The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-02-27

, Signora sit close. and talk In our own
country
But Teresa, how did she bring you so
I! far tonight?'
This morning, she was looking out the
window, while my brother play the organ
and / dance. she love cur organ She look
and laugh, and clap! and call me in and
say she know our organ come AL the way
from beautiful I:aly.-then she speak our
sweetest words, and says l must CONS to-
night and hear her sing; my father, and
brother both coming
Teresa spoke rapidly. earnestly and
brokenly. The general and his friends
struggled to catch any word, and to keep
their faces sober.
Come close to the front, Teresa, you
shall be the very first to see her. Ihe
great house was packed from ceiling to
stage. The orchestra played, the curtains
were fastened back and Teresa stood In
full view of the audience. She was still
as a statue. The little gold earrings hard
ly stirred. The curtain rose; gayly dressed
peasants danced In to the fair. Beautiful,
ripping music stirred the audience, as 1t
merrily and bewitchingly danced into the
hearts of the people.
Teresa breathlessly watched each face
suddenly a full rich voice burst upon the
scene, like a hundred birds the melody
filled the air, Parepa, the one Martha,
came bounding in to the fair with a. scarlet
cloak hanging from her shoulders, Its
hood covering her dark hair as she passed
through the chorus of peasants, herself
| singing with all the abandon of a wild
| peasant maid.
General Sherman said he felt, rather
than saw the child tremble, jump forward
and grasp the edge of the box with both
little hands, her head bobbing, her feet
tapping the floor to every note of song.
Parepa sang on-and on-rich and fuller
at this 'fete of the year" The band
some tenor Castle" signed his contract.
and with G"Martha." his hired servant,
leaning coquettishly on his arm they sang
themselves off the stage. Parepa passed
to General Sherman's box, touched her
fingers to her red lips and said-"Teresa
Mfo"-then dropped her sweet voice into
the rythm of the ~"fete," tossed her hand-
some head, and with a dancing, singing
chorus, was lost behind the curtain.
Teresa clapped her tiny hands in ecstasy.
No one stopped her. The house was wild
with admiration. Again and again Parepa
was called. Led by Castle, she merrily
bowed, smiled, each time laughing INTO
the eyes Of her little c~ountryAwoman, as
she tripped on and off the stage.
AT the huttering kiss, and the soft Ita1-
ian-"Teresa Mio'-the black eyes flashed,
the earrings danced, and the pretty scar
let petticoat jumped up and down. Never.
never did jewels flash; never silken gowns
rustic. nor beautiful women smile in an
opera box, so rapturously as this!
General Sherman declared "he was over
come with embarrassment" at the popu-
larity of his small guest. Parepa awaited
them In the green room.
How splendid of you. dear general, to
take such good care of reresai i do wish
you could see her dance! She has the
ardent soul of my sunny land!'
Madam Rosa, / beg you not to thank
me, We've had a treat. The singer is great
-~but-the woman is greater"
Martha was perfectly given that night.
The hushed and breathless multitude for
many years talked of the singer and that
voice.
The little child was tucked away on the
cushion of Parepa's carriage by General
Sherman, while miles away to the Italian
quarter of the capital, Parepa and her
husband drove to take Teresa home.
With a kiss on her lips, and a wonderful
joy in her little Italian heart, Teresa said
goodnight to the beautiful singer. For
years General Sherman told this story of
his guest at the opera. NJ. S.