Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-11-19
NO. 275.
IN CLOVER.
CONTINUED FROM YEsrERpAY.1

]AitCl thC JOyO past I<ulllN 6Ilu pOle
ished the ancient blue and pink china
ware. admiring the wonderful pagodas
and flying bridges portrayed thereupon.
while pensive Margaret strayed upon the
porch star-gazing, she being one Of those
rare mortals who find perfect enjoyment
in nature and silence. As the twilight
deepened we gathered in the music room,
still with no light save the glimmer of the
fire-tlies fitting in the sweet brair at the
window. l stood by the piano.
This is the only link said, which
connects me with the old life and in spite
OF association, could not we'll spare it.
Margaret. this is the hour Of all hours fer
music. Thrill us again, dear friend, with
that beloved voice.
Emily trod warmly upon my foot but
did not understand her; could see neith-
er in the darkened room, and there was an
awkward silence. Then Margaret spoke,
softly and rather differently, as was her
MANNER
II never felt in a happier mood for mu-
sic. Rhoda, but cannot sing have lost
my voice.
"What do YOU meane" cried bewil-
dered.
Yes she repeated, II have lost my
voice. cannot tell how it happened; at
church one evening my voice suddenly
died; even the ghost of it has never re-
turned to me since, so must e'en take up
The burden of life anew. 1 am now study
ing the piano, and hope to be able to teach
some day
l was too much shocked to find words
of sympathy, and could only say
"You must let me be your teacher
while you are with me, although it is abb
surd for mere routinist like myself to at.
tempt to guide genius
Margaret had no such scruples, how
ever. accepting my offer with gratitude
ard to cover our painful emotions. we lit
the candles and En- and proceeded to
execute our most elaborate duet.
Poor Margaret, with all her rare gifts,
seemed born to failure. Surrounded in
childhood by love, wealth, and culture, q
single month deprived her of everything.
A series of commercial disasters, followed
by the base treachery of trusted friends,
deprived her father first of reason and then
Of life; and before his lifeless remains
could be consigned to their last resting
place his wife was laid beside him. and
their only and adored child was left to the
tender mercies of cold and hard tempered
relatives. They did their duty by her af-
ter the fashion of rich relatives. She was
sent to an Institute, and having survived
an institutional education. was directed to
provide for herself henceforth. 1t was
among the hollow corridors and desolate
school-rooms of the Institute that we three
met ard tied our lasting friendship. To-
gether we found courage to laugh in the
face of toll, starvation and cold together
confronted the august examining commit
tees. and received our parchment diplo-
mas-Margaret's tied with blue ribbon,
Ems with pink, and mine alas! with
white. You do not, perhaps, comprehend
the distinctions thus signified, but among
the initiated the blue ribbon was known
to be a delicate symbol of the schools
choicest regard and commentator the
pink marked graduation; the white an
other still lower. The bit of blue ribbon
was however, the only triumph that poor
Margaret enjoyed, for she made COM
plete failure of teaching. While Emily
little blushing Emily-could command or
der and industry in the most hoidenish
school-room, beautiful, dgnified Margaret
would be utterly routed.
She was too simple, too unsuspiciOus,
too ignorant Of the wiles and ways Of the
Girl of the Period to satisfy the exac-
tons of the modern schoolmistress, and
she was obliged to reiinquish the advan-
tageous position obtained for her by the
influence of wealthy connection. We
held a serious consultation upon the posi-
ton. Well l remember the seat under
the aianthustree, the muddy fountain.
and the nursery maids airing their charges
as we three came to the unanimous de.
cision that Margaret should cultivate her
musical talents, the pure alto voice es.
pecially. This proved. at last, solution
of the difficulty, for she truly loved and
enjoyed her art, and finally obtained po.
sition in the choir of an uptown church,
and now this also was lost to her. "Such
is life :" | sighed, striking a discordant
harp.
A thunderstorm disturbed the serenity
of the night, but how radiant the morn.
ing! Every flower laden with fragrance.
every leaf shining in dewy freshness. an
invisible choir of birds making ecstatic
music in the meadows, few silver
winged clouds melting into ethereal blue.
With unconscious care we donned our
daintiest apparel in honor of the royal
day. Margaret hoated down in gossa-
mer robes of palest violet, very old-fash-
ioned, lear, or perhaps no IaSniOn at all,
for the wide flowing sleeves and delicate
neck band displayed to perfect advantage
the sculpturesque arms and hands and
noble creamy throat. Like Dante's beau
teous lady,
"Stately and soft she moves as Juno's bird,
Erect and firmly poised as any crane,
The utmost grace with modesty combined"
While Emily. with wonderful modera-
tion, declared her true-born Athenian,
and bound myrtle and white roses on her
hair. Margaret's hair is dark in shadow.
but catches in the sunlight FURNISHED
auburn tint. 1t waves also. not in thou
sand curls and ripples, but in bright even
swells from the moonbeam line of the
crown through all its queenly length.
Emily, as always, was dainty in the trim
NEST of white gowns, bunch OF pinks
tied under her chin, and bright ribbon
around her waist.
After the coffee and toast had been dis
cussed, Margaret went about arranging
the flowers, and it was curious TO note
how the lghtest touch Of her fnger-tips
brought into harmonious subsection the