The daily morning Alaskan., 1901-01-05
THE SISTERS.

The veranda of the Grand hotel, Fer matt was unusually full. for a troupe of Neapolitan musicians was announced to give a concert. Among the crowd was Mrs. Jay Gibson, woman of the world par excellence, one of the most brilliant and accomplished of American women. Italian by birth, she was adopted ia in- fancy under circumstances which made her history a romantic one.
 When old Carlotta Celini died, her two little orphan girls, Elvira and Giulietta, were adopted by Francesca Pastorelh, their uncle, q broken down singer, who in his old age continued to love music more than anything in the world. He earned precarious living by repairing musical instruments and by giving ies- sons in singing and the violin. Now taat he could himself sing no longer, his am bition was to produce a pupil who would become eminent. But his grievance was that his pupils were too poor to remain under his instruction long cnough-nor did they come to him sufficiently young. But now that he had Elvira and Giuliet- ta entirely under his control, You will scC," he said to his neghbors enthusi- astically, you will see what old Fran cesco can do. He has a voice no longer, but he knows how to sing. You shall see what he can do."
 They had much music, but little food.
 Privation and poverty finished poor old Francesca before his time. He died with his violin on his shoulder and his bow in hand. He called the two children who nurscd him his nightingales; their song, be said, was better than food or physic.
 Music is sweet, but it does not nourish the body. When it was too late, every body exclaimed how sad it was. Some of the singers at the opera house made collection among themselves for the chil- drcn The ncighbors debated what was to be done for them, and news of the sad story reached some kind hearted Amer ican folk who were visiting Florence; they took one of thcm-Giulietta-in their hearts and adopted her. She went with them to New York, and they would have taken little Elvira also, but an old Italian nurse who had known the child from hah} hood would not hear of it. She would bring up Elvra herself she said, and to the nc@hbors this seemed just. Eiyira was growing up now, and she Wonll become a nice support.
 Guliptta. taken to America, was pet .ed olur.tpd and well fed and soon de
 ,rrnd 3 remarkable beauty. Her fine Roman uo~c her large, dark eyes, her
 lH--ic rcatu,cs and rich, ripe lips made nrr cau~pisuuu~y attractive. But her e.nlulfg! lift of song was more strik .u. ov,u tlau her lovcliupSs. At IS. Hl.u she was one of the recognized .ollc- of New York. she was married to Mr. Jay Gibson. and she at once took her place as one of the leaders in Amer Jrau society.
 Very soon aftcrward Mrs. Jay Gibson made her first voyagc to Europe and wis itcl Florence expressly to acquire news of her sister. of whom nothing had been heard for some years. She made untr ing efforts to discover her or to obtain inrouHatiou about her. It was said by some tlat the old nurse in whose charge -hc had been left had treated her cruelty aud that the child had run away. 9th CTS said .hc oii woman mad sold her to 9 troupe of travelling acrobats. The most rcSoIutc inquiries, repeated again and again. bore no fruit. Elvira was lost Sh" was swept away among the million, of the living or of the dead. She Wa out somewhere in the mystery of lifc-ol in eternity No price or reward hrough. definite knowledge of the missing girl
 Every year Mrs. Jay Gibson visited Europe and always spent most of hcl time in Italy, She was now jourucyinc thithcr through Switzerland. lettering q little cn routc at Icrmatt.
 The Ncaroltan singers, in their red sa>hos and gay costumes, had already begun the concert outside the Xcrmatr hotel The tenor had sung q ballad and the whole company a chorus before room was made on the vcranda, which was al- ready crowded, for Mrs Jay Gibson and her little party. She sat down listlessly as the waiter served them with coffee and struck match for her husbands cigar. Then girl in the company sang solo to the accompaniment of her gui tar. In a moment Mrs. Jay Gibson was all cars for she knew the old song well It was one that her old uncle. Francesca, had taught them in the sad days of long ago.
 She listened, lost in reverie. in dreams of her childhood, of Fiesole, of Florence.
 Surely that voice was not the mere echo of memory!
 She sat erect. A sudden thrill swept through her. The voice was unmistak- able. It was her sisters. She uttered her name with joyful cry. "Elvira, Elviraw
 The song was abruptly concluded. Gi. ulietta arose, advanced and took Elvira in her arms.
 So, after years, they met. A few hours of embrace, of love, of mutual gifts, of kisses and of ears; few days of mutual forbearancc, of effort, of affection, of constraint and of passionate altcrcation; a final fearful gust of weep ing and of love, and then they parted.
 For those who have lived the Bohemian life can live no other. Its liberty, its unconventionality, even it's hardships. are sweet to those who cannot bear the trammels of civilization. Besides. Elvira was in love with the tenor.-Illustrated London News.