The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-05-21
A NEW DELTLAH.

pered that they would soon be married..
Some of the old ladies who sat in the
gallery, where they had fire chance to
see all that passed in the choir, thought
differently. Some of the young altos
thought they knew all about it. She
was playing a desperate game, and
would break or win. The people at ST.
Mark s watched the fight with becoming
interest, and looked over the tops of
their prayer. bo ks to where it would
end
! The benediction has been pronounced,
and the congregation we're slowly filter
ing out of the church, with a low muir
mur of talk and gossip, which seemed
like the soft guIgle of escaping water.
From the organ loft little heed did he
pay to it, He took up the theme of the
last hymn, and san to irhprovise upon
it. It was a lalge, lofty church, and
had a noble organ. Under his fingers
| it seemed to sing q heartful sOLg of
praise and prayer. The deep, tremu-
| lous thunder of the diapasons seemed
| to breathe of awesome reverence, and
the liquid tones Of the flutes Ii ted the
soul to serener heights of holy rdedita-
tion and peace. The idle chatter of the
people was subdued in the atmosphere
of art ani beauty he spread about them.
The saints in the glowing windows
seemed to look down upon the dim aisles
as if they, too, heard the music and felt
its uplifting charm.
The murmur of voices in the church
died away. A few fingered in silence
to hear the music, and q deep calm
seemed to fall upOnthe place. Through
it all ran the golden thread of music,
soft. delicious, prsyerful, beautiful.
He sat absorbed in his work. His
face was lifted, that he might behold the
golden pipes above him. His fingers
wandered on over the yellow keys, and
his whole being seemed to be absorbed
in his work. He knew not that she
stood near him, silent, admiring him,
and with a petulent frCwn ON her fair
face. Young, more than pretty, finely
formed, with large blue eyes, and light
golden hair. 1t hung in tangled masses
round her low forehead, and fell in neg
lacted clouds about her shoulders. IT
was her great charm. She knew il, and
treated it accordingly. Her dress was
Of the best material, and in the latest
fashion. What it may have been
matters not. It was becoming, and
she knew it. She had dressed with
special care that day.
It was not surprising that he loved
her. She was winsOme, intelligent,
ard inordinateIy selfish This last he
did not know Her beauty had won
him, and they were engaged to be mar
ried. He was talented and good look
ing. He was the organist of the fash
iOnable Episcopal church OF the city,
oni C,1ob ,D,11ob oIr,,iraJ o,I
sought after. She enjoyed the sunshine
of his popularity, bat hated his work
It seemed to draw him from herself,
and it interfered with her plans and |
hopes for the future.
Even now it took his whole attention. !
He did not heed her, though she stood |
by his side. There was no need to stay |
longer. The people, save a few stupid !
old ladies, had all gone. Why did he |
not stop and speak to her? She touched
his arm with her parasol. With a
smile he brought the strain to a proper
close and stopped.
"You are very slow to-day. Why
didn't you stop when L touched you ?"
"Indeed did as quickly as could
finish the phrase. You wouldn't have
me stop in the middle of a sentence?"
I've be, Il waiting, and its time to
go home"
Her speech and manner seemed to
crate harshly upon him. Had she no
love for the music?
Why did you play so long today?
It was dreadful tiresOme."
He made no reply, but closed the in
strument in silence, while she impa-
tieltly tapped upon the back of a seat
with parasol.
You know I was in a hurry to go
home"
"My dear? How could I"
She saw in a moment that she was
going too far, aud with gentle, sinuOus
motion took his arm in hers, ard drew
him to her with a soft caress. He
smiled, ard yielded himself to the
charm of her beauty and apparent af-
lection, Thus together they passed out
Of the organ loft, and prepared to go
Gown stairs into the dim and quiet
church. The stairway led directly in
5he main aisle, and gave them a clear
view of the springing arches, the great
windows glorious in living color, and
he dark roof springing aloft in the
3hadowy vault above their heads.
"What beautiful place tOspend ones
ife in. | do not wonder that the old
monks were content to spend their time
n such scenes. [ almost wish we had
service every day. I
&c 1t would be dreadful stupid"
"Oh. no. Think what a life such
nan as old Bach spent in Thomas I
zirche! Nothing to do but to play {
lpon his organ every day. I almost ,
wish was cathedral organist in some
ncient minister"
g I'm sure [ don't. It's bad enough
IS it is.
Glow SOP"
"My love, are you so stupid? What
S the position of Organist? I'm sure I
our life.
"Why not ?"
Cob! It's all very well, now-for a
title while-but-my dear, you must
He paused on the last step, and look
d at her as if he did not quite UNDER
tand.
"See what? Surely you do not OBJ
ect to it ?"
"Ob, dear no bat then you knoR
hat it isn't exactly-the thing one
wishes to do all his life"
''Pm not so sure. If I was rich |
would always play in church, and, in
act, [ would give up my time to the
tUdy OF music. What nobler ambition
,ould a young mau have than to assist
It divine worship with the best gifts ,
rt and heaven had bestowed upon !
lin ?"
She had the wit to see that she had
zone too far, and with a soft smile and '
caressiDg touch she led him out Of the ,
'hurch into the bright sunshine of the ]
treet. They walked away IL silence. !
His thought returned to his art and the !
huIch. She was scbeming how to make J
he next assault.
Il so happened that they did not meet {
gain for several days. On the Friday
# each week he spent the evening at !
he church in practice and alone. On
the choir met, and he was too {
,usy attending to their wants to do I
ustice to his own.
One lamp burned brightly over his {
lead, and cast a bright glare on his
book and the desk. The tips of the
tops glittered, and the pipes overhead
zach baI I0Du hoV OF y-alJ1r- | z