Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-04-20

Mary MacAllister had done for in
in the hour of his extremity.
Compliments! What words OF
mine can be called compliments, after
what you have done for>me?"
Mary started You know"
Eyes, the good Signora Bird has told
me-"
Then she ought not to have done
so. 1t is Notwithstanding, ] repeat.
And you must not think of it again,
Or"
She paused and the man looked at
her inquiringly "Or what, Mees Mac.
Alleester?"
"Or shall not be able to come and
see you-or-help you any more"
But" said Carlo, weakly, I'll do
not understand. 1t is but the truth
You have saved my life, mia cara mia,
must thank you'll must pour out
my gratitude to you--from my SOUL"
He stopped, exhausted for mo.
ment, and then went on excitedly: II
i have been thinking of you, long
ing to see you-to look on you-to,
perhaps-be able to take your little
hand-so-and kiss it and let fall my
tears-as of blood, on it. You have
saved my life-you have done more
you have inspired mel have been
dreaming picture of you, as lay
so high. so pure, SO true, and the mel
ody came. heard, somewhere
| away, up above me. in Gods air, a
host chanting your praises; the music
they sang was the melody my soul
has sought so long. put it in my
work. That work at last will be com.
plete. 1t will triumph. for none can
resist such music as this
He rose. abruptly with sudden
strength. Then he staggered across
the room to where violin lay in Its
case. Mary MacAllister uttered a cry.
and laid a restraining hand on his
arm.
What are you doing?" she cried.
"You will kill yourself, if you exert
yourself like this"
The violinist took up his instrument
and crept back to his chair
mo, 1t is life to me to play, and
you must hear. Then you shall tell
me if it is good enough for my opera"
He seated himself and began to
play. The girl, seeing remonstrance
useless, quietly dropped into a seat
and listened. Fora few moments she
heard only music she had heard him
play before-in the days when he was
well. Then suddenly her lips parted
and she sat breathless. From the
instrument poured a melody almost
unearthly. The man played as If in
spired. 1t was as if voices from an.
other world were speaking. On, on
he went-from paean of praise to
a frenzy of passion, from hurri.
cane of hope to dirge of despair.
And then on again. higher and
higher, faster and faster, the liquid
melody poured from the violin, until,
with one great overpowering chord
of grandeur, the music stopped and
the bow fell from his nerveless hand,
while the musician sank back pant
ing, exhausted, but triumphant, In his
chair.
So engrossed had he been with his
beloved music, SO enraptured had
been the girl with the marvellous
strains that Carlo Terrini had evoked.
that neither had heard the footsteps
that had mounted the stairs, nor seen
the form that now stood in the door
way. Gently the girl chided the poor
violinist for his great exertion, sweet
ly she babe him good night and rest,
slowly she turned from him tn-the
Aoor. For moment she gazed, as if
looking on the dead, then with cry
of passionate gladness she flew to
the outstretched arms, crying "Dicl1!"
And as the lovers passed from the
room and the door closed behind
them Carlo Terrini's head fell, and a
great sob shook him from head to foot.
\
Downstairs in Mrs. Birds front par.
A Tor Dick Herrick's story was soon
told. After months of imprisonment
at Waterfall he had recovered his
i liberty, but not his rights. The Dutch
man who had sold him the land was
now in possession of 1t again, ant
was disputing his title. Too poor tt
take the necessary legal action tc
recover, he had returned to England
as poor as he left it four years be
fore.
The next morning Mary, dressed TO
the city, paid her usual visit to Carl
! Terrini before going. She found hin
very i'll. He confessed that he hal
| not been to bed. He had been work
: ing all through the long night, wrfl
ing the music he had composed an,
t played to her into his opera.
t But now. now you have finished,
! she pleaded, you will sleep-ani
rest?'
, "Yes, cara mia. will rest-soon-
l promise you," and as the door close,
behind her, he added. with a wal
| smile, forever"
Two hours after she had gon
j Carlo Terrini let himself out Of tn
house without sound and made hi
!, way to g. West End music firm, tn
head of which was a compatriot of his
2 After a few minutes talk he pc,
t suaded him to listen to the opera
which he had played through witt
out break.
Astonished and delighted, the pull
Usher instantly concluded a bargai
: with him, and Carlo Terrini crep
] home and fell exhausted on the bee
from which he never rose again.
A few hours before he died he CAV
a letter. scaled, to Mary MacAllistel
3 and whispered her to keen II till h