Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-08

emily fish came to snap at them. and turned
away In disgust, leaving them when they saw
they were not flies nor worms.
MY mother" said Miss Durham, twas
German-that is how / can speak the language
with as much ease as English. She was mar
ried to my father shortly after her arrival in
America, and she never acquired the English
tongue perfectly; she always spoke it with an
accent and intOnation thar was foreign. But,
though she did not acquire perfectly the Ian
guAge OF the country OF her adoption, she as
simulated its prejudices pretty easily, and held
them with that intensity which characterizes,
In my experience, acquired preiudices, espe-
c1ally when unreasonable. My father had in
him q couple of drops of dark blood, and al
though my mother thought nothing of that
when she took him, she speedily came to regard
1t as an indelible stain: She threw it in his
did not regard me with the love a child has
right to exact from its mother. The continual
quarrels and growing antipathy between my
parents led at length to their separation. My
father left, and believe is dead; never saw
him after they parted. He may have married
again. do not know, but believe he is dead.
to whom was burden and a reproach; she
looked about for. and secured another, more
suitable partner, German, working In
haired, moon.faced, thick.setNand 1 was
alone amidst them, the drudge or enemy of all.
had a good voice. and was made nurse to the
youngest children. and to still them was &C,
customed to sing to them. The eldest boy had
a clear, good voice also, and him liked best Of
all my half brothers and sisters. 1t was great
amusement TO us to follow brass bands, or
Italians with organs and monkeys; and when
we saw how that these obtained money, my
brother Thomas and agreed.together that we
would try our luck. One day-it was the day
of the Declaration OF Independence, when
everyone was out and all enjoying themselves
Tom and l went into the most frequented
avenue Of our town, and began to sing. Car
troops of people in their best clothes. all in
good humor and all seeking amusement. We
began to sing "Ich weiss NIGHT was soil es
bedeuten," Tom taking second. Some Ger
mans at once gathered about us, and threw
coppers into Toms cap. Presently man
came up with a red beard and a violin. He
stood for a long time listening. and then, in
stead Of giving us money, he asked where we
lived and what our parents were. l told him,
and next day he came to see my mother He
was a musician, and he offered to buy me of
her, that he might teach me to sing and accom-
pany him.
Philips face grew gray, and the lines in it
became more marked He no longer threw
bits of sedum at the fish. He clutched the
rock with both hands.
''She sold me-for s75.'
Philip shuddered. He turned and looked in
Artemisia's face-to see, perhaps, II her story
.'she wanted slOO, he offered $50. They came
to terms for S75."
Philip said nothing. He looked down into
the bottle-green depths of the lake, and for
some moments Artemisia was silent also.
Presently-with strange, forced voice, Philip
asked: How old were you when this trans
action took placer
Still child. / travelled about with the red
bearded man, and he taught me to sing. trained
me well, and at concerts made me sing, and
got great applause. liked that. was happier
with him than at my mothers; had no babies
to carry about, and to hush; none of the house
drudging TO do. Besides, he was kind, and he
was an honorable man after his fashion. He
treated me as If were his daughter, and took
immense pains to form me to be public singer.
But always the burden of his song was, ''See
what you cost me, what trouble you give me.
Afterward, when you area finished artist, you
must be engaged to me tor set of years and
repay me for my pains" l had not word
against that. was qnite aware that was in
debted to him, and intended to show my graft
tude by doing as he required So l grew up,
going about with him, and be never allowed me
to be treated with impertinence by any man;
he always protected me, though not always in
the most heroic manner. Once, in California,
we were performing. he with his fiddle and
singing at a liquor bar, when half-tipsy gold
digger became extensively attentive TO me. My
master made me leave the place with him, and
he ran away with me to San Francisco. 1
or shoot or be shot by that fellow, and he had
no wish for either. i remember sulking;
would have liked to see them fight about me-"
How long did you remain with this manr'
Till was Is. and then, just as was fit for
something better, and to earn more money, my
master spoiled his own game"
How sof'
HE wanted to marry me. I reckon he
thought he could secure me best that way. If
he had not asked me- and himself pestered me
about this, 1 would have stayed with him and
let him have a share-a lions share-of my
earnings; but he would not leave me in peace
he spoiled his own game by that, and set me
free. Ileft him."