Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-11-29

pressed together in an agony of suspense
for him. for BERTHE had retracted her de-
cision not to be present. She had found It
impossible to stay away; aTidashe VIII never
forget the moment when the first few notes
of Hugh's recitative broke on her ear, and
the little Iustle in the hall sunk suddenly
into breath ess Stiffness Berries head was
raised, ana the flush Of nerveless dread left
her face. She had never heard anything
J like this before it was very possible That
| Dykehambnry never had either.
The silence remained unbroken for some
moments after the song was finished. and
then the applause broke out in deafenlng
clamor, that would not cease until Mr.. Car
ton came back, spoke word to the accom-
panyist, and substituted CANCELS ever bright
and fair" "a
The rest of the concert was hopeless con-
fusion 10 BERTHE Wynne.. In the interval she
heard dimly the exclamations oftastonlsh-
ment and delight that passed from lip to lip
around her; she even recognized the hoarse
] chuokle of Mr.. Crane, as he asked old Mrs.
| Grafton what she thoeght.of the choir. after
| that; and she was vaguely watchful of that
one figure sitting silent and grave
! in the orchestra, never moving never
seeming to notice anything that went
/ on, and to all appearance. profoundly
unconscious Of the commotion which his
wonderful voice had stirred up in the hall.
| She knew little more until she found herself
in Mrs. Grafton's carriage, and saw Hugh
at the window petitioning for seat. He
did not say much when ne got in. Che stars
were bright, and the air of the summer
night was very sweet after the close music
| hall. Perhaps altogether there had been
/ no passage in Berries quiet life SO wonder
ful as this drive home from Dykehambury
| At the little gate in the wall they both got
I out, and Bertie's eh0pero1 drove away with
| a caution to Mr.. Carton to see her safe into
the house. Hugh took eff his bat to the re-
treating carriage Significantly, and stood in
the gateway, looking down at the little fig
ure all in white beside him.
"Well?" he said, smiling.
g Mr.. Carton, never heard anything SO
beautiful in my life" said BERTHE. .Why
didn't you tell US"
"Tell you what?" he asked, 's.that /
once made living by singing in public :?
never said that knew nothing of music.
1t was taken for granted; and, excuse me,
your Lakewood people are rather supercil-
ious; they amused me o little. One only
out of all, did not sheer, but took part
that would have been doubly kind if had
been the presumptuous fool they thought
me. Do you think did not know the sort
of lead him on, it will be fun that pos
~sessed all Dykewood-you excepted? Yet
one evening was sorely tempted to tell.
| Do you remember.
81 think so," said Berthe, as she made
q step towards the house; but he stopped
her.
Gone Moment" said Hugh. "Some-
thing else dates from that same evening.
My pulses are riotously quick can't 60
home until they are quieter. | began to
| hope then, Berthe, that evening, that I
might give my little friend and counselor a
dearer title. It's very sweet to hope You
won't forbid it? Don't you care for me
after ali ~: #
g am not fit," said BERTHE.
"You are my pearl of price that meant
to win for myself, if l could" said Hugh.
Listen: no; thus, with your hand in
mine, that l may feel if you shrink from
me. My father married an Italian opera
singer, and was cut off with shilling for
doing SO. Do you think the worse of NE
for my mothers sake?'
"No," replied BERTHE.
| g I have been next door to pauper," he
continued. [ have done the hardest MAI ual
labor. Finally, have been public singer
myself. Do you think the worse of re for
all this ?'
Involuntarily BERTHE crept a little closer
to him, which was answer sufficient.
{" Ii those silent woods and lawns could
speak, they would tell howyo have haunt
ed them with your ghostly presence. Come
and make it real for me. | shall come to-
morrow, and the next day, and every day
until you viii let nae take you home. These
things creep out, don't they, Berthe ?" To-
morrow all Lakewood will know what came
of the Dykehambury concert"
"They will say that am not good enough
for you," replied BERTHE.
Mr.. Cartons answer was unimportant
He waited until the hall door had closed
after BERTHE, stayed little while longer,
looking up at the light in her window and
then went off to walk up and down in the
starlight, aud wonder that Fortune was SO
good to him, just as he used to wonder in
the old days at the strange grudge she
seemed to bear him.
A-fs~--