Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-06-23


suspicion that his gayety was partly pu
on, and that beneath it could be foun
something not quite 50 childlike. Tha
point hoped would soon be tested by m
theory
! Miss Beck was in charming voice tha
night. noticed at times little tremu
lousness, caused perhaps by her essayine
some new and difficult music. | was glaC
of this, because | thought she would b.
more impressible We executed severa
new chants and hymns, to the especia
satisfaction of the assistant minister, whc
sat near by, and frequently gazed into tht
beautiful face of my soprano, beating time
eomplacehtly with his head, and showerinl
praises on all of US between the pieces
Presently we took long pause, and Mis-.
Beck came up and stood near me. She
wished my opinion on that very Difficult
subject-the respective merits of three
rival pianos. This opened conversation
which / could easily protract for an inde
finite time. As we talked, | pulled the
flute stop, and began slowly to touch the
keys corresponding to the register of hel
voice. At the same time | looked her fairly
in the eyes, exercising whatever magnetic
power ] possessed ] tried to keep per.
fectly cool, though [ know | must have
been excited, for she visibly recoiled at
moments from my ardent gaze. Why did
choose the flute stop2 Because that has
,ssality answering to the soprano voice.
lAs | ascended the scale pressed each
tone and semitone long enough to try its
full effect, doing this with seeming careless
ness With each successive note | would
bend my soul-to the work of reading hers
through her eyes. Her look gave way to
a reYerie, as she let her eyes rest on mine
while a blush ctitnsoned her cheeks, and
her lips parted. What note was touching1
d, and you may be sure held on to it.
had struck her keynote.
She was like one fascinated by an IRE.
sistible spell. too was powerfully af
fected The conversation, which VIC had
conducted mechanically for some seconds
ceased and there we were looking into
each others eyes, fxcdly, and d was peal.
ing through the air like an angelic sum-
mons
! What a sharp sound, Mr.. MoretSFn .
! 1t was the voice of the assistant minister
"a delicate hint that too much of one note
was disagreeabe | turned on my stool
and saw that the coutralto, tenor, bass
and Mr.. Hatcher, were all looking at US
The note ceased, and the spell was broken
In some confusion, | turned full to the
keys and ratified off the first caprice that
occurred to me Miss Beck left my side
and took up her music-boz for The next
piece So exultant was | in the thought
that had proved my original theory, that
might have gone on playing pGans fol
an hour, if general fit of coughing among
my hearers had not reused me to pursue
the rehearsal
/ We performed the last piece new
motet. l remarked that the soprano falt.
cred on the opening bars, as if under the
influence of deep emotion. But she soon
recovered herself, and sang as smoothly as
ever.
The rehearsal over, VIC all prepared to
take our departure. To me, as | have
said, had commonly fallen the pleasant
responsibility Of taking Miss Beck home
and had looked with some comfort to the
walk that sweet summer evening. had
determined to follow up the good effect of
my experiment on her
Mr.. Hatcher led the way, bidding rs all
good night IN the most cheerful manner.
1 As he withdrew he directed glance of ad-
miration at Miss Beck but, in the gencr-
osity Of my heart, | forgaye him-for had
not | now secured, by an intallible method
of my own, the exclusive good opinion oi
that young lady7 Next went forth the
bass and the contralto-they were cettlno
up a match, it was whispered. And then
-then-the tenor who | had supposed
had entirely surrendered Miss Beck to me
rendered his services as an escort. She
accepted them, and bale me an Indifferent
goodnight, and OF they paired. [ wai
left aonc-ah Tom was there. ard as h'
moved around turning out the lights, h
looked at me quizzingly as if he under
stood perfectly the fix | was in l shoult
have discharged him on the spot but fol
his rare gifts as blower.
strolled out rather savage, you may
believe, and walked a couple cf miles ou
of the way going home, to cool off.
had proved my theory, perhaps, bu
had I not lost Miss Beck There coulC
be no mistaking the effect produced, whil'
l sounded D-but might not every uunat
ural influence so exercised cause a reac
ton Might she not, in pursuance Q
some profoundly unknown law of the case
contract an aversion for me. except whel
could bring her under the dominion O
the keynote? ? | wished | had neve
tested the theory, but had stuck to the oil,
theory of love making, as handed down t
us by our ancestors.
As for the tenor, if he did not min'
what he was about, would discharge him
His voice was reedy, and he had latel..
taken to absinthe. Really, it was abou
time he was dismissed.
But Mr.. Hatcher, could rot he'll
thinking, was the prime cause of tn
: trouble. He had intruded on my jurisdic
tion. He had weakened my authority owe
r the singers. He had started what seemed
: to the secular eye, very like hirtatio
2 with my soprano and by the force of ez
ample had encouraged the tenor to set u
as my rival in her affections. l resolve
to take vigorous measures with Nj
! Hatcher. And first, to obtain his key
[ note.
, He was present at the next rehearsa
} Miss Beck was in attendance as usual, an
seemed by her actions desirous Of maxim
5 up lost ground with me. 1t is not in m
5 nature to resist ovcrtures from prett
&, woman-you may smile, Jack, but 20
4 know you are equally susceptible-and
2 minute we were friends as good as eve
: The tenor was forgiven, if not forgotten
: and so would have been the Rev. Nj
Hatcher, if he had not made himself so e.
, ceedingly agreeable to the lady that ev'
j ming. As L saw him smiling and ute
ing honeyed words in her ears Il coul
: not hear them, but guessed they wei
< honeyed, from the saccharine expressic