St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-11-18

next moment saw his graceful figure
disappear in the darkness. She turned
to Miss Shepard.
"Will he ever-dO you think he will
ever come back 7" she asked, with
quivering lips.
"Of course. Three years will slip by
easily"
1t seemed an eternity to look forward
to, in Felicie's imagination.
The next day she said to Miss Shep-
ard, ''Do you know what | am going to
do with the money that Mr.. Thornton
gives me? l intend to learn to sing"
Learn to singp' said Miss Shepard
in the same tone as if she had said learn
to fly"
"Yes,n said Felicie. "To sing like
the great opera singers. My mother
sang beautifully, and l mean to sing
like her."
Miss Shepard interpOsed no objec-
ton, and she soon learned to oppose
nothing that Felicie said. She was so
bright and so helpful Miss Shepard's
dull little house had never known any
youthful merriment, and it warmed the
poor old souls heart to feel Felicie's
active and magnetic young presence
about her.
She summed herself, as it were, in Fe-
licie's youth and beauty and Felicie
soon found herself to be the very apple
of Miss Shepard's eye.
She had begun her singing lessons
the week after Thornton left, and might
be heard trilling and caroling down in
Miss Shepard's stuffy little parlOr, and
touching light chords on Miss Shepard's
wheezy old piano, all day long.
Nor did she forget to learn some
other things, besides. She never knew
herself to be fond of books. Her life
had been so hard and cOlOrless that
she really did not know what she liked
except singing. But she read with a
steady purpose of Improvement that
worked wonders. She bought copy
books, and changed her uniformed,
childish handwriting for one full OF
vigor.
She had natural quickness in learn
ing everything that belonged to the
domestic affairs, and two years slipped
away in happiness and content that
poor Felice had never dreamed of.
About this time, when Felicie was
twenty, she saw an advertisement fol
soprano in one of the great city
church choirs. She determined to ap-
ply for it, and without saying word
to Miss Shepard, she slipped off and
went to the vestry-rOOm where candl-
dates were being examined.
When She fonDd herself before SO
many strange persons, and saw the
strange professor who presided at the
organ her heart sank but when at
last 1Miss Brevard" was called forward
and she saw her familiar notes, he1
voice returned to her. She had never
felt more mistress of herself. She sang
with inspiration. Her voice was So
pure. and rich, and beautiful in tone
and compass. that she knew almost in
tuitively that she wonld succeed. And
indeed about a week afterward. she re-
ceiyed a letter from the choir commit
tee, who. "having made inquiries about
her, and finding She was suitable per-
son, would be glad to have her accept
the place of first soprano. The salary
would be five hundred dollars, with the
privilege of taking lessons from any
professor she might select in the city
not to cost more thann-etc.
Felicie rushed up stairs to show it tC
Miss Shepard.
"Just think! Five hundred dollars
And only to sing for it, And lessons
from Rarilli What have longed fol
and could not afford.n
Miss Sbepard looked at her in de
lighted surprise.
.sOb FeIicie dear what will Mr.
RusSaIl cav 90
sDon,t Won think he will like it p
asked Felicie. stopping short.
"Of ceurse he will. nv darling"
"Tben it's all right" said Felicie
skipping off to answer her letter.
In a little while. Felicie began t,
think she took a wicked pleasure in hel
voice She conld not but be proud o
if Sunday became a day of triumph
tn her She felt that when she sans
her solos every note was listened t.
With DELIGHTED attention but she kep
down her innocent. pirlisb vanity b,
saving.
!.IVban Mr. Tbornton comes home
bo viii have hoard so many fine voice
th.t nine will he nothing to him an,
;f ho soaS +bot 7 am vain of II he vii
he utterly disousted with me.n
she had been singing i'm the cboi,
ono whole winter. II was the after
noon of Easter Sunday, and the churcl
was packed to hear Miss Brevard sing
At last the service was over, the peO
ple had fiocked out; the sexton wOul,
be around in half an hour to lock u
everything for the night.
Felicie remained. When everyon
had left the church she stole to the or
gan and began playing. Then she be
Gan to SING simnle little hymn tina