Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-12-01

P''~'" ""oro' tnrou8h the leav
OF blossoming azalea. he could zoe Il
musician seated at tho piano, with h
back towards the guests. The slicl,
graceful figure, the proud poise of h
head upon the small. round neck, Il
abundant hair wound simply about h,
head, all formed an attractive picture.
For some time he had watched h,
white fingers fly over the keys, but b.
fore he had caught glimpse of her fat
he was surrounded by n merry circle
girls, who commenced to rally him upo
iiis abstraction. So he did not discov,
TINT Theodore was the Young musicia
who had so stran1 ely interested him.
After while the guests, or rattle
several Of them, adjourned to the ml,si
room and, when Clifford Marsden er
tered, he was still surrounded by bev
OF young ladies', and, though he listene
to the soft voice of lady who WAS sing
ing plaintiff ballad, and was enchante
with the brilliant playing of the youn
pianist, he still failed to wrest himsel
from those who surrounded him or ever
get glimpse of the features of the fai
musician, whose face seemedt to be turne
persistently from him MS her finger
rolled over the keys of the superior tone'
instrument.
Later in the evening group of youn.
people were assembled in the dressing
room to put on their wraps. They wer,
chattering about the events OF the eve
ming.
"ls not Clifford Marsden improved? p
said Susan Dinsmore. "He always wa,
nice, but now he is perfectly splendid.
II give you fair warning, Mamie Liv
ingstone; shall contest the supremacy
with you next time. You had the mo.
nopoly of him this evening. 'All's fair
in love, you know"
Mamie tossed her pretty head, and
said, disdainfully-
"You are welcome to him. Such an
absent-minded escort never fell to my
lot before"
Where were you at supper? I
missed You from the dining room" asked
Allie Durant.
"Mr. Marsden broughtme an ice, and
we made believe that chat giant acacia
was rural bower, but even that did not
make him thaw, though I did my best to
captivate him."
II wonder if he knew who presided
at the piano. Did he glance that way ?"
"No, not he; he stood like statue,
gazing into futurity. It's q shame that
such handsome specimen of the genus
homo should be SO stupid"
"He must have changed, then. Maybe
he was disappointed at not meeting Miss
Lisle. Report says he was hard hit IN
that direction before he went abroad"
"Hard hit ?" said Allie Durant.
" Susan, I'm ashamed of you! OF
whom do you take lessons p
Susan was Allies cousin and took the
reproof good naturedly. Making deep
curtsy to Allie, she answered:
II have learned that purely classical
phrase from my respected cousin, Mr..
Minturn Durant. He acquired it most
in the fastidious society of his
club"
At this moment Theodore appeared at
he door. and her friends clustered
around her.
"You dear, brave darling!"
"You naughty little girl, to keep
yourself SO completely out of sight"
"Are those tender fingers completely
worn out ?" and other similar exclama-
ions saluted the ears of the few strangers
present as they viewed the scene.
Theodore was white as Parian marble,
md suppressed quiver about her sen.
'itive lips told of mental suffering. She
lad left her position at the piano, think
ng the parlors deserted, but as she
,ame forth into the glow of light she
ound herself face to face with him whose
whispered words had once made her
hearts sweetest music.
Instead of fastening to meet her he
lad stood like one in dream. Theo-
lora understood the pause to mean re-
lunciation of the past, and, without
,lancing at him again, drew her slight
igure to its utmost height, and with
more of the dignity Of her proudest days
wept by him and disappeared up the
'road stairway. This was their meeting.
And it was for her sweet sake that |
clifford Marsden had thrown off the
atigue Of travel, thinking that one
pressure of her little hand would bring
lin rest, even in the midst of the fash
enable throng.
But trifle light as air had already
eparated them. A word of explanation
lnuttered. and veil of doubt and mis-
rust was woven out of materials as i'm
'alpable as the mist, yet perhaps as en-
Turing as time itself.
The understanding between them in
he old time had not been ratified by ar
so they had not correspond
d, and Clifford had received but meagre
lews from home. So he was still to hear
+ the Lisle's reverses.
After this disastrous ending to the first !
vening of Theodora's experiment, her
ife went on, shaded by this new shadow,
'ut made endurable by a cycle of faith
ully performed duties.
1t was Sunday. The soft rustic of
resses and the sound of entering feet |
lad ceased. The last note of the organ |
was trembling upon the air,
vhen a voice of marvellous sweetness
ook up the strain, 81 know that nay Re-
eemer liveth."
With one impulse the congregation
ose and stood spell-bound, while the
'ure, young voice rendered this wonder
nj solo.
After the services were over, and the |
- .,,l1 Al. |