Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-12-23

Angela Mezza."
Angela Mezza. I don't think | havc
heard Ii before
u dare say not, the visitor replied.
speaking slowly and with a strong for
eign accent. AT one time 1 thought
IL woul become famous throughout
Europe as that of a Isrima 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-fhe
leader OF the orchestra at the opera
house. / was not is then, and he was
10 years older, and as | soon discovered.
he was a brute. When / was within a
month of making my debut l caught
fever, n on my recovery my voice
had almost gone, so that instead of be-
coming "A prima donna / was obliged to
fall back into the chorus" she said
with a feeling which showed that bitter
disappointment stiIi ranked in her
mind.
but what has this TO do with the
tragedy" asked Valerius impatientIy,
wondering what was forthcoming, and
eager that she should explain the object
OF her visit.
You shall hear she answered.
When j knew that / could never be
what ! hoped, / had not only TO bear
my own grief, but my husband, Mezza's
anger. Then he told me what ] would
not believe before from others; that
he had married me for what / could
earn. / hated him. / hated my life,
which was now to have no triumphs, no
fame. no homage as | had dreamed
since girlhood. 1t was only TO know
~drudgery, obscurity, poverty without
relief. He forced me TO take engage
ments / was often too proud to accept:
he threatened me; he claimed ev-
cry penny / earned and spent 1t in the
gambling houses, and l would often
have starved only for my sister, who
was the leader OF the chorus and wife
OF a singer who played small parts in
opera"
The strained attention with which
Olive Dumbarton listened was evident.
Her eyes were fixed with an eager and
almost appealing look upon the for
eign woman, h grew ex-
cited and whose voice became louder
as she continued her story.
I'VE moved about from one city and
country to another" Angela Mezza said
after o slight pause, as il to consider
her words. 1T was while we were at
Milan that my sister took me to a pub
lie hail. and there for the first time
j met the Englishman, your husband"
How long 8 was that?' Yalerius
asked.
About a year ago
We'll?
Il had been TO England. and / spoke
49, 49, sAAAA hAAGlNs u W Il z
us friendly. He danced a good deal
with me and asked il he might come
and see me, but l refused, believing
my husband would object. l did not
know o care If he were
married; 1t made no difference
TO me--he was merely an ac-
q~uaintance. 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 i spoke
And he was jealous OF David Dunn
barton n suggested Valerius, his eyes
kindling with excitement.
He was. On our return home he
acted like one mad; abused me for
dancing with the Englishman, threat
ened me and then struck me. He had
never done this before, and L was
frightened, for he is a Neapolitan, and
when their blood is UP they will kill
without mercy. j ran nut 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 l refused. Then he told
"what?" valerius asked, seeing hat,
mastered by her emotion. she had
suddenly paused.
That il 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
woman replied. Let me tell you all
and you shall be the judge. After
that never went out without my sis
ter or her husband, Carlo Ciupini, and
! bid 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?'
II never saw him again until we went
20 Paris and that was about Ave months
ago
And % husband?'
"We had left him behind us In Milan.
y l had lost sight of him. l was
sure he was doing well, because he had
not written to claim my salass-.t.c
day. while he was at the Cafe de +
Opera, Carlo met the Englishman and
brought him to see us, n after that
we saw him very often, for he knew all
the singers and sometimes came behind
the scenes at h opera with his
friends"
cne paused once more as IL h~eSitatfng
TO repeat what was painful, her man
ner becoming more emotional. yaleri-
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
time ia / had been regaining my
spirits, for not having seer Mezza for
months. a weight was lifted from my
life, and at this supper we were all
feeling light hearted and merry. sud
denly 1 looked up and saw Mezza at the
lower end OF the apartment, glaring
at us With a light In his eyes tina made
my blood run cold. 1t was only for a
second ! saw him; he went as sud-
denly as he came.
II told them all, but as they did
not see him, n as he afterwards did
NOT seek us out, they declared / had
made a mistake. But l was sure I had
seen him. and that he did not come
near, made me more frightened still"
but they We're soon to find out that
l was right, for late one night as Carlo
and the Englishman were making
through the narrow and lonely hue
Cuias. Mezza suddenly turned a corner
and faced them. They a no doubt
he had lain hi wait for them, and when
he spoke they We're sure he wished TO