South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-08-06
down upon the p,iano-stool and took 4


waiting, but, OH. if the gentleman
would but sit down! Why will he sit
beside her and watch her poor, fright
ened fingers as they trip and stumble
give wild jump for distant note
and miss it, make drive for one oc-
tave and light on another, and last
lose their way altogether and 90 on
chasing each other up and down the
Keyboard. Martie knows the piece
she IS trying to play as well as she
knows her name, but it all flies out of
her head and slips away from her
fingers, and she ends at last with n
finale of her own improvising. feel
ing her hair stand up straight on her
head as she does it.
The gentleman was much obliged
lett almost Immediately, and Martie
in state OF grief and modification.
was rushing through the hall, exclaim-
ing, with sob, as she co vered her
face with her hands. What shall |
do?' when she was suddenly stopped at
the foot of the stairs by Mr.. RAYMOND.
My dear child he said, don't take
1t SO to heart, I've heard you play
that piece before, and thought how
we'll you did it; but, of course, YOU
couldn't play with all those people
staring and listening. The man was
brute to ask you to do it,
'Oh, no; it is ] who am such a
simpleton,' said Martie, but YOU arc
very good to me and she hurried on
mp stars, longing to get whore nobody
could see her, but feeling comforted
little even then, by the tender sym
pathy which had done its best to con
sole her.
Once in her own room the food
gates were opened, and Martie cried
over what she called her disgraceful
failure, until she had succeeded in get.
ting raging headache. Then she
went to bed with the determination of
writing in the morning to Mrs. NJ VI
ick, informing that lady that she was
ready to accept that offer and enter
upon the dedication of her daughters.
But before she had time to carry her
resolution into effect Mrs. Myricll
herself appeared, having made up her
mind that Martie would not do for
them. She hadn't been brought up
in their ways, and was like to be too
pertickicr.
Thus vanished all hopes of success
from advertising. Mrs. Allen next
advised that Martie should try one of
the. educational agencies In the CITY.
and an application was accordingly
made. Then followed more DAYS Of
anxious W aiting and hopes deferred,
resulting at last III q visit and gem
erous offer from lady who won
Martie's heart at the outset with her
pleasant face & winning ways, & her
gentle motherly talk about the little
boy and two little girls at home for
whom she wanted a teacher and a
companion. But, alas that home
lay hundreds Of miles away.
1t seemed to Martie like going TO
the ends of the earth. She had twe,-
ty-four hours in which to decide :.
spent half the time in wavering be-
tween yes and no-betwcen the cour-
age to go and the inconsistencies that
crept over herheart ut the very thought
OF it. Then scolding herself for a
genuine coward, she made up her mind
that go she must, and 90 she would.
'W hat 2 exclaimed Mr.. Raymond.
in q tone Of surprise. Have you re-
ally made up your mind to 90 so far
from home and all your friends?'
Yes, must CO. said Marie. with
little culver in her voice. please
don't say anything to discourage me-
Il wouldn'tfor the world return ed
Mr. Raymond, only know of a sit
uation nearer home, which You can
have If youwill accept II. Come into
the receptlon-room, and | will tell
you all about it,
Martie WIS al cagerness now
How delightful if, after all. she should
not be obliged to make an exile Of
herself.
IL Is n companion, not q teacher
that IS wanted Mr. Raymond contin-
ued. Would you be willing to take
q situation as ccmpaniOr?'
Martie's face fell little, but she
answered:
y should be very glad TO take such
o situation, if ! could fll Il. DO you
think J could?
j am sure you could
DO you know the person whowantz
a companiouT
Yes Who is it?' Myself
YOURSELF How-what-' The ox-
act question which Martie intended
asking Just here must be left TO the
imagination, since she did not seem
to be quite clear about it herself.
Mr.. Raymond continued: yes. If
is ], Martie. want You for my com
panion, my wife The gray eyes
twinSled rs he asked, 'Will YOU take
the situation?'
An hour later Mrs. Allen entered
the room, exclaiming, 'Bless my soul =
as she stumbled upon an unmistakable
pair Of lovers.
tN ~ F..,~ NJ, al go ~ -