The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-03-13
THE SISTERS.


 Tho veranda of tho Grand hotel. Fer. matt. was unusually full, for 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 in in' fancy under circumstances which made her history romantic one.
 When old Carlotta Celinl died, her two little orphan girls. Elvira and Giulietta, were adopted by Francesca Pastorelli. their uncle. broken down singer, who in his old age continued to love music more than anything in the world. He earned a precarious living by repairing musical instruments and by giving les sons in singing and the violin. Now tSat he could himself sing no longer, his am b!tion was to produce pupil who would become eminent. But his grievance was that his pupils were too poor to remain under his instruction long enough-nor did they come Co him sufficiently young, But now that he had Elvira and Giullet- ta entirely under his control, You will sec" he said to his neighbors enthusi- astically, "you will see what old Fran cesco can do. He has 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 hls bow In hand. He called the two children who nursed him his nightingale; 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 q collection among themselves for the chil- dren. The neighbors debated what was to be done for them. and news of the sad story reached some kind hearted Amer lcan folk who were visiting Florence; they took one of them-Giulietta-i 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 habyhood would not hear of 1t. She would bring up Elvira herself. she said. and to the neighbors this seemed just. Elyira was growing up now, and she would become a nice support.
 Giulctta. taken to America. was pet ted educated and well fed and soon de- vclopcd a remarkable beauty. Her fine Roman nose. her large. dark eyes, her classic features and rich. ripe lips made her conspicuously attractive. But her wonderful cift Of song was more strlk' ing even than her lovelincss At IS, when she was one of the recognized bellcs of New York. she was married to Mir Jay Gihson and she at once took Der place as one of the leaders in Amer lean society.
 Very soon afte.ward Mrs. Jay Gibson made her first voyage Co Europe and vis- tied Florence expressly Co acquire news of her sister. of whom nothing had been heard for some ycars. She made untir Ing efforts Co discover her or Co obtain information aboCt her. lt was said by some that Che old nurse in whose charge she had been left had treated her cruelty and that the child had run away. 9th CTS said Che old woman had sold her to a troupe of travelling acrobats. Tue most rcsolutc inquiries. repeated again and again. bore no fruit. Elyira was lost She was swept away among the millions of the hyiug-or or the dead. She was out somewhere in the mystery of life-or in eternity. No price or reward brought definite knowledge of the missing girl.
 Every year Mrs. Jay Gibson visited Europe and always spent most of her Al l.. t. fnmHunvfmU U thither through Switzerland, lettering little cn route at Zermatt
 The Ncapolitan singers, in their red sashes and gay costumes, had already begun the concert outside the Zermatt hotel. The tenor had sung a ballad and the whole company a chorus before room was made on the ycranda, which was al ready crowded. for Mrs. Jay Gibson and her little party. She sat down listlessly is the waiter served them with coffee and struck a match for her husbands cigar. Then girl in the company sang a solo to the accompaniment of her gull tar. In moment Mrs. Jay Gibson was all ears. for she knew the old song well It was one that her old uncle. Francesca. had taught them in the sad days of long ngo.
 She listened. lost in reverie. in dreams of her childhood. of Ficsole, of Florence
 Surely that voice was not the mert echo of a mcmoryl
 She sat erect. A sudden thrill swept through her The voice was unmistak able. It was her sisters. She uttered her name with q joyful cry. "Elyira Elviraw
 The song was abruptly concluded. Gi 'lietta arose. advanced and took Elvirt n her arms
 So. after years. they met. A few hours or cmhrace. of love. of mutual gifts. of kisses and of ears; few days of mutual forbcarancc. of effort. of affection. of constraiui and ot passionate altcrcat'or: a dnal fearful gust Of weep. ing and uf love. and then they parted.
 For thosc who have lived the Bohemian life can live no other. Its liberty. its nnconycuiiouality even its hardships, are sweet Co those who cannot bear the trammcls of civilization. Besides. Elyira was in love wiih the tenOr.-lllustrated London News
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