
queenly woman was the girl with
whom he had trihed so heartlessly
five years before.
The opera over, Jack Mordaunt
presented himself at the stage door
and sent in his card, asking permission
to introduce to the signorina his friend
Guy Travers. The signorina sent out
her regrets, but she would be unable to
see either gentleman that night. Night
after night they received the same
answer. The signorina was very
sorry but she was too much fatigued,"
etc.
For three weeks Guy Travers was the
first to enter the opera house and the
last to leave it each night; and although
his friends often chaffed him about be-
ing hard hit, and remarked his worn,
haggard face, he was not the man to
give up while there was the faintest
shadow of a chance to win. On Viola
de LAMA he had staked his all, even
though it was reported that she was be.
trothed of Sir Maurice Conway, a
wealthy English Baronet.
At last fortune favored him. At 8
grand dinner party he met her, and was
supremely happy. She said she was
delighted to meet him, as she had seen
him so often at the opera house, but, of
course, she did not know that he was
'the Mr.. Travers whom Mr.. Mordaunt
wished to present." and she was so
sweet and gracious that he was more
infatuated than ever.
The day she had so longed for had
come at last. For more than five years
she had waited, and now she would pay
him back in his own coin. She invited
him to call on her whenever he "had
nothing else to do" and she would al
ways make him welcome.
After this he was always near her; he
walked with her, drove with her, and