Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-01-09

circle of grill, who commenced to rally
him upon his abstraction. So he did
not discover that Theodore was the
young musician who had so strangely
interested him.
After a while the guests, or rather
several of them adjourned to the music.
room: and, when Clifford Marsden en-.
tered, he was still surrounded by 8
bevy of young ladies, and, though he
listened TO the soft voice of a lady who
was singing plaintive ballad, and was
enchanted with the brilliant playing OF
the young pianist, he still failed to
wrest himself from those who sur
rounded him or even get a glimpse OF
the features of the fair musician, whose
face seemed to be turned persistently
from him as her fingers rolled over the
keys of the superb-toned instrument.
Later in the evening a group of young
people were assembled in the dressing
room to put on their wraps. They were
chatting about the events of the ever
ing.
lis not Clifford Marsden improved 80
said Susan Dinsmore. "He always was
nice, but now he is perfectly splendid. -
Il give you fair warning, Mamie
Livingstone; shall contest the supre-
macy with you next time. You had
the monopoly of him this evening.
'Ail'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 nv
lot before
"Where were you at supper-time?
missed you from the dining-room, :"
asked Durant.
MIR. Marsden brought me an ice, and
we made believe that that giant acacia
was a rural bower, but even that did
not make him thaw, though l did my
best to captivate him.
Il wonder il he knew who presided
at the piano. Did he glance that way -
''No, not he; he stood like statue.
gazing into futurlty. It's a shame that
such handsome specimen of the genus
homo should he 50 stupid"
''He must have changed, then. Maybe
he was disappointed at not meeting
Miss Lisle. Report says he was hard
hit in tina. direction before he went
abroad
Hard hit,'' said Allie Durant.
"Susan, I'm ashamed of you, OF whom
do you take lessons:''
"Susan was Allies cousin and took
the reproof good naturedly Making a
deep curtesy TO Allie, she answered.
II have learned that purely classical
phrase from my respected cousin, Mr..
Minturn Durant. He acquired it most
probably in the fastidious society of his
club"
At this moment Theodore appeared
at the 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-
tions saluted the ears of the few
strangers as they viewed the scene.
Theodore was white as Parian marble,
and a suppressed quiver about her SEN
sitive lips told of mental suffering. She
had left her position at the piano, think
ing the parlors deserted, but as she
came forth into the glow of light she
found herself face to face with him
whose whispered words had once made
her hearts sweetest music.
Instead of fastening to meet her he
had stood like one in a dream. Theo-
dora understood the pause to mean re-
nunciation Of the past, and, without
glancing at him again, drew her slight
figure to its utmost height, and with
all of the dignity of her proudest
days, swept by him and disappeared up
the broad stairway. This was their
meeting.
And it was for her sweet sake that
Clifford Marsden had thrown off the
fatigue of travel, thinking that one
pressure of her little hand would bring
him rest, even in the midst of the
fashionable throng.
But a trifie light as air had separated
them. A word of explanation unut-
tered, and veil of doubt and mistrust
was woven out of materials as impal-
pable as the mist, yet perhaps as endur-
ing as time itself.
The understanding between them in
the old time had not been ratified by an
engagement, so they had not cores
ponded, and Clifford had received but
meagre news from home. So he was
still TO hear of the Lisle's reverses.
After this disastrous ending to the
first evening of Theodora's experiment,
her life went on shaded by this new
sorrow, but made endurable by cycle
of faithfully performed duties.
1t was Sunday. The soft rustic of
dresses and the sound of entering feet
had ceased. The last note of the organ
voluntary was trembling upon the air
when a voice of marvellous sweetness
took up the strain 81 know that my
Redeemer liveth."
With one impulse the congregation
rose and stood spell bound, while the
pure, young voice rendered this Won
derful solo.
After the services were ended and
the crowd of worshippers emerged into
the open air, there were many inquiries
as to the identity of the newly-engaged
soprano.
One member of the church had no
need to inquire. He well knew the
voice as one whose rich tones had
charmed his heart from his keeping in
by-goDe days, and each note as it rung
out in that sacred place, seemed to re-
awaken hopes sweet music in his soul
as he resolved to make another effort to
IL 1ar h0f