The Chickasaw messenger., 1881-05-12

That settled &c. Thornton took =
card and wrote on address or g. and
On less than an hour Felicie presented
herself at her new friends, with a
basket containing an Of her worldly
possessions.
Mrs. Monson came home 70 Gnd
I Felicie gone, and no clue 10 her,
while Felicie was being snugly en-
soonced in a sunny little room al
Miss Shepard's.
Miss Shepard bad been an humble
friend aud dependent Of Russell
Thornton's mother, and was only too
glad TO have it in her power TO do
anything for "Mr Russell"
eYou shall have a certain amount
a month"; said he, "hoy0nd your
board. With that you may do as you
please You may 90 % school. 81
learn making or anything else
YOU like. leave for New York
Tomorrow evening, aua 10 a week
for London / shall be IN Europe
oertainly for three years, and at the
snd OF that time I shall lock you up,
TO see what you have made oc your
self"
FeIicie looked up to him with her
I pretty dark eyes brimming over with
tears She had learned 70 dread and
fear strangers. These Russell
Thornton and Miss Shepard-wcre
the only two who had ever been kiud
to her in all her life
II win try--I gill try - was all she
could say.
Thornton rose TO say good-by.
"When I come back / expect TO be
dazzled with your requirements"
he shoaz hands with her as he
spoke, and then wish Miss Shepard,
and the next moment she saw his
graceful figure disappear in the dark
ness She turned 20 Miss Shepard
"WIll he over-do you think he will
ever come back ~ she asked, with
quivering lips
"Of course Three years will slip
by easily"
II seemed an eternity to look for
ward to, Ia Feioie's imagination.
The next day she said to Miss
Shepard.
"Do you know what am going to
do with what Mr. Thornton gives
me ] intend to learn to sing.
Learn to sing p said Miss
Shepard, in the same tone as II she
had said "Learn TO ily."
"Yes,' said Felioie-'to sing like
the great opera singers Ny mother
sang beautifully, and l mean to sing
like her"
Miss Shepard intorposed no ohjec
ton, and she soon learned to oppose
nothing that Felioie said She was
80 bright, and 50 helpful Miss
Shepard's dull little house had never
known any youthful merriment, and
it warmed the poor old souls heart
10 feel Felicie's active and magnetic
young presence about her
She summed herself, as it we're. in
felicie's youth and beauty; and
Felig.e found herself soon to be the
very apple Of Hiss Shspard's eve.
She had begun her singing lessons
the week after Thornton left, and
might be heard trilling aud caroliug
down ia Miss Shepard's stufy little
/ parlor, and touching light chords on
Miss Shepard's wheszy 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
hooks, and changed her uniformed,
childish handwriting for one full Of
vigoF.
She had q natural quiekness IN
learning everything that belonged to
domestic affairs, and two years
slipped away in happiness and con
tent that poor Felicie never dreamed
Of
About this time, when Felicie was
twenty. she saw an advertisement for
& soprano in one Of the great city
church choirs. She determined to
apply for it, and without saying a
word to Miss Shepard, she slipped
Of, and went to the yestry room
where the candidates we're being ex-
amined.
When she found herself before 80
many persons, and saw the strange
/ professor Who presided ct the organ.
her heart sank but when at last
"Miss Brevardn was called forward
and she saw her familiar notes, her
voice returned to her She lad never
felt more mistress Of herself She
sang with Inspiration Her voice was
so pure, andFieh, and beantiful 10 tone
and compass, that she know almost
\ inluitiyely that she would succeed
Aud, indeed, about q week aiterwara,
she received a letter from tho choir
committee, who, "haYing made in
quiries about her, and finding she
vas a suitable person, would be glad
70 have her accept the place cf drst
soprano The salary would be I've
hundred dollars, With the privilege
Of taking lessons from any professor
she might select IN the city, not TO
cost more than - ETC.
! Felieie rushed upstairs to show il
to Miss shepard.
Gust think Five hundred dol
| lars And only to sing for It And
lessons from Barilli What I have
! longed for and could not afford n
"Oh. Feliee, dear, what will Mr.
Russell say p
eDon't you think he viii like e p
said Folicie, stopping short.
/ cot course be viii, my darling
aThcn It's al right" said FeIIcie
skipping OF to answer her letter.
i In a little while, FelIcie began o.
I think she took wicked pleasure ii
hef voice. She could not bat b
proud oft Sunday became a day
oftriumph to her She felt that vhcr
she snng her solos every note "a.
listened to with delighted attention
but she kept down her innocent
girlish vanity by saying to herself
AlLLnn III. TLo.llan nnLn.. Ll.s.n