The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-03-30
4 NZOLETO was a street gamin
~ Of Venice. He had learned how


a to sing in Professor Porpora's
school. He was handsome. He had
Imagination which colored his fine
voice when he sang. Consuelo, a
scrawny, dark skinned Spanish peasant
girl, was another Of Porpora's pupils.
She was plain. but had beautiful
voice and spirit.
She and Anz6leto were good friends,
nothing more, but he-an Grant philan-
derer-was always falling in love and
coming to Consuelo for sympathy and
advice. He was a rascal and an in
crate.
Consuelo made her first public ap-
pearance in the simple dress of a
peasant girl, and her voice-filled with
the fire of her soul-took the city.
Everyone was at her feet. Young
suitors sought her hand and among
them was AnZoleto. It was the ro-
mantle period in Venetian history.
about 1850. .Consuelo engaged herself
to her fellow-pupil, but repulsed the
others. Her genius had won admira-
ton; her dignity and modesty had
won respect.
The Count Justinian not only en-
gagged her for his theatre, but fell in
love with her and tried to win her from
Anzoleto. She would not be led away
and made it a part Of her contract
that her betrothed should also be en-
gagged to sing. Her sweetness and
fidelity the more deeply enslaved the
count.
Consuelo's rival. a singer named
Gorilla, was bitterly incensed by the
action of the count. Anzoleto played
on her Jealousy and pretended to be
her lover. OF this perfidy Consuelc
knew nothing.
At the first public performance Con
suelo achieved renewed success, bu'
Anzoleto was almost overlooked.
Her teacher warned her not tt
marry Anzoleto and to prove his cast
forced her to visit the home Of Gorilla
They found Anzoleto there and Con
suelo was convinced of his perfidy
She repulsed Anzoleto, refused the
love of the count and fled to Viennt
on the advice of Porpora.
A little later, Porpora sent her tt
his friend, Count Christian Of Bohemia
to serve as companion to his niece. tn
baroness Amelia, just come from
convent school at Prague. Consuelo
who arrived at the castle on storm!
night, was in awe of the count ant
his surroundings, but Amelia, Lowell.
girl. treasured her and won her instan
affection. That night, as Consuel
came, an ancient tree on the estate
known as the tree of misfortune, fel
in the storm.
News Of its fall threw the count
household into confusion and terror
"Some evil is abroad" the COUNTIES
said. and soon after Count Albert, tn
son, entered, a handsome. pale an
sad young man, who announced tina
a strange pesne was about to settl
over the house. He smiled at Cor
suelo, touched her hand and withdrew
leaving her deeply mystified.
Albert, she soon learned, was ger
tie and admirable soul, but a man
morbid moods which were in effec
frances and was only mildly intereste
in Amelia, who waa intended to be hi
wife.
Amelia told Consuelo that Albert wa
not only a medium, but seer as we
as scholar and that she found him M
attractive.
ConsuNlo, en- the contrary. wa
charmed with Albert, who seemed muc
benefited by her presence. He aceep
ed her as the consolation promised b
an inner voice. Her singing called hill
from his frances, transported an
strengthened him. She became his pm!
stefan as well as his confessor.
She found herself surrounded q
mysteries. Secret doors, inexplicabl
flames, gliding phantoms stirred M
\ curiosity ard allured her to eYplerl