The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-10-18

Idtt lloDl uCl lllC-tO lOUh lOINdTu
bravely over a waste of gray, cherries
years that brighten only as the dawn of
heaven breaks upon their close? You
who think it easy would have wondered
at Amy Cuthbert's haggard face as she
sat with the mist gathering around her,
gazing out at the distant hills, and con-
fronting the prospect of
" Long, mechanic pacinss to and fro,
And set, dull life, and apathetic end
1t was late when a ran at her door
was followed by the delivery of a mes
sage:
If Miss Cuthbert is not indisposed,
Mrs. Fleming would be glad to have her
come down. Miss Bertha can't sing
without her accompaniment"
ROusing herself with an effort, the
governess was astonished to see moon
light already silvering terrace and lawn.
The afternoon had long passed, and mer-
I ry voices below told her that, as usual,
the Flemings' hospitable parlors were
filed with guests. How could she go
down? But mechanically she had said
YES" to the servant-maid: so as she
rose and dressed, removing as far as pos
slble the traces of tears, and saying bet
terly to herself, as she cast last glance
at the pale face reflected in the mirror,
What does 1t matter how | look?'
/ The malstrom of gay life surged
around her as she reached the hall.
Bertha Fleming, followed by a noisy
/ party, rushed II from the terrace, way
/ ing a book over her head.
"Oyez! Oyer! Come here and i'm
prove your chances. I've purloined Mr..
Kenneth's sketch-book-th same he re-
/ fused to exhibit"
The owner of the book, who had been
running over light air at the piano
sprang to his feet.
Pray, Miss Bertha" was the vexed
remonstrance which he tried hard to
make polite, don't take advantage OF
your discovery. Don't make public the
fruits of my last industry, l beg"
" What's the use of begging, Mr.. Ken
meth? After being shameless enough tc
steal the book from the pocket of your
blouse coat, you might know | would also
disregard your prayers"
" But the sketches are 50 poor" the
young man persisted, much discomp posed
No, you mustn't insist nor APOLOGIZE
and Bertha's voice was supported by q
chorus from the curious group. "You
are genius, you know Now, are we
all here? First comes a study of foliage
and next the old bridge over the creek
Very pretty. Foliage again-rocks-
moon shadows; how peculiar those are,
how light!-oh, how lovely," and she
! paused, enraptured by an exquisite little
color sketch of convolvuli.
ooh, beautiful and "Mr. Kenneth
how could you deny us the pleasure OF
seeing that?" were the outcries that fol
lowed.
"Oh, now we come to the character
studies. Here's Goliath to begin with
and an Airy Fairy Lillian on the opposite
page. What contrast! and oh, here's
the funniest charcoal study of toads! .
A laugh rose and grew as head after
head bent over the paper. But it was
checked by an exclamation from Bertha
who had turned a leaf:
Why, here's st. Cecilia, and, as
live, it's the image of Miss Cuthbertn
! Every eye sought the governess' face
as she stood by the balustrade gazing out
at the moonlight with absent eyes. Con
fused by the general notice, she said
hastily: "Of mel" and glanced from
the picture upheld by Bertha to the face
of the artist. The latter met her look
with another, half eager, half deprecat
ing, and dark, red flush rose to hi.
cheek as he tried to stammer formal
apology.
/ cannot excuse the liberty | have
( taken, but | can beg Miss Cuthbert's
/ pardon. Her attitude and expression as
she sat at the organ the other evening
struck me and haunted me until | made
sketch and christened it st. Cecilia. y
Excellent! That heavy coil of hair
that sweep of drapery, and that absorbed
look are all perfect"
And so like her."
Mr.. Kenneth must have made quite
study of the lady's face and figure
/ Alice Fleming said, with a somewhat de.
risive smile. He ought to have vote
of thanks"
" But | am afraid Miss Cuthbert, or
the contrary, is displeased with me-" the
proprietor of the sketch book remarked
doubtfully.
Indeed, no." the governess FASTENED
to say. 81 am very glad you thought
my face worth sketching. 1t has never
been so much honored before"
She owes you more substantial
thanks, KENNETH said Mr.. Finnis, with
laugh. She ought to take the very
attitude you have depicted, and repay
you by giving us a song. All, Mis-:
Cuthbert, don't say MOI"
The governess drew back
You must excuse me. Pm not in
the mood for singing"
" Must one be in the mood?"
Pray oblige Mr.. Kenneth, Mis-
Cuthbert," said Bertha, maliciously.
-" really cannot"
When she says she cannot, she means
she will be urged"
The importantly, half Joking, half
4 serious, was continued, until Alice Flem-
ing, who was ALREADY annoyed by the af-
tar OF the portrait, quite lost patience
1 i never BEFORE" she said, coldlv,
have seen Miss Cuthbert attempt the
r0te OF the prima donna in society. She
does it very well; but l really think we
have had enough of it,"
SIleT anu amazed silence followed this
speech. No one knew what to say. Amy
Cuthbert crimsoned to the temples, and
walked straight TO the piano, struggling
hard to retain the tears that threatened
to overflow.
Still possessed by the sadness and ex-
hausted by the excitement of the after
noon, the effort of singing had seemed
impossible. But no sooner had she
touched the keys than she became con-
scious of an imperative desire-almost a
necessity-of expressing her mood in
music: Stopping abruptly in a light
prelude, she tossed aside the sheet of
music before her. Only few days be-
fore she had set to music a little poem
that had pleased her fancy, and now,
without generalization, she began to
sing it, feeling as if all the sorrow and
despair in her soul were floating out on
the notes.
Higher, sweeter, the voice rose,
freighted with infinite sadness and
yearnipg, startling the careless listeners
into attention. The passionate tones