St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-08-01
Little turned idly to watch the eroun.

: 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 al iculation was
so perfect that not atword was lost
| Even at his distance Little caught
the lowest notes, and their penetrat-
ing clearness touched 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 been 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 a selection from Gear.
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 score whose
imprisoned strains surpassed the
range of her broken voice. By the
time the Miserere was ended, some
of the crowd had moved on, giving
Little chance to join the front row.
One glance into the face of the art
ist who had sung the serenade made
him draw back. Then he looked
again in horror. In spite of her age
(she seemed to have passed 4O) and
in spite of the drawn features and
parchment. like skin, the woman bore
strange resemblance to the beau
tiful Veronica Delmar. There were
the same loose locks of hair waving
over 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
merely trick of the imagination,
Little asked himself, or was this in
deed 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 un-
like was she to the beautiful girl of
20 years ago.
When, in turn, the woman took the
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
a smile of gratitude. This gave him
a 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 a warning
glance, and turned hastily aside. She
seemed to be struggling between her
pride and aroused cu-
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
Ia INC SlAAAAOSS VI tA1C AiSAU 0AC q
echo of the past:
"Oh care for
Ditele che Iadoro.''
The choice of ''The Flower Song
lissipated Titles last doubt. This
vas the voice that had charmed his .
youth and shattered the dream OF his
irst love-
When the crowd grew tired and be-
ran to dispense, the, singer turned
Town toward. the Italian quarter. Lit Z
lie following at short distance. ,
The woman, too, 1oitered few steps ,
behind her companion, hoping, per- /
laps,s for one more word with this {
ink with her happy past. But at the t
ide entrance of a cheap little wine '
hop the man stopped and turned /
With an imperious Veronica vieni!" /
With slight shrug, as it nothing
nattered much any way, the woman q
her steps and both disap-
reared behind the swinging doors v
AN Francisco Argonaut. In
INTERESTED IN FINANCE.