Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-07

CHAPTER III.

- Ouo bbtp pcu VI W INC Nultc lu1A DiO Ss'a~o.'
M very pretty one. Il had not been par
Sularly pretty when the lady in black and
or friend first took possession Of it, Then II
I'D worn the usual ungarnished air OF nearly
IA hotel rooms Now il was quite bright and
y. The curiosity shops had been levied upon
or ANTIQUE brocades, for rich, tenderly faded
old vsstmepts whose colors of hundred or two
years ago melted into wondrous shades, and
which were draped on the walls and thrown
over pieces of furniture. There were many
cushions covered with squares Of such
procsde: there we're draperies over the doors
70 were Spanish fans and odd trihes
re and there: there were studies Of peasants
the Citta yecchia and branches Of orange
20 and olives and eucalyptus blossom
IRE were bits Of Louis Quatorze silver and
ina and painted and gilded fans on the man
eli: there were bowls and vases Of jonquils anG
mirnosa and narcissi and violets everywhere
here were many violets; the air was full Of
their breath, and wheresoever ones eye turned
& rested on the pictured face Of boy who
stched one with shadowy, velvet dark eyes
re were several pictures Of him, and eacf
d., had before it q cluster Of violets.
HE had always been used to seeing me veal
violets" his mother said when he was
little fellow he used to bring me all he could
dnd in the garden. And the first time he wal
London he saw some crystallized punches in
confectioner's in Regent street. and he spent
all his pennies to buy me some, and brought
them to me for q present with such innocent
pride. When he was i'll and people sent him
.1wers he used to say TO his nurse: GIVE all
the violets 20 nlammie- AL the violets are Tor
Dr. When he went to sleep that last day
,vered him with them. In the medallion with
sminiature which 1 always wear, there is
ne shut inside with him. They mean 30 much
me now"
When they were walking or driving together
and the girl with the gray eyes used to sit
this little salon among the flowers and soft
oiors and talk Of their problems and dreams
.ad imaginings They had a great MANY
Theirs was a very dear friendship. They
loved and understood each other very tenderly
d completely. They had the same emotions,
same fancies- There was never any danger
one could be too imaginative or subtle for
> other. They had the same tastes and
IN isathies, and the shades in which they
aried only gave interest to their thoughts and
1fis.
The evening after they had met Giovanni
was mild and warm and the windows on the
doony were OPEN The lady in black lay upon
sofa with many cushions
U. she midst Of their quiet talk the strings of
suitar were touched in the garden below. 1t
= rather good guitar and the opening bars
song were being played.
Some one is going to sing" said the lady in
'ack, but it is not Giovanni. He is always
18th the harpist-"
And then they heard the singer begin his song.
ut 5 far from being Giovanni's voice" ex-
lined Gertrude. poor thing, how bad it is ~
Hsr friend raised her head to listen
And it is a boys voice, too" she said, ''but
sounds all strained and cracked. All, how
tifuli He ought not to sing at ALL
ut is strained" said Gertrude. Poor boy.
= has been good voice once-perhaps as good
as Giovannis. But he has been singing too
much and has forced it until it is broken.
what cruel pity
IN haa he
No~- voice rising from among the palms and
oses below. Ii was SO roughened, SO strained
md broken
makes me saa said the mother. at
sounos SO mournfui rising out Of the dark.
uiovanni comes and sings In the morning when
All the world Is full of sunshine, and he seems
like q happy young bird. This poor boy stands
alone there in the darkness as if he knew his
heiplessness and did not care to be seen.
wonder II Giovanni knows him; If he knows
Gloyanni, and If 1t is not bitter thing for
him. Let US go and look at him."
They went out to the balcony and looked
down, but they could not really see the singer.
They could only imagine they saw q shadow,
which might, after all, be part of the shade be-
hind some orange trees. But the poor, hoarse
voice struggled through the song to the end.
NO one opens the window to throw him
money, said the lady in black. They don't
want to hear him do not want to hear him
lit is too sad-but shall throw him money
He needs it more than Giovanni Everybody
gives him something-every one wants him. No
one wants the poor other one"
They put some silver in an envelope and
threw it down. The shadow seemed to move
forward slowly, as if with a dragging step.
DO you know" said the lady in black, 81
have fancy that he really does not care to be
seen Let us 60 back to the salon" And they
slipped quietly away.
This was the opening Of the story OF ssThe
Other" II was a sad story and he was never
more than a shadow. They ALWAYS called him
The Other and they never saw him. But
they spoke Of him even more than thew smoke
of Giovanni, whom they saw three times a veek.
Somehow the poor cracked voice singing in
the darkness had touched them yery much II
was 80 evident that it had been beautifni
voice once and that only bad management. and
perhaps, bad health, had been its ruin.
DO you know who the poor boy is who sang
last night?'' they asked the CONCIERGE
'No, madam. was the answerOthough the
concierge usually knew everything. "He does
not come often and 1t is always dark It is very
bad-his singing. The people do not like it.
They say il disturbs them it Is so bad"
1T Is too late to save his voice now the two
friends said to each other afterward ..bnt -
We could do something kind for him IL vould
be q comfort"
Only it was plain that he did not visb IN he
seen. He came only rarely and aI,var ~ ue
and always stood in the shadow Of the he trsss
So they could only throw him monev md s,o
back to their salon and talk to each Other abnnt
him pityingly.