Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1925-12-16
The Gift to the
World
%. 1925. Western Newspaper Union.)
By M. and R. M. TERRELL

crouched behind post waiting for
him to go that she might cast herself,
unobserved, into the stream below.
To the little shabby world Of the
small western town where he had
spent the last year he was only Sandro,
the Wop, a silent man with tragic eyes.
But to Elsa, the waif, he soon be-
came father and mother and family.
He brought her that night into Mrs
Hastings kitchen as naturally as he
brought in other strays, abandoned kit
tens and dogs and sometimes bird
with an injured wing, and mothery
Mrs. Hastings cared for her as she did
for them, fed her. The next day In
the kitchen Sandro made his PROPOSE
ton in the speech Of his life.
81 do not know for why you want
to die In the reever, and do not ask
he told Elsa. You are pretty girl
1t Is for some jackass man, l guess
that much. For me life no more it
matters, but for you, ah, 81, 1t Is every
thing. But you are weak, you need
the friend, the shelter, some money.
You are leetle bird that have no nest.
Me, I am very lonely old man. But
understand, with no foolishment! Lis
sen. l take Mrs. Hastings two front
third-hoor rooms, the one with the
folding keetchen and coupla sleeping
places; you, child, be my daughter,
cook my meals, mend my clothes"
And so 1t was arranged.
When Sandro found out that Elsa's
ambition was to sing, when he heard
her joyous voice she became indeed
like a daughter to him.
Elsa was grateful; Sandro was much
in her mind. She wondered how old
he really was. She knew he had
severe war wound in his chest which
bothered him.
Two years went by and then they
moved out to San Ramon Key, IN
Italian-tinted California. But some
how SandrO became even more solitary
He had a job but no one knew just
what it was.
Elsa got work with the Ricardo
Grand Opera company, playing tempo
rarily In San Ramon Rey. Role by
role she advanced until one night she
was one of the stars. A great New
York impresario, temporarily in Cali
fornia, had promised Ricardo that he
would be present the first night to
hear E!sa's Media in Pagliacci
The afternoon of the great day San
dro came home to find Elsa thrown full
length on floor of their kitchen
sobbing as though her heart would
break
what is 1t, carissima7 What is itT'
he cried.
"It's that pig of Barangson," she
sobbed, mentioning the tenor of the
company He's jealous! He refuses
to sing with me and Ricardo can't do
without Barangson. There is no one
else in San Ramon Rey who could
sing Canio!"
"Ah," said Sandro speculatively;
I'VE shall see, Elsa mia. There may
be a kick in the old mule yet. Hush
your tears, dear one, 1 go meet your
Ricardo and tell him few"
In half an hour Sandro was back.
1T Is arranged, Elso mia" he said
simply. "You will sing Media tonight.
Come, smile!"
But the Canio?' she cried.
Another will sing that role. Don't
worry"
At Canio's first line that night
murmur and stir went over the house.
Media stared at the strange tenor with
amazement. Beneath the clown make
I'D his features had familiar cast,
but she could not place them. She
had never heard such voice nor had
such a voice ever sung In the old
Spanish-buut theater. At the cOnclu-
sion of her Balatella she noted smile
on the face Of Toselli- Toscanni, the
impresario, and that he nodded his
head delightedly. She had succeeded |
But even the music Of success in her
own heart was drowned by wonder and
admiration of the strange tenor, and
he would take no bows without her.
AS Canio let his knife fall and
sobbed out the last words: "The COM
edy is ended" the unknown perform
er collapsed as the curtain fell He
lay still, with a scarlet foam upon
his pale lips. AS they washed the
makeup from his face, Canio's fea-
lures emerged terribly familiar.
"Sandro!" Elsa cried.
Ricardo brushed her aside as he
knelt beside the PROSTATE figure.
"Basta! Elsa !" he squeaked. "San,
dro Zantonelli was once the greatest
tenor In all Italia"
And then he fight like hell-cats FOL
Italia in the war and get shot up and
everything" doomed out Toseili-Tos-
canni, arriving on the scene. "And
nevaire let his oldest friends know
where he's been hiding himself"
But Sandro, a smile on his blood
hecked lips. motioned them all away
but Elsa.
"Sandro! My Sandro!" she sobbed
"YOrr wOundl And vet you sang