A FOURTH ACT.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 38, 16 December 1893, Page 14

A FOURTH ACT.

A Story of the Argentine

Pedro Corradi kept a small hotel, or fonda, in a small town in the Argentine Republic. He had a smile for every one one of the finest Italian smiles ; but there people who had seen him in another kind of humour, and then it is said the lips that could lend themselves so blandly to the demands of courtesy or friendship would assume an expression of fierce, almost sinister, determination. Pedro was proud of three things—first that he had the prettiest daughter in the town; second, that he was a hardworking man; and, third, that he was able to speak five or six different languages. He served the table himself, and honoured each of his guests by conversing with him in the language of the country to which the guest would belong. His greatest pride was, without doubt, his daughter —a mixture of Italian and Dane (the mother having been a daughter of Denmark), with fair hair and blue eyes, and the face of one of Raphael’s angels. Her great ambition was to be a pri.ma donna , and here came in the father’s greatest trouble. She had a beautiful voice, and would, without doubt have made a name upon the stage ; but he had himself followed that profession and knew the temptations to which young girls are exposed, and so he expressed an emphatic “No” whenever the subject was bioached. Once, however, came to the local theatre an Italian Opera Company of more than average talent, and the impresario.

who put up at Pedro’s hotel, being attracted hy the beauty of her voice induced the father to allow her to make her dehut with his . company. She was a great success, and created quite a furor in the little town, bringing about her, of course, a croAvd of admirers, amongst them being a certain Don Juan Perez, the son of the local alcalde. She kept aloof from all, but Perez, on the strength of his local position, presented himself before the father and formally asked for his daughter’s hand. Juliana herself was consulted, and the result was that he was accepted. The news went the rounds and reached the ears of Perez’s father, who, it w r as under-

stood forbade the match. It had been arranged that the marriage would take place immediately after the end of the opera season. Perez continued to be very attentive, but it began to be understood that things would soon be broken off between the two, and at length these rumours reached the ears of Pedro Corradi, from whose lips the smile disappeared, to give place to that fierce expression of which his friends spoke. “ We’ll see about that,” said he. He immediately went to the club which Perez frequented. He entered without being perceived, just as one of the friends of the latter chaffiingly asked him when he was going to marry la ruhia. He was, no doubt, a little excited with wdne, but he answered in very disrespectful terms, saying, amongst other things, that the man would be mad who would marry an actress. Ah, then you should see the smile on the lips of Pedro Gorradi ! He went out noiselessly, however, saying to himself :

“We’ll see about that —the insult has been public —the reparation shall be doubly so.” The first thing he did was to purchase a pair of revolvers. After that he went to the manager of the company, saying that his daughter would make her last appearance on the following’ Sunday, and that according to arrangement he would expect her to receive her benefit that night. Ho also got the manager’, not without some trouble, to promise to announce that at the end of the opera a performance would be given of a kind never before witnessed on any stage. Sunday evening arrived. Boxes, pit, gallery, and all were filled. The opera was Fra Diavolo, and never in a small town was a performance given with a greater success ; but when the last act Avas drawing to a close a messenger was seen to enter the box occupied by Perez, and the latter went hurriedly to the back of the stage. There the father of his sweetheart awaited him. “ Please follow me to this room, Senor Pei’ez,” said he, “ I have a word to say to you. Some months ago you asked me for the hand of my daughter in marriage, to which, not without certain misgivings, I consented. Lately, I’ve heard strange rumours as regards your intentions. I scarcely believed them until I myself heard you declare publicly that you would never many an actress. Are you still in the same Avay of thinking P” He waited for a reply. Perez muttered something about his father*.

“ Very well sir. You will not answer ; so we will arrange the matter. Outside are waiting the Registrar Civil with witnesses, ready to marry you on the stage it you will. Or, if you object to that course, here are a pair of revolvers —choose which one you like, and you and I will fire away until one of us be dead.” “ But, sir ” “ Choose , sir !” roared Corradi. “Is it to be marriage or revolvers ?’* “ Let it be marriage, then,” said Perez.

And to the astonishment of all, when the curtain was again raised, the “Registrar Civil” was reading the marriage regulations, and Juan and Juliana were united amidst the loud applause of the audience. The day after the religious ceremony was performed, and never before was there seen such a crowd in the little church.—Selected,