Middletown transcript., 1870-05-21

yielding to her great desire to go, and f.
nally succumbing to Janet's persuasions,
she finished her toilet, while her cousin
gladly removed her own. Then kissing
the latter over and over again, declaring
she was the kindest, sweetest, most gener-
Gus girl in existence, Nina Goodall, all
her light-heartedness returned, and her
pretty face a picture of dimples, stepped
into the cab, and drove off to do homage
to the "Mystery;" while with a sight of
relief, Janet proceeded to the drawing
room to await the arrival of the Nabob.
An hour passed, during which Janet
had worked little, sang little, and
played little, when loud knock at the
hall door informed her the Nabob had ar
rived. Rather curious, she hurried from
the piano, and taking up her work, await
ed his coming.
Her impatience was not put to a severe
test: the door soon opened and the SER
want announced:
&c Mr.. Edmund Webster"
Janet quietly arose, then was seized
with an embarrassment foreign to her
calm nature. The fact being that Nina's
words had SO impressed her that she
should behold in the stranger true spec-
men of one who had lost all his best
years, and dried up all his healthful
blood in the East, that she was fairly
startled when, instead, her eyes rested on
a gentleman of scarcely more than thirty,
the possessor of an erect figure, pleasant,
genial face, adorned with large beard
and moustache of deep red brown, and
large, soft eyes of the same hue, which
seemed to penetrate into the spectators
inmost soul, as, partly surprised, partly
amused at her confusion, he advanced to-
ward her. Speedily recovering herself,
however, with an easy grace, she well
coined the stranger, and apologised for
her uncle's absence.
Have 1 the pleasure of addressing
Miss Goodhall?" asked Mr.. Webster, as
he took the seat assigned him near the
fire.
Oh, no." smiled Janet. "I am Ja-
net keelder, Mr.. Goodhall's niece. He
is my guardian. But as Miss Goodhall
had unavoidably to be absent this evening,
l offered to make the time pass as pleas
antly as | could to one whom my uncle
seems to esteem, till he should return"
"There is little doubt of your easily
succeeding in that endeavor," rejoincd
the gentleman, gallantly. +" Besides these
natural capabilities l am sure you possess,
l observe here many means to kill time,"
he said, as his eyes rested on the harp,
piano and music books; then added: eff
it be not rudeness, might | ask whether
it was your voice | heard singing that old
English ballad of DR.. Aims, Water Part
ed from the Sea ?"
"Oh, it is old, indeed" laughed Janet
$50 very old and out of date, that only
treat myself to it when alone"
"Why so, may 1 ask? Yet can
guess? The English ballad, nowadays,
is banished from our drawingrooms, its
place usurped by bravuras, endless trills
and senseless runs. But when we come
across it, how sweet, how soothing are its
soft simple notes especially, my dear
Miss Keelder, to those who have been
long absent from home, and accustomed
to the shreking (called melody of young
ladies, who, after having been well coach
ed, are drifting to India on matrimonial
speculations. Pardon my disparaging the
sex to one who forms SO charming mem
ber; but l speak, l hope, of the excep-
tion, not the rule. To me the English
ballad is a passion. Dare 1, therefore,
ask you to kindly humor my hobby, Miss
Keelder, by imagining yourself still alone,
and again singing that song? I remem-
ber it was one of my mothers.
Janet never required any of that absurd
persuasion to do anything she knew she
could do. So going to the piano, she
tried to do her best; and that best was
sweet, harmonious, soul-inspiring melody
at least Edmund Webster thought So
Ballad after ballad was sung. Then
CHANGING to come across FloU on, thou
Shining Riuer, and Janet regretting she
had no second, Edmund Webster offered
to attempt it, and speedily proved himself
the possessor of an excellent baritone, and
voice of good compass
To both, the hours passed SO pleasantly
that each started when the clock struck
out ten.
"Ten !' exclaimed Edmund Webster,
laughing. "Why had an appointment
at nine, which I certainly ought to have
kept. 1t is too late now, however. 1t is
all owing to your ballad, Miss Keelder
therefore, as penance, must ask you to
put up with my company little longer,
to see if your uncle comes in"
Janet seemed no way loath, and the
ballads proceeded, till interrupted by the
arrival of Mr. Goodall.
X X X
1t was obout two in the morning when
Janet was aroused from her first sleep by
light step in her room. Looking up she
perceived Nina, just returned, looking
rather fatigued, her dress limp. and flow
ers faded
"Well, dear coz, asked Janet, chow
have you enjoyed the evening"
"Oh, very much; excessively, but such
disappointment"
"How Anything about the rich stran-
oar-fba Murtary2O on,;lad Topok ssNUo,