The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-09-15

cessantly, and one could not pick ten
sensible words cut of all she would say in
week. She was as ignorant of music as
l am of Chinese literature, and, much as
she admired Mr. Hunt, she could not keep
still while he sang. When he asked her
if she enjoyed one of Beetho7en's sonatas,
played superbly by Mrs. Barlow, she an
hWered, "Oh yes; I think it is SO nice.
Did you ever hear Casey's band play
When Johnny comes marching homer
1t is splendid"
And yet she was so smiable, ard she ad-
mired himself so much, that Mr.. Hunt
could not help being charmed. In fact,
the poor fellows ideas were in some con-
fusion. He knew he was in love with
sOmebody-he knew he had lost the heart
he was in the habit of calling his own
but which of these two charming crea-
lures had it in her possession he was not ct
all sure. And that sly Ada laughed in her
sleeve to see her despairing swain reviv-
ing from the chill of her GOODNESS in the
warm beams of new sun.
Mrs. Barlow was alarmed. "Can Hunt
be such fool" she thought, 'as to fancy
he can pique Ada in this wayy Of course
he docs not admire LAURA dear warm
hearted little thing, TO be sure ; but, then,
she hasn't thimbleful of brains, and
can't sing note. l dare say he thinks
to make himself more desirable by hold
ing aloof little. Connected, like every
other man. But he will lose Ada if he is
not careful. ] must warn him."
She did so at the first opportunity. The
poor man was terribly embarrassed. MY
dear friend" he said, 81 hope you do not
think me capable of flirting with one lady
in order to make an impression upon
another. My attentions to Miss Hatha-
way have been the result Of accident. Cir
cumstances have constantly arisen which
made them unavoidable"
"Of course could not suspect you of
any thing so dishonorable," replied the
lady, fibbing without blush. "But
feared dear Laura might mistake your
feelings toward her."
II trust not. But, indeed, I fear Miss
Norris will never care for me. She Is
quite cold and Indifferent"
"Fhat you will never know unless you
ask her. She is not the girl to let you Gee
a preference for You until you do. And
think it right 10 tell you that your time
is short; she leaves us Tomorrow"
Mr. Hunts countenance fell The
thought of losing Ada was misery. He
rose and walked the floor. "And do you
really think have chance?" he asked,
dolefully.
al have always told you that 1 think
| the chances are in your favor. Any way,
faint heart never won fair lady. If you
care to try your fate, will see that you
| have the opportunity"
She was as good as her word. That
| evening Mr.. Hunt found himself, through
| her adr0it management, seated with Ada
| in deep bay window, quite apart from
the rest of the company, who were Occu
| pied with new game, and knew that it
was nGto or Nicer.
| 1t was a delicious summer evening. The
moon was at the full. The faint, fra
grant might wind breathed tenderly
through the garden trees, and fire flies
| cleaned palely among the dewy shrub
berry. At the foot of the garden, and
separated from it only by narrow lane,
| flowed the river, flashing in the moon
| light; and its pleasant ripple mingled
with the rustic of the leaves and the &C.
casional chirp of some drowsy bird in the
branches 1t was the kind of night when
people say soft things almost of necessity
but Ada did not choose to talk sentiment
with Mr.. Hunt; and once or twice, when
she thought he was verging on tender
strain, she brought him back to common
places so skilltully that he could not re-
sist her lead. At length, almost in des-
pair, he begged her to sing to him once
more a song which he had often admired.
She consented readily, and sent him to
bring her guitar from the table.
| Meanwhile Mrs. Barlow was watch
ing the pair with anxious eyes. She felt
| r. 10 Of he
lady's face, and the peTplexed look on
that OF the gentleman, that the fateful
| question had not been asked. When she
saw Mr.. Hunt rise to bring the guitar, her
patience gave way. al do believe the
man is fool u she exclaimed to herself
"To 90 and ask her TO sing, when had
taken SO much pains to secure him one
last chance of speaking to her Now the
others will come crowding round, and he
will not have another word with her. Oh,
Ada Morrisl You sing that song delight
fully, but you do not know how your
| destiny is hanging upon it u
Mrs. Barlow was right. The song just
then beginning was indeed the minister
| of destiny to ada Morris, but not in the
way her anxious hostess believed. If Mr..
| Hunt had found courage to talk of love
at that moment, instead of temporizing
with music, this story would not have
| been told-there would have been no
story TO tell.
But now, Ada, passing the black ribbon
of her guitar over her neck, leaned back
| In her chair in the moonlight, and, touch
ing the strings softly for a moment, began
that beautiful song of Memberships, 81
hear small bird calling" Every breath
was hushed, every movement stillcd, as
the melting tones thrilled through the
room and flOated out upon the listening
air OF night. The last note died softly
tremblingly away, and there was mo
mcnt OF silence before the hum of admira
ton began To arise. In that instant's
pause there was heard, from the lane q,
the foot OF the garden, u mans VOICES
rich, mellow tenor, singing, in charming
manner, to sweet though simple air
these words OF Shelley's:
| AS the moon. soft splendor
| Ger the faint cold starlight OF heaven
| u thrown,
| So thy voice most tender
| To the strings without soul has given
| Its own.
" The stars will awaken,
| Though the moon sleep a full hour later
No leaf will be shaken
| While the dcws OF Thy melody scatter
| DcuSut.
| Though the sound Overpowcrs
| Ding on, with thy sweet voice revealing
A tone
OF come world far from ours,
| Where music, and moonlight, and feeling
Are oneI"
Not tan fluttered, not ribbon rustic,
while the song continued. But at tn
first sound of that Dice, Mrs. Barlow
who was looking at Hiss Morris, saw he
start slightly, and thea soft blush dawne,
and deepened upon her cheek. An amuse,
smile tickered tor a moment about he
lips, then faded away, and dreamy, alb
sent look came over her face She ss
motionless, listening like one who's
thoughts are far away, until the SINCE
ceased. Then those who were near Tn
window saw tall figure move from tn
shadow OF the gateway, and heard foot
steps retreating toward the town. In