The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-10-20

life had been q failure all the way
through.
s-.'"Charlotte,' she said, to the lat
ter. I'm going to sing at q con-
cert next Wedncsday!'
you = echoed the widow. You'll
fail, for certainty
:,- i can try said Margaret, with
a iuttering sigh.
Your voice is we'll enough, said
the sister. disparagingIy 'but it
has no volume. And you never
will have the confidence to sing
before an audience. ,~,.
The tears came into Aargaret's 8
eyes. ~,..> >.. d.. :..~ ~: .
4 must do something, Char'
lotte,' said she. We cannot live
on as we are living now. We are
in debt everywhere, and since the
doctor as.prescribed dainties for
uamma | haven't known where
to look for the money to buy them
With ..,s,.
perhaps | shall get something
TO do soop,' said Charlotte. -.
But, in the meantime 2 said
Margaret, with a sorrowful up
lifting Of her eyebrows. ...
She was magnanimous little
thing, this hard.worked, pale-faced
visiting goVerness, or she would
have reminded her elder sister
that sitting ali day with curl pa
pered locks and dog's-eared nov
els was no way to: obtain alucra'
tive situation of any sort.
.'It's very hard on me- said
Mrs. Ashton, whe eat with de-
votional book 10 her lap and a
bunch Of grapes on a china plate
beside her. If Margaret had been
like any zone else she would have
made a brilliant match long ago.
. Margaret did. not remind her
mother how she. bad discarded,
Basil Hepburn long ago, because
he was not sufficiently aristocratic
and wealthy to suit Mrs. Ashton $
lofty ideas-and how Mr.. Hep
burn had since become o rich man,
and aman Of mark
If he knew how very poor we
are, ,,said Margaret o.he:seIf, with
q sigh, 4 think hesWould be sorry.
ButsI could not tell him 3; and now
that he has gone to travel in
Egypt and up the Nile, itsisn't
likelyI shall ever see him again
You haven't any more voice
than a sparrow, said Mrs. Ash
ton. = sE i
'YaaS# have. never cultivated
whag little you have said Mrs.
Charlotte and the idea of your
standing: up to, sing among those
professional >vocaIists is simply
preposterousl' ..... ~. ...
.: But Margaret stood valiantly
to her colors, and when the event.
full night arrived she stood there
on the velvet-covered platform, in
her well-worn black silk, .softoned
by punches Of pale pink rosebuds,
and drapery of misty black lace,
a spray Of rosebuds in her hair,
and an intent look in her soft
, brown eyes.
Now don't fall Mrs. AElenby
had whispered, as the portierors
of crimson velvet were lifted }ol
her to pass out the mimic stage
: mo she answered, quietly, i
shall not fall
But, for an instant, as she faced
the brilliant audience, the futtel
of fans, the fash of. diamonds, the
glitter Of the foot-lights seemed te
blind and dazzle her; a sufocatlne
sensation arose in her throat.
i am going to fall she thought
and the recollection of Chsrlotte'E
dismal prophesies occurred to hel
her mothers prognosticatlon'
of evil, her own tormenting doubts
- 4 vii! not fail!' she said to her
self, and advancing boldly into th'
little arena, she faced the circle o
intent eyes, and began to sing.
! Sweet and clear, like the liquit
notes of a lark, her voice soare(
up, until, forgetting her OWL
identity in that Of Donizetti'
Swiss heroine, she became almos
inspired and at the close a per
feet shower Of bouquets raine'
down upon the stage at her feet
an ovation Of voices rang up agai
and again in deafening applause
:. But Margaret was conscious onl
! Of one thing-she had not failed.