Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-12-18

floor She was surprised to find the
tall, grand figure could move as easily
| as Walters own, while the strong arm
held her firmly, yet delicately, giving
her perfe ct support. while allowing hel
graceful freedom of motion.
| "How beautiful you waltz" she said
as the music ceased
There was German dancing
master in Chicago, when we spent a
winter there, some five years ago, and
I took lessons of him. We are not
quite sava ges in Minnesota, Miss West
for most of as remember homes further
east"
Il never supposed you were," she
replied
Il thiuk my cousins imagine would
scalp them upon small provocation.
They looked absolutely Mortified at the
sight of me"
81 see many bright eyes looking this
way that have no horror whatever in
them,'. said Clara, pleasantly, 'Let
me introduce you to some of my new
friends"
For week the young heiress found
herself a self appointed companion of
the young Western cousin, whose
position in the house was far from
pleasant Mr. Montague, absorbed in
business, LETT his nephew to the mercies
far from tender, of the family, aud the
family voted him an intruder
Walter was jealous Of him. Mrs.
Montague heartily wished hin back in
Minnesota. and the girls voted him
stupid. He could not talk small talk,
could not interest himself, as Walter
did in fashions, operas and parties, and
they could not follow him into the
regions OF literature, or sympathize
with his enthusiastic love of nature.
But Clara, aiming only at a good.
natured endeavor to put the stranger
more at ease, found herself repaid by a
companionship far more congenial than
any she had found at c.. The
young farmer had been a student in a
Western college, and had a love of
reading equaled by a keen appreciation
OF the best literature Of the day. Low
ing deeper studies, he could enjoy also
the beauties Of poetry and fiction, and
meet Clara in many an animated dis
cussion Of her fayorite authors.
He was fond Of music, too, and Clara
soon dropped the watzes and polkas
she at first thought suited to his COM
prehension, to give him rare musical
treats in her exquisite rendering of
Mendelssohn and Beethoven. Coming
in from walking, one morning, when
her cousins We're out, Clara beard the
granu piano swept by a master hand to
a glorious march quite new to ner
She entered the drawing room softly,
and took seat unperceiyed in a far
corner, from which nook she watched
Charles Easton, as be took one after
another, The sheets Of music from her
portfolio, and played the airs with
grand touch that invested them with
new power and beauty. 1t vas like a
trumpet blast after the flute, to hear his
rendition after her own.
Then he played other new music
from his own memery, till suddenly
rising he crlmsoned as if detected in a
theft.
"How long did you propose to listen
to me without doing your share? Clara
asked, very gravely. 81 hope you ad-
mired the Jenny Lind polka and Uncle
Ned as much as you said you did, the
morning after You arriyed!"
81 will tell you what / did admire, y
he answered, earnestly 81 admired
the gentle kindness that prompted the
fingers to play what was presumably
suited to an ignorant ear, instead of
trying to dazzle the countryman's mind
with grand display of brilliant execu-
ton" ~
What more might have followed can
only be imagined, for at that moment
the Montagues entered the room, and
the bewildered Charles found himse elf
the centre Of the most smiling atten-
tions. 4-a ie.
Mrs. Montague, sweet and gracious,
paid him more compliments in five
minutes than she had found time for in
the entire previous week. The girls
found COUSIN Charles was the very
man they wanted for series O. future
festivities, and Irene was already
sketching scenes for the introduction Of
a blonde giant in a forthcoming tab
leaux party. @eS'l
L Walter, meantime, was lowering
around Clara, trying to regain some Of
the ground lost, by certain sneerine
criticisms Of his. cousin by loudly de
claring he was ''hrstrate fellow"
and he ''wished he had his inches anl
strength.