The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-12-23
and said when the visitor had seated

eign accent AT one time | thought
ii 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 Vio!inist-the
, leader Of the orchestra at the opera
house. ! was not is then, and he was
10 years o!de". and as | soon discovered
he WAS a brute. When | was within a
month of making my debut | caught
fever, and on my recovery my voice
had almost gone, so that instead of be-
coming a prima donna | was obliged to
falI 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 impatienily
wondering what was forthcoming. and
eager that she should explain the object
of her visit.
You shall hear" she answered.
When | knew that I 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
which was now to have no triumphs. no
| fame. no homage as l 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 accent
he threatened me; he claimed ev-
cry penny earned and spent it in the
| gambling houses, and | would often
have starved only for my sister. who
| was the leader of the chorus and wife
| OF ii singer who played small parts in
| opera"
The strained attention with which
! Olive Dumbar,on listened was evident.
| her eyes were fixed with an eager and
! almost appealing look upon the for
eisn woman. whose manner grew eN-
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 slight pause. as If to consider
| her words. 1T was while we were al
Milan that my sister took me to a pub
| lie hall. and there for the first time
| met the Englishman, your husband"
asked.
,Ahou, year ago
Well?
Il had been to England. and I smoke
his language, and that helped to make
us friendly. He danced a good deal
with me and asked il he might come
and see me- but | refused, believing
my husband would object. did not
hno" nor care if he were
married; it made no difference
| TO me-he was merely an ac-
| quaintance. MeZZa Was present at the
naii' 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 | spoke"
| And he WAS jealous of David Dunn
parton suggested Nalerius, his eyes
| Eindlins with excitement
lie was. On our return home he
| acted like one mad: abused me for
| dancing with rho lisb
| ened ME and then struck me. He had
never done this before. and was
| frightened for he is a Neapolitan. and
when their blood is up they will kill
| without mercy. l ran out of the house
| and took refuge with my sister, She
and her husband received me and
never went back - Mezza. whom l
| now feared as we'll as hated"
| Did he ask you to return?" Valeri-
| us said.
He did. but refused Then he told
"Whato" 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 DUN
barton's lips, and a look of terror came
| into her eyes.
Then it was he-?" Valerus ex-
claimed, starting to his feet
| Wait wait, Signor," the foreign
woman replied Let me tell you all
anu 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"
nd o1.;5
never saw him again until we went
ago"
And your husband 2"
We had left him behind us in Milan.
and l had lost sight of him. was
sure ne was doing we'll, because he had
not written to claim my salary one
day. while he was at the Cafe &c l.
Opera. Carlo met the Englishman and
Drought MN to see us, and after that
we saw him very often, for he knew all
the singers and sometimes came behind
| friends
She paused once more as if hesitatins
TO repeat what was painful. her man
her 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 We're having a little
supper at a restaurant For some
time back l had been regaining nv
spirits, for not having seen Mezza for
months, 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, glarine
at US with light in his eyes that made
my blood run cold. It was only for a
second l 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 mistake. But l was sure had
seen him, and that he did not come
near, made me more frightened still"
But they were soon to find out that
was right, for late one night as Carlo
and the Englishman We're making
through the narrow and lonely Bue
Cuias. MeZza suddenly turned a corner
and faced them. They had no doubt
he had lain in wait for them, and wher
he spoke they were sure he wished to
pick quarrel with them and were pre-.
pared; for presently, when Mezza, ir
answer to something the Englishmar
said, thrust his hand in his waistbant
to pluck out his knife your husband
struck him with his fist in the forehead
and left him stretched on the pave.
ment. Then pulling Carlo away the,
left him to recover himself.
Continued Next Week)
.st -------->-<o-~--
That Boy of Yours.
our girls and carefully guard then
AGAINST but