Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-03-05

ship was very sweet to his reserved, but
save the poor, old mother, who would
gladly have laid down her life for bis
sake, he had never had a friend.
The time came at last, when at six
teeen, Martha Warren was engaged to
sing in concerts. Her master was pres
ent at the first one He could not see
how the flush frightened on her Madon-
ma face as she turned her eyes towards
him, or how very beautiful she looked
in her simple white dress, with the gar
land of natural flowers about her brow !;
but be could hear her matchless voice
in an ecstacy of delight. and looking
only at him, she could see how bright a
smile purified his pale face. whenever a
new round of applause greeted her. For
a few weeks she sang in New York, and
then she left the city. The night before
her departure, she went to evening pray.
ers in the church cf the Trinity. After
they were over, she fingered long time
by her mas'er's side. They sang over
and over the old precious chants which
had first brought them acquainted, and
when they stood silently in the sunset.
the REQ cross, staining the east window,
making, as it had done two years before,
It's dim shadow on the pale brow of the
organist.
The girl looked at him steadfastly for
. few moments, as if to fix his features
eternally in her memory-she made Of
them portrait 10 hang upon the walls of
herheart. The Grecian features, the sweet
mobile mouth, the sad. sightlesseye, and
the pale brow. with its overshadowing
curls-she would gaze upon them Inany
times in the silence of the long nights,
when seas and mountains should lie vast
or rise high between them. AT last she
said, in hurried excited tone
"You have been everything to me.
my dear, good master. Till knew you
| lad no friends, and no h"pe. l am go
ing TO leave you now. but l shall bless
you every night upon my knees. Dear
master. l have no one else to bid me
God speed. no other farewell to make
will you kiss me once 90
She cast down hrr eyes timidly, as if
he could have looked into them. She
did not see the sudden flush that burned
outward from his cheeks, irradiating his
whole face. He bent over her. he rails
ed his hand, and then once more he bent
downward. With a great, grasping
sigh, he embodied her in his arms and
| pressed single kiss upon her lips. and
then. Though wild, feverish, impulse
to hold her there was upon him, opened
his arms and let her go again. In that
moment he realized, how hopelessly he
loved her. She said nothing more, but
taking his hand, she led him, as was her
custom, silently out Of the church, and
home TO his own door. "God be good
to you dear MASTER" she faltered, seven
as you have been good to me" and then,
dropping his hand, she hurried, fearless,
away.
Oh, how many times thereafter, that
one kiss, The frs, that any man had ever
pressed upon her sweet. young mouth.
since her father went TO sleep in the
church yard, seem to burn and culver
on her lips once more
1t was six years before they met
again. Meantime she had sung 10 crowd
ed audiences at the South and West, she
looked on the sunsets and the ruins that
make Italy the fairest land the sun
shines upon-she was used, by this time,
to the incense Of pride and fattery, and
yet, she came to New York humble
minded in her girlish beau y. and limo
cent as evel, to sing with a favorite ope-
ra troupe. The first night of her ap-
pearance, a carriage stopped before the
humble door of the blind organist, and
messenger said, as he entered
"a friend is anxious that you should
hear the new singer who appears this
evening; seat has been reserved for
you. and carriage is at the door,"
alt must be Martha 10 the blind man
ialtered; "what interest should have in
hearing any other. and who else would
remember meP will take the music l
com posed for her."
His mother, now very old, but still ac-
tive rose from her ,eat by the fire and
brushed back his hair, folded his cloak
over his shoulders, and placed in his
hand roll Of music.
1t was indeed Martha who had sent
for him. She longed TO see if he remem-
bered her, if he would recognize her
voice. She had secured seat for him
so near the stage that she could watch
The very play of his features. When she
began to sing. strange. glad light of rec
ognition broke over his face, he lifted
his head eagerly, but, as he proceeded,
he bowed it upon his hands and wept-I
She had improved so much-she was
farther than ever above him. Young
she was, rich, in her wonderful talent,
happy she must be; and he, thirty
eight years old, poor blind organist,
with no hope for the future. But be
listened. Though every clear, rich tone
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