Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1895-09-06


well, my man, you have an extreme
~ fine voice. Did you know that? With
due care and rigid training there
ought to be both fame and fortune in
it. You would like to be something
better than u bottle-washer all your
life, eli, my MANI"
Luigi, in wondering sort of way,
nodded
That's right, that's right, my man.
Here is my card. Come and see me at |
my house tomorrow at half-past six. 1.
want to have serious talk with you.
Can you Gomez"
Eyes, sir-thnt is, no, sir. Not to-
morrow. l work till eleven every night
during the week"
''Oh, oh! such is the irony of fate"
lnuttercd Jabez. Can you come on
Sunday?'
Yes, sir, will come"
True to his word Luigi, clothed in
his Sunday garments, found himself in
Mr. Wilson'S drawing-room the follow
ing Sunday evening.
Luigi, you have most charming
voice. 1t is, at present. in what may
term an embryo form. The foundation
is there in all its strength, and couple
OF years careful training will place
you without doubt in one of the top
most branches of the vocal tree.
You must make point of cultivat-
ing your. voice on every possible occa-
sion, Luigi. Avoid those articles of
food which shall give you list Of,
that your vocal cords may retain the
sweetness, strength and fullness that
now marks them.
Your clothes, too, are unsuited to
the pupil of vocal professor. You
must fit yourself out like gentleman,
Luigi You must exercise care, and
take pride in your personal appear
ance-in short, be in every respect
worthy of your profession"
AS Luigi's profession was that Of
bottlcwasher at an Italian restaurant,
he naturally failed to see how he could
we'll give further evidence of hi hi, -eccu-
1 PATTON than by the sttit in which he apss
pearcd before this strange gentleman
/ And he said SO.
Dear me; of course. must explain
to you, Luigi, what propose to do 1
am too hasty First and foremost, do
| you like music?"
II am an Italian" was the modest
reply
''Grand. A most fitting answer.
Now we will come to business. Would
you like to give up your present
mcnial occupation and become, first,
the pupil of a musician, and then a
master of the art you will excel in?"
| ha1 l.,
have no money"
| Jabez Wilson threw up his hands.
| That's all right will see to that
little matter. Give me the assurance
that you will put your whole heart
into the work l have cut out for YOU.
and will do your best. ask for moth
| ing more"
A few days later Luigi left his situa-
ton, and became the protcgc Of Mr..
| Wilson. 10 say that Luigi was CRATE
full would be to put the feeling he
cvinccd toward his bcnefactor in very
mild terms. lie could find 10 way of
expressing his gratitude beyond MAX
ing himself as perfect in his art as it
became possible for him to do.
Luigi" said Mr.. Wilson one day,
II anu delighted to tell you that it is
now beyond the capabilities of English
masters to teach you further. 1t re-
mains for the masters OF your native
land to instil into you that little re-
quircd torcnder you their equal, if not
their superior. have decided, there
fore. to take You to Naples, where we
will spend the next year or two"
| For the first time since their odd ac-
quaintancc, Luigi failed to hail an an
nouncement for his benefit with any
sign of pleasure or satisfaction. He
looked gloomy and hesitatcd to speak
| You have always been extremely
kind and good to me, Mr.. Wilson. i
cannot by any possible means express
my gratitude. But the suggestion you
have made, although entirely for my
good, fills me with pain. cannot
leave England, because-because am
going to get married."
The dickens you are!" roared the
Infatuated bachelor, mad with rage.
This, sir, is the way in which you
show your gratitude. Yon Italian dog
I-you scountlrcl-you-"
He stopped short. What an idiot he
was. Luigi was only flesh and blood,
md young blood at that.
Luigi" he began, after the silence
of the moment, sis this girl of yours a
4 suitable partner to accompany you on
4 your upward career through life? You
will stand at the head of your art. and
you will move in the highest circles of
European society.
"She, whatever her post in life now,
may be ill-ftted to grace the dra5
room of the aristocracy, or to sn
your side In the carriage that draws
you to your mansion.
''You love her now-shc is every.
thing to you. Time may be, however,
when you may be led to make odious
comparisons between her simplicity
and the winning faces of beautiful
women"
MY kind bcncfactor. that is impos-
sible. shall always love Maggie as
much as do now"
Jabez Wilson sighed. 1t was sad
blow to his vanity and to his peace Of