St. Landry democrat., 1891-07-04
FARINELLl'S LOVE


ple of art; and, ON this evening, q
crowd of the noblest and richest peo-
ME in Madrid had assembled to honor
the presiding priestess of the temple.
She whose exquisite taste had
planned the reception, was Queen
Elisabeth, widow of Philip of Spain.
Here she reigned, queen of hearts.
Hither she summoned youth, beauty,
genius, and in elect. Nightly her
spacious apartments sheltered, not
only the noble borne and nobly bred,
but Others whose intellect had out
grown their birth and station, and
who, for the time being, were accepted
rs equals with Elizabeth and her dis
tinguished guests.
But, on this night, she had aimed at
more select party than ever before.
Hardly had the guests entered and
paid their homage to their beautiful
and intellectual hostess, ereshe passed
into the centre of the grand reception
hall. and placed her finger upon her
liD, as if to entreat their silence and
attention.
Low and soft, from q vaulted cham
Der opposite the hall, came the sweet
est music that earth has ever heard
from mortal voice, 1t commenced
with o murmuring wall as II it were
sung above the dead, breaking the
hearts of the listeners with its sad
melody-thcn changing to q higher
strain, it burst out into full, wild,
gushing bursts of song, that held the
! soul entranced with it's rich sweetness,
and dying away to a soft yet thrilling
cadence, as full of unapproachable
sweetness as the tender prelude had
been
Not the faintest murmur OF APP
| plause broke the silence that succeed
ed it, Queen Elizabeth gratihed at
the noiseless homage, turned and en-
tered the chamber from whence had
foated the matchless strains. No one
| moved; and in q few moments, she re-
turned, not alone.
! A graceful figure accompanied her;
noble head was bowed to the cluster
ing groups on each side of the path
way toward the grand chandelier,
whittier Elizabethled her guest; aud in
q low yet distinct voice, said: "Signor
Farineli, | thank you in the name of
our friends here, for the pleasure you
have given us
1t may well be supposed that no
other voice was raised in song, after
Farinelli's. The guests, carried away
in the remembrance of those delicious
tones, felt that they had heard that
which would unfit them for other
strains. Many of the noblest Span
iards present gathered around the
singer, Offering him the warm and
friendly courtesy that acknowledges
such merit as his beyond wealth or
station. Such courtesy from a peo-
pie generally considered naughty and
distant, was truly acceptable to such
a man as Farinelli, whose voice,
all his projections.
Standing apart from others, and
partially in the shadow of one of the
magnificent columns that supported
the vaulted roof of Queen Elizabeths
reception hall, was a young and beau
tiful Spanish girl Her robe, of the
finest texture, hung in FULL rich folds
around her graceful person; and her
rich black hair fell in long ringlets over
her shoulders, and parted from her
forehead by q row of beads. The full
red lips were slightly apart as she
stood, listening to the singer, and the
olive cheek was flushed to deep
crimson.
When all others pressed toward
Farinelli, she alone kept back. Her
silence and immovable position were
observed by him. He glanced back at
her, still standing against the column,
her splendid eyes fixed upon his face,
but quickly withdrawn when she
caught the glance he gave. But the
brief interchange Of looks had been
sufficient Each knew that, in that
short minute, the LIES destiny had
been sealed. For the child of song had
drank in sweeter music than his
lips had ever warbled-for the
orphaned Melania had recognized
a kindred spirit whose SYM
pathy would shed a ray of sunlight
oyer her darkened life.
Brief indeed were the dreams ofboth.
True, they met often-but always
with the quick, sharp eyes OF Elizabeth
upon them. Elizabeth was really in
terested in Farinelli. He it was
whose magical voice had chased away
the melancholy of the royal Philip.
She had never forgotten that. Then
she had tender regard for the Or
phan She had taken her home, after
her parents death, and had been q
mother to the half art-broken child
If Elizabeth watched Melania, it WAS
not because she believed that he had
won the young girls heart, but be-
cause she feared, like many others
of her household, she might
be prejudiced against him. A
report had gone abroad that Farinelli
was employed. by England to NEEDLE
with Spanish politics; and it required
sill Elizabeth's firm friendship for him,
to uphold him against their suspicious.
To prevent Melania from imbibing
such ideas of her favorite, she was
constantly relating instances of his
goodness, especially of his noble gem
crosby to the Milan singer. Theresa
Castellini, whom he had thoroughly
instructed in his art. Each of those
relations deepened the sentiment that
was fast growing up III the bosom
! of the young girl. But, as has been
said her dreams were brief. Far
inelli was Obliged to absent himself, in
order to fulfil.other engagements; and
! the constant presence OF Eliza beth for
babe any opportunity of disclosing to
Melania the love with which she had
inspired him.
Two years! How long it seems to
the young! Farinelli went to fulfil other
engagements and to win the need he
SO richly deserved. Melania's heart
| went with him. He returned ST the