Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 September 1881 — MABEL. [ARTICLE]

MABEL.

The little inn at Veaehi. near Milan* had tat two guests ; Mr. Holbrook and his daughter Mabel, tor whose sake the feryr had left home and country to Hoibrook’s lover had forsaken her, wrecking the life whose poomhw hod been so fair. She could ftot tap; the pitying words sad looks of those Who knew no bappineaif O quiet content .whtob [was almoet peace. They-had been SS. ness of the little piece. It rested her after.the restless li/e in the great cities which they had visited. -r~~

One day they sat by her window when suddenly there Came a sound of music—a Violin softly playing, and the jingle of the tambourine, while a clear sweet, childish voice sang one of the .delicious peasant songs so often heard in Italy. Looking out from behind the flowers In her window, Mabel saw the violinist, a young Italiah, tall, graceful, almost noble in his bearing; and though his Clothes were boor, Worn, and travel-stabled, hi® bands were white and shapely, and the cloak which huiig over his shoulder was such as a cavalier might have carried. Beside him stood a young girl id the picturesque dress of the .country, her little hands—fine and white, too—holding a large tambourine, the lovely bright eyes raised to the face of her companion as she sang, as if inspired by his playing. v Drawn by tbe sound of the music, Mr. Holbrook entered the room and rtooa beside his daughter. “The child sings well,” he said, and in a moment a gold coin lay at the singer’s feet. ... “O, Paolo!” she cried, stooping to Eick it up, “seel it must be the gold of io fairy!” “Not so, little one,” laughed Mr. Holbrook, who had come out from the Inn in lime to hear her exclkmation. “It is an honest English half sovereign which yon have fairly earned by your song. Come in with me and I will change it in Italian scudi, which will be of more use to you.” His accent Was not very perfect— Mabel* had taught him—ahd he was not an apt pupil, but the toting musicians understood. They felt the kindness in his voice, and. gladly followed him Into hifi daughter’s room, where Paolo bowed With the grace of a young prince before Mabel. Nina Biwaldi—for that wHS the gifl's name—in answer to Mr. Holbrook’s kindly inquiries soon told all their story bow their father (who was of a noble Florentine family, she said with a proud lifting of her pretty head) had had to leave his home oecause of enemies, and bad fled to Switzerland, where her mother died when she was but a baby; how their father took care of them and made them so happy till at last he sickened and died from some strange, fierce fever; how Paolo had sold all but their father’s violin, (and cloak, which she wore when it was cool, for Paolo was so careful of her) to pay the debts ;and how they were making their way to Milan, where the dear brother hoped to earn money that she, Nina, might study and become a great singer. “But now that vour father is dead,” said Mr. Holbrook to Paolo, “why do Jou not seek your relatives? They can ave no cause of anger against you, surely.” Paolo shook his head sadly, saying: “It Is the old story of the Vendetta; and my father made me swear that I would not let them know of my existence even, lest I might fall a victim to their vengence, and little Nina be left alone in the world. You know the feud is from father to son for generations.”

“Paolo says we shall find friends somewhere,” said Nina, with a little Sigh; “hut it is weary seeking, and the road is so long.” “Dear Nina,” said Mabel, impulsively, her heart won by the girl’s simple Etory, “the friends are here and the weary.road is passed. We will keep you, will we not, papa?” and she turned to her father, who stood by with Bmiling face, pi eased at her interest and animation. “Oh, sweet lady!” cried Nina, in an ecstacy of delight, “do you mean it, truly ?6hall Paolo no more have to play in the streets? and shall Ibe taught to sing.so that I may earn money with my voice, and make a home for him?” “Yes, yes!”nodded Mabel, iu answer to the eager questioning. “Truly I mean all that, and more.” “Dear Paolo,” cried Nina, “do you hear?” But Paolo was silent, for pride was struggling mightily within him. He was no child,like Nina,to accept every proffered gift,but a man, though scarce twenty years had passed over nis head; and it galled him to receive favors where he could give nothing in return. But for Nina’s sake—he had promised father to do anything for Nina—he would not refuse what these strangers might offer.: So, when Mr. Holbrook, in all seriousness, offered to place Nina in the Conservatory at Milan, and to assume the expense of her musical education, Paolo accepted gratefully; though for himself he. proudly refused all aid, nor oould any entreafies alter his decision. Hut at last Mr. Holbrook obtained for him a position with an old violin maker, whose home was the resort of all musicians of note,and where if Paolo had musical genius, a way would be opened up for its development.

ij Y ,°r Ur PI 0 , I ®*® 8 w l ® growing famous,” said Mr. Holbrook to Mabel one day, at breakfast, in their hotel at Milan, where they still lingered. “Nina’s voioe is wonderful. Her maestro save she is to sing for the Duchess of Parma at her children’s oarnival next week. A rare honor for a child.”

“And ftmlo?” asked Mabel, with a blush, for which she hated herself. “And Paolo!” echoed her father. “Why, Paolo is already a finished violinist It seems that his hither was something wonderful in that way, and devoted his life to training his son, bequeathing him as a legacy his violin, a real Stradivarious, Paolo, modem fellow, said nothing of this, but went at once to BartoUai, the greatest violinist In Milan, told his story, and after playwa* joyfully accepted ae a P U PU- 8m ce then he has been studying night and day, and to-morrow he to may at the grand concert instead is ofßartoiini, who is suddenly 111. Rut, all unheralded as Paolo Is, those Who know sqy he will take the andlenoe by stagpa. I only found this out by 2STi issEs”" wu • hy *° . “He might at least have told me,” thought Mabel* .For Paolo and she l^ xno f t and had grown to be But, was It friendship only, Mabel wondered, that made her heart beat so fiercely when J he came into her presence? that made I her long for hJs.oomlng, and grieve

JoJeTliTlove was dead, killed by <*» “w^w» t lylHai«wSpS2t^S in Paolo's &JMW whose glance she sometimes dared not meet 7 TBs HfWhad spoken bo word of cool and distant: when he came that dhjr; she would not speak of his playing; would declare, perhaps, that she did notin tend to go to the concert Then what would he say 7 But alas for her plans;the day pass* ed and Paolo came not Bor «W he the next day; and she dressed for the oemoart in eager, feyerish haste, fearful lest she might be late, and an miss one moment of Paolo's presence. When he appeared, in faultless even-* ing costume, so young,so handsomd^o. proudly serene, as if sure of success, ■there was a feint whisper of surprise through the house, which died away as he began playing, with so martelloiusiy sweet and gentle touch that the audience listened in almost breathless

silence, lest one note should be. lost When the music ceased for a. moment no sound Was heard ftben a iwlMi-th-:j&?Es,iXd o, t p *& hearts of his audience, but—in'* one •wore was rocallsd; and the wfaqie evening was one unbroken success for the young violinist. 1 Almost femt with excitement whpn, at last the. ooacert, was oyer, Mabel begged her father to hastdn home,- yet- scarcely had she reached her parl«r]Wh»n Paolo sought admittance,' “I saw your fade only F’he exclaim? ed, in impassioned tones, “It was my , inspiration I You smiled and I wss J glad; and my heart spoke to you in the music. Did you nqt understand, beloved ?”

Mabel raised her eyes to his face with one sweet, tremulous glance, then the snowy lids fell. But her secret only then revealed fully to her own heart, had in that brief moment escaped her keeping. , r When a little later they met together to tell Mr. Holbrook, and ask his blessing, he was astonished. Bnt a glance at Mabel’s happy face checked the words that rose to his lips. He desifed nothing so much as his child’s happiness; ana he loved Paolo as a son. So by and by there will be a quiet wedding at Milan; for Nina.cannot be left there alone, and they could not be mafried Without her. And though Mr. Holbrook Wotfld like his daughter to be married from her own stately London house, Mabel is the beat pleased that it candot be.