Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-04-09
Au 0rigiual Stnrg.
For the Yoskville Enquirer.
THE MUSIC TEACHER.
BY CLAUDE FORESTER.
CHAPTER I.

MIR. Dubois, you understood me, l. presume
as having engaged you as my daughters musl
teacher. You were admitted to my family in tina
capacity alone, and was expected to conhne your
self simply to the discharge Of your protesHona
duties" .
The speaker-a tall, pompous, middle aged gen
tleman-was standing at the foot Of the marble
steps, before his exquisitely wrought and beautl
fully grained door, dantily drawing over hisrough
brown hands, a pair of lavender;color kids. Ih'
young man addressed looked enquiringly up int
the speaker expressionless face; ground the hee
of his boot into the gravelled walk and put on al
air of surprise and wonder: -
81 have endeayored to discharge my professions
duties satisfactorily, sir said the young man
s'If have failed"
s'Nobody said you have failed, Mr.. Dubois u
the contrary, you have done wonderfully well
Your pupils have improved beyond my highest ex
pectations, and everybody acknowledges your mu
sical talent"
The young man acknowledged the compliment
by bow.
eff have given satisfaction as teacher, yo'
will obEge me, Mr. West, by informing me wherein
I have been remiss in other particulars. :" o.,
.'Not remiss, exactly, said Mr.. West, thrust
ing his thumb thro gh the palm Of his delicat'
kid glove. 'sIndiscreet, would come nearer tht
mark"
sWherein have I been indiscreet, sir?' askee
Mr. Dubois.
"Wen, sir" said Mr.. West, II am the honoree
father of two lovely girls one ofwhom stands hesl
tatingly upon the very threshold Of womanhood.
To all of which the music teacher seemed con
scious, except the ''hesitatag' position Of thu
young lady referred to: He didn' tappreciate tht
beauty of that figure of speech.
sIt is the paramount desire Of my heart, con
tinued Mr.. West, Ito give my daughters oil the
advantages of a frst-class, fashionable and thor
ough education.
Mr.. Dubois turned his head to conceal smile
''And to leave no stone unturned, in my strenu
GUS efforts to qualify them to adon any and every
position in life-aye! the eliminating height !"
Mr.. Dubois smiled again.
'Thiswas why Isecured the services OF French
German and Italian teacher; this was why Swom
boskie, the Polish dancing master, visited my man
sion periodically this is why Madam Efshtresnip
ple superintended the wax, embroidery and imagi
nary worsted work-this is why have enlisted
your musical capabilities in behalf Of my daugh
ters, sir"
''Well sir p said Dubois
''Monsier Dinkski, the linguist; Swomboskie
the dancing master, and the embroidery lady re
ferred to, devoted their entire time, while here tt
the education of my daughters. When the les
sons were over, they Immediately retired from m!
parlors and were not seen again until the allotted
time for the next days lessons. They seemed tt
realize the fact, that their presence was tolerated
simply in the capacity of teachers, and not mo
ment after the discharge of their respective duties
IF employ man, Mr.. Dubois, l do not, neees
sariy, bestow upon him the privilege Of intimacy
with my family.
ssWe understand each other at last!" said Du
bois, flush of indignant pride mantling, his hand
some face. "You might have saved yourself al
this unnecessary alluson to your daughters foreign
teachers, sir. I am in no way associated or con
nected with that class of adventures, who roam
over the country with high-sounding and unpro
nounceable names and titles, and who are utterly
ignorant of the rudiments of that knowledge Of
art which they profess to teach. am the son o1
nativebof gentleman, who, prior to the war
owned his four plantations and three hundred
slaves, and whose reputation for character ano
high social position, was equal to that Of his i'm
mense wealth My respected father did not sur
vive the war, during the progress Of which he
had been persuaded to dispose of three Of hi
plantations, the purchase money OF which ne IN
vested in cotton This cotton was seized at sea by
Yankee blockading vessels, and proved, Of course
deadlo Subsequently, he invested his availa
bic funds in Confederate Bonds. At the close o
the war, his entire slave property went by tn
board; and, at his death, which occurred shortl!
after. he left us nothing whatever but an abandon
ed and uncultivated plantation. This was disposed
of sometime ago to Northern capitalist; and
while nv beloved mother and sister subsist upor
the proceeds of that meagre sale, have been en-
deavoring to earn an honest living by music teach
ing. So, you see, Mr.. West, that the war enrich
ed you and impoverished u.s.
Mr.. West was certainly very much surprised.
"Now, SIR" continued Dubois, 'you observed
my card in your village papers, and called upon mt
the very next day. You wanted my exclusive ser
vices for your daughters-these were your exac
words-and offered, as an inducement, Thousand
dollars per annum, and board and lodging in you
house during that time. / thought that an excel
lent offer, because the terms enabled me to reml
almost the entire amount to my mother and sister
Accordngly-as you know-I refused several stu
ations from various applicants for my services, ant
Immediately took upon myself the exclusive charg
of your daughters far as vocal and instrumen
tai music was concerned. You certainly canno
have forgotten the written testimonials of persona
character and capability, which [ placed in you
hands These, it strikes me, were amply sutlclen
to substantiate my claims to gentility."
''My dear sir" said Mr.. West, 'syou misunder
stand me altogether"
"Not at ALL" said MI. Dubois. 1.-The only lie
gitimate inference, that can be drawn from your
marks, is that you think me guilty of presumption
in occupying your parlors and associating witt
your daughters. In other words, you look upol
me simply as music teacher, whose business 1t L
to retire to his own apartment as soon as his pro
fessional duties have been completed. Did you con
slider me gentleman, Mr.. West, you would SCI
no improperly in my familiarity with themember
of a family, with whom I reside, and to whom
am much attached
sMr. Dubois, you are unreasonable!' said MIR
West, in a tone of impatience. 1T does not fol
low, that doubt your gentility because accuse
YOU of indiscretion. have said nothing whatev
er against your moral character. However, as
wish YOU to understand me, shall use great plain
i