Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-01-17

made pretentions to musical skill.
The governess played several
difficult pieces. and then she sang.
Quite number of people gathered
round the piano to hear her excel
lent performances. Falconer stood
just behind her, and his sister was
close beside him. His gaze was
riveted; he saw nothing, heard
nothing, but the beautiful singer.
"You're enchanted Mark" whisp-
pered Mrs. Barry, behind her fan.
He darted a quick glance at her,
and drew a long breath, as if the
spell was broken.
"You know l am very fond Of
music" he said, coloring deeply.
When the young lady stopped
playing and left the piano, a mur-
mur of admiration and applause
rose from the crowd.
What a wonderful voice. How
lovely she is. Who is she - was
buzzed on every side. And Mark
was delightfully."- astonished to hear
his sister explain to them that Miss
Trenton was a very dear friend of
hers, visiting Beechwood.
every generous in you, Kate,
and very wise, too" be told her,
afterwards. 81 thought you would
not be ashamed of her"
When the party was over, and
everybody had gone home-in-
cluding the ladies who tarried a
day or two with Mrs. Barry-mat-
ters ct Beechwood went on as usual
for while.
But one morning, when Mrs. Bar
~ was in the breakfast-room, she
happened to glance through the
glass door that opened out on the
garden, and sight met her gaze
that told Of crisis in one import
ant affair. The governess had gone
out that way, few minutes before,
to get a boquet OF flowers, and
Mark Falconer had followed her.
Now they were standing in plain
view, in one Of the garden paths
she with her head dropping, be
bending toward her and saving
something in very earnest man
ner.
And even while the watcher
looked, he suddenly slipped his
arm around her waist. drew her
head down upon his bosom, and
tenderly kissed her.
Mrs. Barry turned away from
the door with an odd twinkle in
her eyes, and her lip curled with
a sort Of half smile, that might
have meant either triumph OF scorn.
She knew what was coming next,
and she pretended to busy herself
about the breskfast-table, singing
to herself as unconcernedly as IL
she had not been witness to that
little scene in the garden.
Falconer and Miss Trenton came
in together. He looked supremely
happy; she trembled and blushed
guiltily.
"Kate," said Falconer, abruptly,
"you remember on the day / ar
rived here you intimated that I
would rather make love to your
governess in her poverty, than to
Fanny Fthersge with all her wealth.
| have done 80, Kate, and she is
now my promised wife. Allow me
to present to you your future sister
in-law."
"Oh, Kate, my dear, dear friend,
don't be angry with me-" cried
Miss Trenton, rushing into Mrs.
Barry's arms and bursting into
tears.
And then Mrs. Barry astonishcd
her brother by breaking into peal
Of merry laughter.
"Oh, you dear, innocent crea-
tures," she exclaimed, kissing the
girl and holding her in a close en-
brace; "to imagine that l am going
to be angry with Won, when 1
brought it all about myself. Ha,
ha, hap
"You 7" calculated Mark. "Kate,
what does this meant"
at means that | have q very
stupid brother" replied Kate, mot
to see through my little device
Since you have introduced to me
my future sister-in-law, permit me
to introduce to you Miss Fannie
Etherage, the heiress."
"Whatr
"Miss Trenton, the governess, is