Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-09-08
HER FIRST APPEARANCE

1t really was "quite too awfully vex-
ing," after oil her preparations were
made, that now, nearly at the last mo-
ment, such a contretemps should occur,
and the more she thought of it the more
was Mrs. Stewart Allenby in despair.
And with good reason, for she had is
sued cards for morning concert-a
matinee musicale as she called it on the
invitations; the first she had ever given
since she moved to the great house in
one Of the most fashionable roads in
South Kensington, and she particularly
desired that it should be a success-and
now Signora Belcore had gone and
fallen sick at the eleventh hour, and
the programme would be too short un-
less some one could be found to sing
the cavatina from Linda de Chamou-
nix"
"Put in comic song instead" sug-
gested Mr.. Allenby, whose taste was
not educated up to concert pitch.
"A comic song indeed" echoed his
wife with a scornful laugh. "George,
you are fool! !"
But as Mr.. Allenby had heard this
blunt statement good many times be.
fore, he was'not at all discom posed by it.
At that moment the door opened
softly. Mrs. Allenby started up.
Williams" cried she to the foot
man, "I'm not at homel Didn't 1 tell
you l could see nobody this morning"
"Yes, madam" the footman answered,
coughing behind his hand; "but it
isn't company, madam-it's the visiting
governess."
"Oh" Mrs. Allenby was visibly re-
lieved. "Come in, Miss Ashton. Viii
liams, call Miss Constance at once to
her lessons"
Margaret Ashton came quietly in, a
little, gray-dressed creature, like a nun,
with soft hazel eyes, complexion as
pale as ivory, and mended gloves upon
her small hands.
"You are not we'll, Mrs. Allenby,
1 am afraid 2" she said, gently, as she
seated herself
"I am well enough |" said Mrs.
Stewart Allenby, petulantly-" only
Tn in despair. You don't know Of any
one who could sing that cavatina for
me, do you, Miss AshtonT'
"Perhaps-I could" said Margaret.
"You?"
Mrs. Allenby stared as IL the visiting
governess had stated that she could
construct sentence in Sanscrit.
II could sing little once" said Mar
garet "and that cavatina was one of
my favorite pieces"
"You darling r. she cried. off only
You could help me out of this dilemma.
I'll be grateful to you all my life long"
Margaret went back to the humble
little suburban cottage where she rented
three rooms-a cottage where she sup.
ported fretful valetudinarian mother,
and pretty widowed sister, whose life
had been failure all the way through.
"Charlotte she said, to the latter.
"I'm going TO sing at concert next
Wednesday
"You T. echoed the widow. "Youll
fail, for a certainty"
81 can try" said Margaret, with q
huttering sigh.
"Your voice is we'll enough" said the
sister, disparagingly; "but it has no
volume. And you never will have the
confidence to sing before an audience"
The tears came into Margaret's eyes.
"I must do something, Charlotte"
said she. 1--WE cannot live on rs We
are living now. We are in debt every
where; and since the doctor has pre-
scribed dainties for mamma / haven't
known where to look for the money to
sbuy them with"
"Perhaps shall get something to do
soon" said Charlotte.
"But, in the meantime" |" said Mar
garet, with q sorrowful uplifting of her
eyebrows.
5he Was q magnanimous little thing,