Owingsville outlook., 1896-12-31

ne VINO nSlOnlSntu lHC "bi W. "'Ah w"
perfection of his work. and ho has not
since been approached in skill, though
the moderns excel in so many thingsl
The riolins of to-day, pert and foppish
in lustrous varuish aud glossy as mir
rors, are not valued as we are nor can
they approach us in interpreting those
other masters to whose grand compost
tions and soaring thoughts we violins
give vitality and voice.
beginning my active career in Italy.
] have outliyrd many owners, but now
rcpOsC in a glass front cabinet in Chica-
20. IL Was At first in very humble
home, about the only thing of real value
the nome poss, sscd, except my mistress
and owner. sweet-faced, swcet-voiced
IneZ Mardatti. You should see her and
know her as | do 10 properly estimate
her worth.
or Italian descent, small hut shapely,
with checks of the swarthy red and
brown, which is my complexion. too,
eyes of deeper brown through whicj
her soul gazes, teeth of polished pearl.
hair blueblack like n ravens glossy
plumage. her cheap dress did not sue.
ceed in obscuring her beauty or the
shapeliness of IT, little form which hal
the easy movements of queen half dis
guised in beggar's garb. When she laih
her cheek against mine, and charmed
me into the proper mood until our
voices melted into one, you would have
understood in an instant how much
loved her and why.
All know that | have q voice which
is a marvel, but il is shy like all real
talenT. and responds only TO the master
iy touch il loves, knows and under
stanGs lncz had voice as clear and
clean as that of Il bird, bell like in ring
ing tone, full of lights and shadows
which broke forth in song, sometimes
capering merrily as insects do in the
sunlight. sometimes ripping with tune
ful laughter like that of u mountain
brook, sometimes vibrating with deep
emotion, sometimes sobbing with
unshed tears. And II laughed, cried,
rcJoiccd, walled, or broke into cata-
racts of jubiant praise in touch and
tune with her. Our hearts and voices
were twins. What wonder that they
rioted in joy or sobbed in sympathy to-
geiher?
lneZ was poor, and lived in a locality
where haggard sights and sounds were
but too common; but evil did not mar
this soul of noble inspiration and in
stinct. You may splash mud upon Il
diamond or dust upon the opal, but yoa
cannot reach with it the fame in the
heart of the one or the won'lrous chang
ing iridescent light of the other.
Stains do not penetrate TO the inner
altar upon which burns the sacred
flame OF the really valuable gem.
Aud lnez had lover, II brown-eyed
youth uG poor as herself and us deeply
devoted To the spirit of song. lie, too,
played the violin, though not as shs
did. nor did he, like her, inherit. as the
only costly gift from an otherwise poor
grandfather, an heirloom like myself
lie had been true friend to the often.
times almost friendless girl, who, since
the death of her old grandmother not
long before this story opens, had often
needed protection, solace and advice
] think their souls first mingled in
music. and ran together as do two
streamlets which join hands to travel
together to the vast and boundless
ocean. We are all travellers to eternity;
il strengthens two clear streams tn
unite their currents until they create
a river large enough to mirror the
whole earthward side of heaven, in
stead of small fragments thereof. What
are souls but lenses, rejecting at differ.
ing angles, true or false. the light of
heaven. the flashes of inspiration, the
goodness of God?
He proposed to her in palace beside
which those of European kings were
dull and lusterless. They had strollrd
TO grove some distance from the great
cit, crowning hill which overlooked
Lake Michigan. II was mid-October.
end the grand transformation scene
with which nature closes her summer
dreams was at its height. Over them
were the forest arches gorgeous in
crimson and gold; on either hand
stretched aislcs festooned with drapery
such as no loom ever produced, each
aisle ending il glorious vista of earth
or sky. Leaves softly fell IN golden
gifts about them. and sunlight of rich
gold sifted through traceries of branch
es interviewer above and wove patterns
OF gold lace on embossed carpets of
moss. In the haze over the lakes deep
blue there was royal purple, and in the
sky tints innumerable, mingled wit n
opal. amethyst, amber and pearl. They
were in tune with the scene, and
conNing us violins to join them we four
united in a song of jubilant praise.
Their eyes met, their voices changed TO
a love song which we deepened and pro-
longed; then the lad, in simple words.
declared his love and was, in as simple
words, accepted. She nestled in his