The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1903-07-17

ming touched Q chord in the heart
of listener that sent the dream
echoes vibrating down the corridors
of memory and ringing, singing in
definitely on. Again this sober, heavy,
set man was a hot-headed youth OF
25, and again he saw, in fancy, as he
had not seen for 20 years, the proud
and scornful beauty, Veronica Del
mar. The careless tones of the passer
had died into far, faint diminuendo,
but as Little listened, he felt again
the beating heart and bounding hope
with which he had hailed the omnibus
that day to take him to the Olympus
of his divinity.
His reverie was disturbed by the
approach of a pair Ut strolling musi-
cians-a man and a woman, leading
a tired, overworked little monkey by
a chain. The figures of the singers
were indistinct under the flare of
the street lights, but the outline of
big felIowin SLOUGH hat and cloak.
loosely draped over his shoulders,
| was easily discerned above the heads
of the widening circle of listeners. AS
Little turned idly to watch the group.
they began to sing the popular songs
of the day, after which the monkey
took off his cap and held it for con-
tributions. As the crowd increased,
drawn by the shouts of laughter
elected by the monkeys begging, the
shower of coins grew too valuable
for the monkeys handling, so the
man drew the little beggar to his
shoulder and took off his own hat.
handing his guitar to his companion.
The woman, to Titles surprise, in
stead of continuing with the class Of
music that had at first attracted the
crowd, struck few chords and began
the serenade from don Pasquale"
The voice of the singer lacked vol
ume, but was SO pure and managed
with such consummate art, that the
listeners were from the first sur
prised and interested. Although at
times the woman seemed rather to
sigh than sing, the articulation was
so perfect that not word was lost.
Even at his distance Little caught
the lowest notes, and their penetrat-
ing clearness touched a chord in his
nature that had not yibrated in years.
Here was an inexplicable emotion,
He sought to explain it by the dream
ing to which he had beer giving him
self up, and which had worked upon
his Imagination. Nevertheless, he
pressed his way closer into the crowd
to get better view of the singer.
When that song was finished, some
one called for n selection from Gar
men, The woman shook her head, |
fearing her voice was not powerful |
enough for such dramatic music, and |
chose instead Miserere. The poor
soul had reason toavoid a score whose
impassioned strains surpassed the
range of her broken voice. BY the
time the Miserere was ended, some
of the crowd had moved on, giving
Little a chance to join the front row.
One glance into the face of the art
ist who had sung the serenade made
a gain in horror. InTsPIYe Of naE as,a |
fshe seemed to have passed 4or ana
IN spite of the drawn features and
parchment like skin, the woman bore
a strange resemblance to the beau
tiful Veronica Delmar. There were
the same loose locks of hair waving
over a low forehead, the same deep
eyes, the same scornful mouth that,
when the coins jingled generously
into the hat. frightened with weary
smile. The sloping shoulders and
graceful head were carried as proud
" as in the old days. Was all this
trick of the Imagination.
Little asked himself, or was this in
Iced the proud, ambitious girl who
had once been so cruel? The singer
was certainly about the age Veronica
must be, wherever she was, but the
puffy eyelids, the sunken cheeks, the
tawdy dress, all told of years of mis-
cry and debauch. Although he as
sured himself over and over this was
only a chance resemblance, he could
not take his eyes off the woman's
face, so like and yet so strangely UNI
like was she to the beautiful girl OF
20 years ago.
hat to offer it for contributions, Lit |
tie drew slightly aside so that she
would have to go beyond the circle to |
reach him. Dropping much heavier
coin into the old hat than it had ever
felt before, he caused the woman to
look up quickly into his face, with
smile of gratitude. This gave him
q chance to settle his doubts.
''veronica!" he said impulsively.
The woman started nervously, and
fixed her great eyes upon him.
IL am one of your old friends" he
continued, do you remember me?"
At that moment the man came up
to her to get his hat. and the face
Of the singer showed her fear of
him. She gave Little warning
glance, and turned hastily aside. She
seemed to be struggling between her
Inundated pride and aroused GU
riosity. At last, taking up the gui-
tar, she moved a step or two to-
ward Little. and began:
LIE parlate damon
Her clear, penetrating tones rose
IN tho cfillneSc IF the niubf ike a