The Red Cloud chief., 1897-02-05

Accordingly a stout porter entered,
bearing a good-sized wooden box. on
which, besides the address, were the
words, Fragile, with care Pagani
examined 1t with some curiosity, and,
having paid the messenger, proceeded
to open the lid. His long, thin, but ex-
tremely muscular fingers, accomplished
the task without difficulty and the
company. whose curiosity caused them
somewhat to transgress the bounds Of
good manners, crowded around In
order to see the contents Of the box.
The musician drew out a large packet
secured with several seals. Having
opened this, a second. and then a third
wrapping appeared, and at length the
curious eyes Of twenty persons were
RECALLED with a gigantic wooden shoe.
almost large enough to serve for a
cradle. Peals of laughter hailed this
discovery.
"Ah!" said Pagani, "a wooden shoe. I
can guess who sent 1t. Some of these
excellent ladies wish to compare me to
a child who always expects presents
and never gives any. Well, be II so.
We will see II we cannot find some
method of making this shoe worth its
weight in gold"
SO saying, and scarcely saluting the
company. Pagani withdrew to his own
apartment. carrying with him the case
and its contents.
During three days he did not appear
in the drawing-room. Vicette informed
the company that he worked from
morning till night with the tools Of the
carpenter. In fact, the musician,
whose hands were wondrously flexible
and dcXtrous in other things besides
violin playing, had fashioned a per-
feet and sonorous instrument out OF the
clumsy wooden shoe. Having enriched
1t with Ii silver string, his work was
complete. Next day a public notice APP
peared that on New Years eve Pagani
would give a concert in the large hall
of the Villa Lutetanea. The great mas
ter announced that he would play ten
pieces. five on a violin and five on a
wooden shoe. The price of the tickets
was placed at twenty francs each. or
these only 100 were issued and they
were'immediately purchased.
The evening arrived and Pagani ap-
peared, smiling. with every appearance
of renewed health, and on his favorite
violin played some of those marvellous
strains which never failed to transport
Ills auditors to the seventh heaven of
delight. Then he seized the shoe,
which in tic rau, ut,tcD nr uinlin pti1l
preserved somewhat of its pristine
form, and his whole being lighted up
with enthusiasm, he began a wondrous
improvisation which c%aptivated the
souls Of his hearers. 1t represented
first the departure of a conscript, the
tears, the wailing of his %betrothed,
then his stormy life In the camp and
on the field of battle, and finally his
return, accompanied by triumph and
rejoicing. a merry peal of wedding
bells completed the musical drama.
Long and loud were the thunders OF
applause; even the old ladies who dis
liked Pagani could not refrain from
clapping their palms, and bouquets
thrown by fair and jeweled hands fell
AZ TIE ltet VI the muSlCldH. III IL COT-
ner of the hall next the door, Vicette
was weeping bitterly. The sympathy of
the conscript had gone straight to her
heart.
At the conclusion Of the concert the
receipts were counted and they
amounted to two thousand francs.
Here, Vicette," said Pagani. You
have five hundred francs over the sum
required to purchase a substitute. They
will pay your bridegroOm's travelling
expenses"
Then after a pause he continues:
But you will want something where
with to begin housekeeping. Take this
shoe violin, and sell it for your dowry."
Vicette recei Jed from a rich amateur
six THOUSAND francs for Pagani's
wooden shoe.
This violin Is to-day in the possess
sion of the Marquis Of Dufferin and