The Chilhowee echo. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1899-19??, 1899-11-18
THE WOODEN SHOE.
JUAN KINGSLEY.

JUAN hlRGSLEf
E@WN ONWARD the end of September,
MSE AN 1882, it was announced among
Ns4I the artistic circles of Paris
that Nicolo Paganini had
fallen seriously i'll at the conclusion
of grand concert given by the illus
trious violinist He was attacked by a
low intermitting fever, which refused
to yield to the remedies employed and
even gave rise to apprehensions for
his life.
Paganini, whose lear ness was already
almost spectral, now seemed to have his
frail existence suspended by thread
which the slightest shock might sever.
The physicians. unanimously ordered
solitude, absolute repose, and strict
regimen as to diet.
u order to.earrz out these nreseril.
lions Paganini removed to the villa
Lutetiana, in the Faubourg Poisson
Mere. This excellent establishment,
which no longer exists, was intended
exclusively for the reception and cure
of wealthy invalids. A spacious, COM
Portable house stood in large, park
like garden, where each patient could
ramble at will and enjoy either solitude
or society at his choice. A great charm
of this house was that every one lived
just as he or she pleased; in the even
ing either retiring to the solitude of his
apartment or joining in the games, mu-
sic and conversation held in the draw
ing-room. Paganini naturally belonged
to those who preferred passing the even.
ings in quietness and retirement. There
was plenty of gossip in the drawing
room; three or four censorious old
maids fell on him tooth and nail
Ladies'" began one, "have you seer
this great musician? He salutes no one
and never speaks word. He takes his
bowl of soup in an arbor in the garden
and then hastens away if any one ap
proaches. What an oddity he mus
be-"
"That's part of his malady," said an
other; ''people say that there is some
terrible mystery about his life; some
love story, l imagine"
mot at ALL" added third; "Paga
mini is miser; there's no mystery
about that. Do you remember tha
concert which was organized in favor
of the families who had suffered from
the inundation at st. Etienne? The
great violinist refused to take part in i
because he would have had to play graf
uitously. Depend upon it, he fears tina
were he to mix in our society he nigh
be asked for similar favors."
Paganini guessed pretty well how hi
was received by his fellow-b oarders
but like Calico of old, he cared fol
none of these things. His health be
came gradually better, yet in the whole
house he never exchanged word will
any one except Nicette. This was thu
housemaid who attended on him;
cheerful, innocent country girl, who's
gay prattle, when she served his meals
often availed to dispel the cloud whicl
habitually darkened the brows of Paga
mini.
One morning Nicette presented her
self with a sad, dropping countenance
and served breakfast without utterin,
word. The musician, who was anus
ing himself with carving a piece 0
ivory for the handle of dagger, nc
ticed the change in the young girl an
questioned her upon it.
"What's the matter, my child? Yo
look sad; your eyes are red; some mis-
fortune has befallen you, Nicette."
90. yes! sir"
''Would it be indiscreet to ask yo
what it is?"