Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-11-14
MARYLAND. FRIDAY MORNING. NOVEMB
stood like family coffin in the middle Of
the room. "And what will you sing?"

~-O0~-
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.
"Bien! We will try zis,' said he.
He struck the chords, and arising up on
the wings Of the sublime harmony, Mabels
voice SCARED like bird.
Signor Severe nodded when the aria was
over and rubbed his hands gleefully.
MADAME" said he, "it is strength is
sweet. You have one idea of time and
tune-you know how to manage re voice.
"And you will give me trial"
Mabers heart was beating so rapidly that
she could hardly speak. The Signor nodded.
"And II zemusical committee accept YOU
mind, madam, do not say zey will, for of
all committees, musical committees are ze
most capricious--we will give you re salary
Of six hundred dollars re year plays re
choir, when il will be lead at ALL" with a
shrug Of his shoulder, "and shall most cor
daily recommend"
Six hundred dollars Mabel trpped home
as II her light feet were flying over rose
clouds instead of muddy pavements. Why,
that was as much as Messrs. Stint & Scrape
paid Gerald for his drudgery work behind
the book-keeper's desk. Six hundred dol
lars II would double their income at once
and enable them to lay something by for a
rainy day that comes to every one sooner or
later. Oh could it be possible that such
good luck was in store for her!
ut was late on Saturday night, when
Gerald May sat yawning before his solitary
fire. Mabel had been spending the day and
evening with friend-or at least so she
said--and Gerald was becoming to realize
how lonely home was without its pervading
spirit
At length the door opened and Mabel came
in, rosy and dmpled and wrapped in a huge
shawl
Have you been lonesome, dear ?" she
said radiantly.
I've felt exactly like Robinson Crusoe
on his desert island, said Gerald with grim.
ace. "And what sort of day have you had
little woman?"
"Oh, pleasant enough said Mabel eva.
sively
"But tell me, Gerald, how you have whiled
away your time y
"Pve been to a fashionable church" said
Mr.. May. "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 listened
it seemed as il my soul was floating up on
the current Of that divine melody"
"Was it very fine ?" Mrs Mays face was
turned away as she was fastening loose
button on her boot.
"lhe finest soprano eyer heard Y sril.s,
Gerald enthusiastically "You must listen 10
her Mabel
The young wife turned to him with brim-
ming eyes and cheeks suffused with crimson.
"Gerald,' said she, Il must tell you Sc
cret. | too was at Eudocia's this morning.
And you heard that delicious soprano 7"
"Yes-no-I don't know whether did or
not, Gerald" flinging her arms around his
neck ii was the soprano at ST. Eudocias /;
oh, Gerald! forgive me for keeping you in
ignorance so long, but dared not tell you
until knew positively that should either
succeed or fail. And Heaven be praised |
have succeeded"
Gerald's eyes, too, were full, in spite of
assumed stoicism.
"My little darling" he whispered caress-
ingly
"And suppose they pay you some trif-
ling salaryy'
"Six hundred year, Gerald" she an.
swered with innocent triumph.
"WhatY' he involuntarily exclaimed
"Thats something worth having. Why,
you must be genious, little wife,
We can save little money now, dear"
she said, lightly lyon needn't take any
more of that tiresome law copying, and can
hire a piano to practicewith, and--and--oh
Gerald, I'm so happyp
For Mabel May had at last succeeded in
attaining the goal Of feminine ambition, and
would not have envied England's Queen
that night