The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1874-09-30

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tact, 1 world give mp my time to the
study q music. What nebler ambition
could q young naa1I have than To assist
/ at divine worship with the best gifts
art and heaven had bestowed on him ?''
She had the wit to see that she had
! gone too far, and with soft smile and
with caTessing touch she led him out
OF the church into the bright sunshine
OF the street. They walked away in 81
lence. His thoughts returned to his
art and the church. She was seheming
how to make the next assault.
It SO happened that they did not meet
again for several days. On the Friday
OF each week. Hhe spent the evening st
the church IN practice and alone. On
Saturdays the choir met, and he was
too busy attending to their wants to do
Justice to his own.
One lamp burned brightly over his
head, and cast a bright glare on his book
and the desk. The tips of the stops
| glittered, and the pipes overhead each
had long bar of yellow light The
outline of the vast instrument was al
most lost in the shadow. The church
| seemed to spread around, below, and
above him in silence and dusky shade.
| The arches overhead were barely visi-
BILE, and far away the gilded leaves of
| the Bible on the desk caught the light
in spot of yellow radiance. The win
dows looked black and dead, and every
where save by his seat it was gloomy,
vague, and unreal.
Absorbed in his music, he went on
by the hour, little needing anything,
save the work in hand. The dim, silent
church behind him was quite unnoticed,
and he turned leaf after leaf, forgetful
Of Both time and place. There was a
soft step On the carpeted stairs, and
light figure in charming apparel and
Tovely looks came in and stood near by
in silence Presently he stopped, and
wiping his forehead, said aloud:
It is glorious"
She felt pang of conscious jealousy
in her heart, and silently advancing in
to the organ-loft, she stood near him.
He discovered her at the moment, and,
without rising, extended his hand and
welcomed her with a smile.
happened to pass, and tried the
door. found it unlocked"
"And you came in. How kind of
you, dear"
Yes, came in because-I want to
see you-and to talk to You"
He made room for her on the broad,
smooth bench, and, grasping one of the
stops for q support, she mounted the
high seat and sat down. What per-
feet picture she made, under the top
light, and with the dark, carved organ
for background. She turned partly
round and supported herself against
the stops. Her splendid hair half OBJ
scured the music-book, and one hand
toved with the white keys. He drew
soft stop on the other side, and suddenly
the keys discoursed broken, discordant
music beneath her ieweled fingers.
He pushed the stop in hastily and the
keys were silent.
"Don't; i want to play,
little.n
He drew another stop and her fin
gers brought out rough bolts of noisy
thunder.
"How provoking in you. That isn't
pretty. Give me something else.
He drew another stop, and the sounds
flowed in liquid bird-notes.
"Pretty but trifing-like most mu-
sic.
"Not all?"
"Nearly all"
Then she paused for a moment, and
strengthening up, sat close beside him,
and gently Jrew her arm about his
shoulder. Then she said abruptly;
"My love do me favor.
"With all my heart.
"Will you, really and truly2"
"Name it. !"
s'Give up the organ"
ssWhat do you mean
"Give up the place. Don't play any
more"
"Why not
Because / want you to. Because
because it is better to go into busi-
ness-iust as other men do--and make
ortune-perhaps. -
"My love Is ambitious" "
Yes, very"
You are very frank, he said with
tinge Of bitterness in his voice.
Why shouldn't be? It's not fol
myself that I care. am ambitious for
you.
The lamp above them shone full on
her fair face. Her airy, floating hair
almost swept his cheek, and she suffered
him to support her with his arm. She
was indeed winsome and very lovely.
The organ-pipes were cold and glisten-
ING like frost. The church seemed
dark and chill. She alone so near him,
seemed to express hope, joy, love-
everything.
II was q sore trial. So young and so
fair. She must be true. Perhaps she
was wise. He would hear her.
"Yon see, my love, being an organ
ist leads to nothing. If you gave it up
YOU could give your whole time to bust
ness. and perhaps get on-and-well-I
think it would be SO much better every
G Yes. It would be gain in time,
but you forget that l have not been very
successful in business. I have not the
business faculty. My education natur-
ally lends me to something different "
"T know it, but you cannot make any
II am not so sure. Ny pupils in
crease every day, and the pay is excel
"oh, yes; but who wants to be a
music teacher ?
ST do.
"I know it, and I wish you didn't" +"
"M NY love we are coming TO disa-
greement.
You are.-you won't do anything to
crafty me.
/" Anything in reason, my dear.
aOhi If / am unreasonable I've moth
ing more to say
She sIid off The seat and stood erect
on the floor behind him. He turned
round and faced her with open-eyed
surprise.
q NV dear, you know ] love you.
al am not sure. You win not give
me what I ask.
ttI cannot.
g Then you do not love me. "
tsT love you too well To gratify your
wish. IL would be serious mistake
| cannot change the whole manner Of
nv life