Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-08-28
MONSIEUR ALBANO.

he was little old man, vesging per
luers on 80, With closely-cropped hair,
ma a hat which Wilhelm could not keep
Grsm thinking was one size OF more too
big Tor him. A little old man with sad
eyes but with pleasant voice, and a
sreile that often quite banished all trace
OF melancholy from his face.
Bat Wilhelm-the head-waiter at the
dingy old Paris restaurant, where for
months he had presented himself OF the
sazne hour daily-had taken TO him from
tbs very first, and as the gentleman
aRezned 30 court retirement used in
vaziably 70 ensconce him in the snug
gcxt corner Of the room, not far from the
charcoal stove-the time was winter-
and with no other companions save a
pair Of tabby cats.
What is il today" NJ. Albano would
inquire, as he seated himself at his table,
with his feet on morsel Of goat-skin
PLACED there for them. what Is 1t to-
siay, Wilhelm"
And Wilhelm used invariably TO place
a white dimpled fore-fnger against the
Da1se Of some particular dish on the
c1rd, and that was the dish M. Albano
anvzEiabiy chose.
At WINE not long before Wilhelm found
e1t that NJ. Albano was, like himself,
Hungarian, and, like himself, an exile
They were friends, indeed, after this.
Wilhelm told the little old man his
st0xy, and 10 some extent the little old
rnnn told Wilhelm bis. There was some
difference nevertheless, in their stations
IA hfe. Tor In his own dear land M. Al
hano had been count, while Wilhelm
ssssi been but junior engineer.
-And 90 you are really going2" said
Wilhelm, as he stood one day near his
friend, the empty soup-bowl In his right
hand.
Really going. Wilhelm"
-Oh, dear! Monsieur, / shall sadly miss
ycAs Is it Brussels, monsieur, Berlin,
or Moscow You say you have had en-
gagements at all these places"
mo, no." replied NJ. Albano sadly; 1T
rs neither of these places. am done
with them ali-done with the world, !
might say. am going home"
What" cried Wilhelm, with bright
ening eyes-Ahome to our dear land of
--"
Nay, nay, nay; never there again.
WHAT matters imperial forgiveness Can
u king mend broken heart, even if he
GOULD restore my fortunes? Could gaze
w1tlaout grief on those green-wooded
As5ils and valleys that once were mine?
Coald mingle with the good people who
dwell there-and who once called me
Rard-without sadness? No, Wilhelm,
no. My home is near London, the home
Of the refugee, the only city in the whole
world amid the hustle and stir Of which
an exile may WOO forgetfulness.
Wilhelm fingered by the table for
fsw moments. He was deep in thought.
III, Albano," he said at last, ITO have
employment in London has long been
with me an ambitious dreams castle in
she air--call it what you WILL hate
ade garb of servility in which you now
asee me. Oil there are times, monsieur,
t1lat ] walk my room all night, wild in
asoaght, because feel was born for
better things. Yet try to do my duty
--Slny humble duty"
Eyes, yes, yes, said Albano, speaking
zoole hriskly than was his won't. That
as zight--do your duty. I trust | do
1g75ne, humble though that is. Do not
Bef gride interfere with that duty. Be
EGt self-conscious. Concentrate your
Thoughts and energies in your work,
mental though some may call it. Be-
hsus me, Wilhelm, halo surrounds the
head of that man or woman who does
whatever his or her hand findeth to do,
in no half hearted way, but with will,
IL paEpose, and an honest pride of action,
fssling inwardly that duty is sacred
. Shirsg. Study to be content with the
Gxate In which Providence has placed
YOU, Wilhelm. Study that-study that. !"
@But, monsieur, you would then leave
a4abition out of count.
mo; oh, no! Only let your ambition
he subservient to your duty. The march
of intellect-the march of the worlds
ever, ever onward. Better yourself, by
all means, if you can: by so doing you
may better the world; but ambitious
thoughts or actions must never interfere
With your hours of labor. These belong
to your present employer, Wilhelm"
Il see, monsieur"
well, see and think of it. Meanwhile
here is pass for the Grand M con-
cert You will see me and my little
violin in the second row of the orchestra.
You will wait for me, and we will sup
together at the Rhondeville."
High over score Of fiddlers at the
grand concert that evening, M. Albanos
Little violin seemed to ring-seemed, at
all events--in Wilhelm's ears, just as one
hears and can listen only to the nightin-
gale's voice amidst the babel of bird
voices ia the woods in early spring.
After the performance, Wilhelm waited
I. for what appeared quite a long time for
his friend. All the other musicians had
dressed and filed away, but still he came
NOT
Wilhelm ventured at last to ask one n
authority.
-'Oh, moi" was the reply; IN. Albanc
has not gone. He is talking to the man
ager. The manager wants hun to stay
-. l. ;,.espes ~, -, l,;c rs.