Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1879-02-01
Wiz re greatest of pleasure, mad

| ame, brlskly opening the huge grand
/ piano which stood like family coffin
in the middle of the room. "And
what will you sing ?"
"Whatever you please, sir
Signor Severe rustled a piece of
music out of drift some three feet
/ high on the floor.
"Bein We try zis, aaid he.
| lie struck tie cords, and rising up n
the wings of the sublime harmony,
Mabels voice scared like a bird.
Slgnor Severe nodded when the
aria was over, and rubbed his hands
gleefully.
MADAME" )" said he, it is as strong
1t is sweet. You have one idea of
time and tune--you know how to man
age re voice"
"And you will give me trial p
Mabel's heart was beating SO rap
idly that she could hardly speak.
The signor nodded.
"And if re musical committee ac-
cept you--mind, madame, l do not
say zay will, for Of all committees
musical committees are ze most ca
ricious-we will give you re salary
of six hundred dollars ze year. l
plaze ze organ; Heads ze choir, when
it will be lead at all" with a shrug
of his shoulder, "and I shall you
most cordially recommend
Six hundred dollars Mabel Nav
tripped home as if her light feet were
| flying over rose-clouds instead Of
muddy March pavements. Why,
that was as much as Messrs. Stint &
Ssrape paid Gerald for his drudgery
work behind the book-keeper's 8
desk. Six hundred dollars! It
would double their income at once
and enable them to lay something by
for rainy day that comes to every
one sooner or later. Oh could it be
possible that such good luck was in
store for her
! - vas 4tte on sunday night when
Gerald May sat yswning before his
solitary fire. Mabel had been spend
ing the day and evening with a friend
Or at least so she said-and Gerald
was beginning to realize how lonely
home was without its prevailing spirit.
At length the door opened and
Mabel came in, rosy and dimpled and
wrapped in a huge shawl.
"Have you Eeen very lonesome,
dear" she said radiantly
I've felt just ezactly like Robin
son Crusoe on his desert island, - said
Gerald, with grimaoe. "And what
sort OF q day have you had, little wo-
man.
ooh, pleasant enough y
"But tell me, Gerald, how have you
whilod away your time?"
I've been to a fashionable church, "
said Mr.. May. "St. Eudocia's, in
Magnolia Square. And must take
you there, Mabel, to hear the music.
Why, it's equal to an oratorio. The
tears came out Of my eyes as | listen-
edit seemed as if my soul We're
floating up, and up, and up, en- the
current of that divine melody"
"Was it very fne?" Mrs. May
face was turned away as she was fast
ening a loose button in her boot.
"The finest soprano I have ever
heard cried Gerald, enthusiastically
"Yoa must listen to her Mabel -
The young wife turned to him with
brimming eyes and cheeks suffusec
with crimson.
"Gerald, said she, 81 must tell you
a secret. I, too, was at St. Eudocia'
church this morning.
And you heard that delicious SO
prano"
"Yes-no--I don't know whether
I did or not, Gerald" Ainging hel
arms around his neck, 81 was The
soprano at st. Eudocias S. Oh, Ger
aid forgive me for keeping you il
ignorance so long, but l dared not t.
tell you until l knew positively tha
I should either succeed or fail. AnC
heaven be praised, have succeeded.
Gerald's eyes, too, were full,in spit
of his assumed stoiclsm
my little darling" he Whispered
carelessly. "And I suppose they pa,
you some trihing salary %
"Six hundred year, Gerald" 81
answered.. VII tAloovz.tt triumph.
J "What' p he involuntarily exclaim
, ed. "That's something worth having
I IIl