The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1877-02-08

days freedom was holiday, to be
sure, but a holiday which made an
inroad into her slender purse. Twenty
years ago the Saturday half-hoiiday
was thing just beginning to be talked
about. Shops would not hear Of it,
merchants, as rule, thought it a
robbery Of time due to them. Clerks
hardly hoped to get it. But there was
one clerk at least, John Wybrow by
name, a member of st. Ethelred's 5
choir, who must have got his Satur-
day half-holidays regularly. He new
er missed looking in at the church at
four o'clock on that day, when Ruth
was playing over the hymns for the
next days service, and poor little
Charlotte sat beneath, playing the
pump handle, with an attentive eye to
the little ball at the end of the string
and listening while the roll Of the
mighty music echoed along the walls
and high in the rafters Of the roof.
day for nearly year. 1t was natural
that he, being member of thoii, and
their most useful tenor-in fact their
only tenor-should like to try his part
over beforehand; and who so able to
help him as the organist" The visit
might therefore be regarded as official
and performed in the discharge OF
duty. So far as ii was praiseworthy
Ruth who was not yet eighteen when
she became organist, at a salary OF
twenty pounds year, at first regard
ed the appearance of the tenor, who
was then about twenty-five, entirely
in this light, being in no way put to
confusion by the fact that he was
young, goodlooking, and of the OPP
posite sex. Ruth had nothing to do
with the foolish thoughts which such
fortutious concurrence of qualities
too often engenders. Her life was full
OF real business. Then, when the ex-
ercises were finished, when Ruth had
played over two of her pieces, while
John Wybrow sat beside her and lis
tened, what could be more in accord
ance with the dictates of natural po-
liteness than that he should walk
home with her, and help little Char
lotte, who had to walk with a crutch,
across the street II was not far to
to the professors, and John Wybrow
having succeeded somehow in getting
inside the house, grew to abuse this
privilege by staying to tea every Sat
urday evening. The whole family OF
the Lemires liked him except one.-
Rupert the eldest, for some reason of
his own chose to take otfense at his
coming, and in confidence to Antoin-
cite expressed his conviction that Mr..
Wyhrow was puppy.
On those evenings this simple fami-
ly got through their bread and butter
and tea with mirth and merriment.
And after the tea, of course, they
would have dance.
None of your meaningless scampers
deux temps, as was then the new
fashion in frivolous England. Not at
ALL The professor, with grave air, as
sumed violin in place of the usual
kit, took up position in the corner,
and solemnly looking round, named
the dances and dancers.
"Minuet de lay Cour-Mr. Wybrow
and Miss Warneford."
Then would John Wybrow, with
Castillian courtesy, lead Ruth, as
grave as if she were dancing before a
court, to her place, and with her go
through the stately steps, while the
children seated round criticised, not
unkindly, but with severity. This
was not rehearsal, but perform
ance, and the professor permitted him
self no observations. The minuet
concluded, the performers sat down,
amidst II chorus of remarks and COM
mentaries.
Pas de fascination-M -Mademoiselle
Antoinette Lemire.n
Then would burst upon the override
lighted gaze of the children their
eldest sister in miraculous robe of
of white muslin, clad i'm which, as in
a cloud Of glory, she displayed mira
cles of art. There were no criticisms
upon her, only rapturous round of
applause, when, with parted lips,
bright eyes, and painting breath, she
finished the last pirouette as graceful
ly as Fanny Ellseler herself.
"La Monsieur Rupert
Lemire and Madenmoiselle Lemire." !"
"Danse Exiles, Souvenir de la
Rochelle"
This was dance invented by the
first Lemire who took to the dancing
profession. 1t was executed first in
solo, and then in full chorus by the
family altogether, assisted by Ruth and
John Wybrow. Perhaps this finish
ed the performance; perhaps there was
simple waltz; perhaps, too at this
juncture John Wybrow remembered
that he had taken the liberty of order
ing few oysters for supper, and so
on; the party finishing, as it began, in
simple mirth and happiness, for Ruth
not yet in that dreamy state of happi-
neSS-a happy Fools Paradise of in
nocence-to waken out of which is to
realize ones humanity, with all its
complicated forces of past, present
and future, its dangers and its pas
sions. John Wybrow, during all
these times never told the girl that he
loved her. Yet his hand pressure
grew always warmer, his voice grew
always softer, his eyes rested always
longer upon Ruth's fair head, and he
became every week more and
more the brightness and JOY of
her life. If this does not constitute
love on both sides, what does?
Yet the girl never thought of any
thing being said to alter the sweet
ness ofthis innocent pastoral; and the
young man, for some reason, refrain
ed from speaking the word which
should break the spell.
But the spell was broken, and rude
i S.,t, a