The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-12-23

Dlive Dumbarton pointed to Il chair,
and said when the visitor had seated
herself:
You have not mentioned your
Nance"
Angela Mezza."
Angela Mczza; / don't think I have
heard it before"
Il dare say not" the visitor replied.
speaking slowly IL with II strong for
eign accent. AT n time | thought
1t would become famous throughout
Europe as that OF a prima donna. so did
my maestro. so did the man who mar
RED me for the fortune he thought lay
In my voice. He was 4 violinist-the
leader of the orchestra at the opera
house. l was not IS then, ana he was
10 years older, and as | soon discovered.
he was a brute. When l was within a
month of making my debut l caught
FEVER. ana on my recovery my voice
mad almost gone, so that instead of be-
coming q prima donna I was obliged to
fall back into the chorus" she said
with a feeling which showed that bitter
disappointment still ranked in her
mind.
But what has this to do with the
tragedy" asked Nalerius impatiently,
wondering what was forthcoming, and
eager that she should explain the object
OF her visit.
You shall hear" she answered.
When l knew that l could never be
what l hoped. l had not only to bea.
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 l could
earn. I hated him. 1 hated my life,
winch was now to a v no triumphs. no
fame, NJ homage as 1 had dreamed
since girlhood. 1t was only to know
obscurity. poverty without
relief. He forced me to take engage
ments l was often too proud to accept:
he threatened me; he claimed ev-
cry penny l earned and spent it in the
gambling houses, and 1 would often
nave starved only for my sister. who
OF a singer who played small parts in
opera"
h strained attention With which
OllVe Dumbarton listened was evident.
Her eyes We're fixed With an eager and
almost appealing look upon the for
cited and whose voice became louder
as she continued her story.
we moved about from one city and
country to another" Angela MeZZa said
after a slight pause, as if to consider
her words. lit was While we We're at
Milan that my sister took me to a pub
lie hall. and there for the first time
met the Englishman. your husband"
How long ago was that" Nalerius
asked.
ABOUT q year ago"
We'll?
81 had beer to England, and 1 spoke
his language, and that helped to make
us friendly. He danced a good deal
with me and asked if he might come
and see me. but I refused, believing
my husband would object. 1 did not
n mnrS,sd nor care if he We're
to me-he was merely an sac
quaintance. MeZza was present at the
ball, and as usual. had drunk too much.
Drink excited his jealousy. for though
he did not love me, he was jealous of
every man to whom 1 spoke"
And he was jealous Of David Dunn
barton?' suggested Valerius, his eyes
kindling with excitement.
III was. On our return home he
acted like n mad; abused me for
dancing with the E~nglishman, threat
never neya me don ana tb ,hen hs struck me; He had
frightened, for he is a Neapolitan. and
when their blood is up they will XIII
without mercy. I ran out of the house
and took refuge with my sister. She
and her husband received me. and 1
never went back to Mezza, whom I
now feared as we'll as hated"
Did he ask you to r%eturno" valert-
US said.
He did, out 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
Englishman he would kill him and
me-"
A low moan escaped from Olive Dunn
barton's lips. and a look of terror came
into her eyes.
Then it was he" valerius ex-
claimed, starting to his feet.
Wait, wait. Signor." the foreign
and you shall be the judge. After
That never went out without my sis
ter or her husband, Carlo Ciupini, and
l bid Carlo tell the E%nglishman he must
not speak to me, so nothing more
happened while we We're, at Milan. Then
my sister, her husband and myself Went
to Rome and Naples"
Ard David Dumbarton?"
II never saw him again until we won't
to Paris and that was abou i've months
ago.
And you h%usband?"
we had left him behind us in Milan,
and had lost sight of him. l was
sure he was doing we'll. because he a
not written to claim my salary. one
day. while he was at the Cafe de T.
Opera, Carlo met the Englishman and
brought 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 his
friends"
+ She paused once more as If hesitating
TO repeat what was painful, her man
ner becoming more emotional. Valeri-
us. with difficulty, restrained himself
from urging her to continue.
"One night after the opera" she said.
my sister, her husband. the English
man and myself were having a little
supper at a restaurant. For some
lime back l had been regaining my
spirits, for not having seen Mezza for
months, a weight was lifted from my
life, and at this supper we were all
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. 1t was only for a
second saw him; he went as sud
denly as he came
Il told them all, but as they did
not see him, and as he afterwards did
not seek us out, they declared 1 had
made q mistake. But l was sure I had
seen him. and that he did not come
near, made me more frightened still"