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

cordant music beneath her iewelet
fingers,
He pushed the stop in hastily, ani
the keys were silent.
"Don't; want to play"
" Oh you do care for music-just {
little"
He drew another stop, and her flo
gers brought out rough bolts of noisy
thunder.
How provoking in you. That ISM
pretty. Give me something else"
He drew another stop, and the sounds
flowed in liquid bird notes.
" Pretty ! but trifing like most
music"
mot all ?"
"Nearly all
Then she paused for moment, and
Strengthening mp sat close beside him,
and gently drew her arm about his
shoulder Then she said, abruptly:
My love, do me favor"
"With all my heart"
''Will you, really and truJy?"
"Name it.
"Give up the organ"
"What do you mean?''
"Glve up the place. Don't play any
more"
"Why pot?'
Because I want you to. Because
because it is better to go into business
Just as other men do-and make for
tune-parhaps."
my love is ambitious"
"Yes, very"
you are very frank" he said, with
a tinge of bitterness in his voice.
"Why shouldn't I be? It's not for
myself that care. I 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 ghsten-
ing like frost. The church seemed dark
and chill. She alone, so near HIM,
seemed to express hope. Joy, love
everything.
1t was a sore trial. So young and 50
fair. She must be true. Perhaps she
was wise. He would hear her.
"You see, my love, being an organist
leads to nothing. If you gave it up you
could give your whole attention to busi-
ness, and perhaps get on -and-well-I
think it would be SO much better every
way"
eyes, it would be gain in time; but
you forget that [ have not been very
successful in business. | have not the
business faculty. My education natu-
rally leads me to something different. "
81 know it, but you can not make any
money"
u am not so sure. Ny pupils in
crease every day and the pay is excel
lent"
"Ob, yesl but who wants to be
music -teacher?'
81 do"
Il know it, and [ wish you didn't"
" My love, we are coming to dis
agreement"
=" You are-you won't do anything to
crafty me-"
L" Anything in reason, my dear"
ooh If I'm unreasonable I've moth
ing more to say"
She slid off the seat and stood erect
on the floor behind him. He turned
round and faced her with open-eyed
surprise.
my dear you know love YOU"
81 am not sure. You will not give
me what [ want. :"
81 cannot"
"Then you do not love me.
''I love you too yell to crafty your
wish. It would be serious mistake. [
cannot change the whole manner of my
life"
"Not even to please nee ?"
"YOu are not generous.
81 :
TO go down stairs into the church. Si- |
ently he lit a candle that stood near, |
turned off the gas, and prepared to close |
the organ. The dark church seemed |
darker still, Gigantic shadows spread |
over the walls. His hands shook, and,
IN spite of himself, his eyes grew misty |
and dim.
She was perfectly familiar with the |
place, and boldly went down the dark |
stairs alone, with anger in her heart and |
bitter tears IL her eyes. She was thank |
ful that the darkness would hide them. |
He followed her down the stairs, and,
not finding her in the church, went into |
the vestibule She was not there. She |
must have gone out. Blowing out his
candle, he opened the street door and |
looked out. She was not IL sight. Call |
ing her by name in the vestIbule and |
church, and receiving no answer, he |
went ont and locked the door behind |
him. Annoyed and much disturbed that |
be could not find her, he walked on |
hastily toward home. She had not |
been there, and ne hastily walked round |
the next square to her fathers house. |
To his surprise there was only one win |
low lighted, and that was the drawing |
room window. He rang the bell, and a |
servant girl put out her head |
and asked who was there. Was her |
young mistress not st home? No; she |
aad not returned. At first he had been |
angry, now he was alarmed. He re- |
-urDeC. to the church. 4 wajchmaD, as |
was his duty, had tried the door, and |
was Just coming down the steps. Had |
ne seen a Young lady about? No; young |
aides were never out alone so late. He |
must go into the church to look for her.
No; the watchman would not all " it. |
In vain he protested that he was the |
1reanist. and had key. After some
barley over it, the watchuau consented, |
out said he should wait outside.
. Begging & match, he entered the
church, found his candles, and with
steps entered the great dark
church. 1t seemed cold and cheerless,
aud for a moment he paused perplexed |
What had become of her? Had she
tainted IN the church? 1t had hardly
seemed possible. He went up the
stairs. held the candle over mis- head, |
ooked everywhere, called her name
again and again. Not a sound in reply,
ave the echo of his own voice. In de-
2pair he walked up the broad aisle.
Nothing there. He went round to the |
side aisle, and nearly cried out of ter,
,or. She lay at full length upon the
ioor. The glare of the fickering can
lie fell upon her pale face, and with a
cry OF anguish he knelt by her side and
,elt her pulse.
Thank God She was not dead.
Setting the candle in a pew, he took
her gently up il bis arms, and, carrying
her to the ChanceI, laid hor down on
the step. A pew cushion made ber
more comfortable, and with his hand |
kerchief he brought water from the
DaptismaI font and bathed her forehead. !