The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-12-22

olive Dumbarton pointed to a chair,
and said when the visitor had seated
herself:
You nave not mentioned your
name?"
Angela Mezza."
angela Mezzai l don't think have
heard it before"
II dare say not the visitor replied,
speaking slowly and With a strong for
eign accent. AT one time I thought
it would become famous throughout
Europe as that of a prima donna, so did
my maestro, so did the man who mar
ried me for the fortune he thought lay
in my voice. He was a violinist-the
leader of the orchestra at the opera
house. 1 was not IS then. and he was
10 years older, and as l soon discovered,
he was a brute. When l was within a
month of making my debut l caught,
ateVer. and on my recovery my voice
had almost gone, so tina instead Of be-
coming a prima donna l was obliged to
fall back into the chorus" she said
with II feeling which showed; that bitter
disappointment still ranked in her
mind.
But what has this to do with the
tragedy" asked Valcrius impatiently.
wondering h was forthcoming. and
eager that she should explain the object
of her visit.
You shah hear she answered.
When 1 knew that l could never Nbe
what | hoped, | had not only to bear
my own grief, but my husband, MezZa's
anger. Then he told me what l would
not believe before from others; that
he had married me for what 1 could
earn. / hated him.. hated my life.
which was now to have no triumphs, no
fame, no homage az I lac dreamed
since girlhood. 1t was only to know
drudgery, ~obscurity, poverty without
relief. He forced me to take ngage
ments | was often too proud to accept;
he threatened me; he claimed ev-
cry penny l earned and spent it in the
gambling houses. and l would often
have starved only for my sister. who
was he leader of the chorus and wife
OF u singer who played small parts in
opera"
The strained attention with which
Olive Dumbarton listened was evident
Her eyes We're fixed with an eager and
almost appealing look upon the for
eign woman, whose manner grew eX-
cited and whose voice became louder
as she continued her story.
We moved o from one city and
country to another" Angela Mezza said
after a slight pause, as if to consider
her words. 1T was while we We're at
Milan that my sister took me to a pub
lie hall. n there for the first time
L met the Engiishman, your husband
How long ago was that?" Valerius
asked.
About a year ago"
well?
Il had been to England, and spoke
his la~nguagss.and that helped to make
us friendlYM=He danced a good deal
with me and asked if he might come
and see me, but l refused, believing
my husband would object. I did not
know nor care IL he were
married.; it made no difference
10 me-he was merely an ac-
qualntance. MeZZa was present at the
ball, and as usual. had drunk too much.
Drink excited his jealousy, for though
he did MOI love me, he was jealous of
every man to whom I spoke
And he was jealous of David Dunn
parton suggested Valerius, his eyes
kindling with excitement.
HE was. On our return home he
acted like n mad: abused me for
dancing with the Englishmap, threat
ened me and then struck me. He had
never done this before. and | was
heightened, for he is a Neapolitan, and
when their blood is up they will kill
without mercy. I ran out of the house
and took refuge with my sister. She
and her husband received me. and I
never went back to Mezza, whom I
now feared as well as hated"
Did he ask you to return?" ValerI-
US said.
"He did, but I refused. Then he told
"What?" valerius asked, seeing that
mastered by her emotion, she had
suddenly paused.
That if he ever saw me with that
Engiishman he would kill him and
me-"
A low moan escaped from Olive Dunn
parton's lips, and Il look of terror came
into her eyes.
claimed, starting to his feet.
Wait, wait, Signor,' the foreign
woman replied. Let me tell YOU ali
and you shall be the Judge. After
that never went out without my sis
ter or her husband, Carlo Ciupini, and
l nld carlo tell the Englishman he must
NOT speak to me, so nothing more
happened while We were at Milan, Then
my sister, her husband and myself Went
to Rome and Naples"
Ard David Dumbarton? p"
l never saw him again Until we won't
10 farls ana that was about five months
go"
And your husband?'
We had left him behind US in Milan,
ana / had lost sight Of him. was
sure he was doing we'll, because he had
not written to claim my salary. one
gay. while he was at the Cafe de =
opera, Carlo met the Englishman and
orought him to see us, and after that
We saw him very often, for he knew all
the singers and sometimes came behind
the scenes at the opera with mis-
friends ~
: She paused nee more as if hesitatinp
10 repeat what was painful. her man
ner becoming more emotional. VaIeri-
US, with difficulty. restrained himself
rom urging her to continue.
One night after the opera" she said.
my sister, her husband, the English
man and myself were having q little
supper at a restaurant. For some
tune back | had Deer regaining nv
spirits, for not having seen Mezza for
months, a weight was lifted from nv
life, and at this supper we were ali
feeling light hearted and merry. Sud
denly looked up and saw Mezza at the
lower end Of the apartment, glaring
at US with a light in his eyes that made
my blood run cold. It was only for q.
second saw him; he went as sud
denly as he came.
4 told them all, but as they did
not see him, and as he afterwards did
not seek us out. they declared l had
made a mistake. But / was sure I had
seen him, and that he did not come
near, made me more frightened stlll."
But they were soon to find ont that