Middletown transcript., 1869-08-07

erness that I'VE got Tor the children. They
do say that her voice is remarkable, and
Pm glad to find you think so, Mr. Britton,
so good judge as you are; as I tell Mr..
Gibson, What genteel taste Mr.. Brit
ton has in everythingv My children all
have taste for music--you ought to have
heard Professor Grinderwald compliment
Janctta's voice, Mr. Britton! And when
| think how necessary it is that they
should have the best of teachers that mon
ey could procure, I do feel that it's a
real Providence to have found Miss
Deane."
''Who is she Mrs. Gibson ?"
"Oh she brought the very best of ref
erences, Mr.. Britton. l make it point
never TO take any one into my service'-
emphatically-"that don't bring the very
best of references. She came to me from
the Hartsteins-you know the Hartsteins,
Mr.. Britton- a minister her father was
she's an orphan, Her only fault is that
she's inclined to be little above her bus
mess, but shan't be troubled with that
As | tell Mr.. Gibson, when hire anybo-
dy and pay them with my money, just
give them to understand that they and
their time belongs to me-"
There was hardness underlying the
smile on Mrs Gibson's ford face as she
spoke, that made Guy shudder at its pos
siblo connection with the delicate, refined
face at the window
"Just walk into the music room, Mr..
Britton; l would admire to have you hear
hhcr."
Il hope shall not intrude upon Miss
Deanc?" answered Guy, rising with some
hesitation.
"Intrude!" Mrs. Gibson raised her
eyebrows in surprise; "of course she will
be pleased to do whatoverI wish"
Laura Deane stood at the piano, patti
emily following the slow movements of lit
tie Flora Gibson's weary fingers over the
keys.
"Miss Deane," said Mrs Gibson, imper-
iously, and without deigning any other in
PRODUCTION, II want you to play and sing
one of your very best pieces for my friend,
Mr.. Britton."
Miss Dcane's check flushed fniutly as
she returned Guys bow, and sat down at
the instrument. She struck few chords
and sang, 1.-The Captive Knight" At
first, like Tennyson's Leila, she "struck
such warbling fury through the words"
that Guy saw the gleam of spear and ban
ner, heard the peal of the trumpet, and
the rush aud clamor of the host then came
the wild, impassioned longing of the cap
tive, and at last. the wall of despair over
his dead hope of liberty.
Guy had never before been more pro-
foundly stirred. The girl sang her very
soul into her words. Such expression
could not be mere art, he thought-it
must be an outgrowth of her own expert
ence.
"You have given me a wonderful plea
sure, Miss Deane," he said, in low tone,
as she finished and Mrs. Gibson in the
full tide of voluble discourse, led the way
from the room.
Sitting alone that evening in his pleas
ant library, Guy was conscious of vague
sense of loneliness quite at variance with
the soft light and warm coloring Of the
room. Miss Deane's face seemed to min
gle itself indefnably with his unrest; and
the words and melody he had heard, sang
themselves over and over in his memory
He rose and went out of doors, and look
ing over the hedge. saw her slender figure
pacing slowly to and fro in the moonlight
She moved YEARLY, he fancied, and he
thrilled with longing to speak to her and
comfort her. Some great sorrow had set
its seal upon her face, he thought. Had
not Mrs. Gibson called her an orphan ?
What sad fate to be thrust out homeless
into the great world-a nature so fine as
hers must be subject to the coarseness and
caprice of an employer like Mrs. Gibson.
The very idea was revolving. Then there
fioated in vision a face like hers, op-
posite him at solitary meals, or beside his
study fire in the long winter evenings "a
face from which all traces of sadness should
be gone, and in their place the brightness
of new hope and trusting love. But while
he dreamed, an unconscious smile soften
ing his features, the figure disappeared in
the shadow of the tall mansion and the
voice of his house-keeper at his elbow,
broke the unwopted spell,
The next day he saw Miss Deane walk
ing in the garden with the young Gibsons.
| Ile Hopeu sue nllSuG come near enough
for him to speak to her; but she did not
seem to see him, busy with his pruning
scissors at the hedge. He could only look
on from distance, noting her graceful,
quiet mien, and her gentle patience with
the waywaFd children. Yet he found thai
as time passed, even such transient glimp-
ses had wonderful power to brighten his
days. Occasionally there was bow o.
recognition, word OF two of courteou,
common-place-once longer popversa
ton, which charmed Guy by q revelation
of mind richly stored--po more than that
until one evening, stroiling down by the
waters edge, he suddenly came upon Miss
Deapc, sitting with her portfolio on hel
lap, making a little sketch of the river anc
the opposite bank.
"Pray don't rise, Miss Deane. Yor
sketch, see"
f'Only little. l am.quite untaught.
She held out the unfinished penciling a
sha snoka Guv lookAd OF II IN tho l;0ht