Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-06-05

"Then your face tells stories about
you. You play, of course?"
ayes, ma'am."
"You're warm now. Go and play
something. Can you sing?" - ,
Eyes, ma'am." # f#s q
"Then sing, too; and look here, Miss
-Miss-Miss-" .
Twas about to tell her my name, but
remembering the last rebuff l was
silent.
Nov, look here, my good young
lady, how am | TO remember your
dreadful name? What is it,"
Laurie, maam," l replied.
quite well. Now go and play and
sing something. and mind, l don't
want my ears deafened with fireworks,
and the drums split with parrot-shriek
bravuras. Sing something sweet and
simple AMI old fashioned, If you cam
she added ungraciously.
| crossed the room and sat down to
the magnificent piano, and for the next
five minutes L seemed to be far away
down in the old home, as L forgot
where l was, singing my poor dead
fathers fayorite old ballad, "Robin
Affair." while, as L finished, l had
hard work to keep back the tears.
.Ro-bin A-dair,' she sang, as
rose, in not unpleasing voice. snow
LET me hear YOU read. 1 always make
nv companions read to he great
deal: anu mind this, l hate to hear
any drone like a school girl. Go over
there into the corner of the window,
and stand there. Take that book
You'll find the mark left in where
Miss Bclleville-bah! l believe her
name was Stubs and her father a
green groccr-lett oft. Now then, be-
GIN"
She pushed a lounge chair close up
to the window, and sat down with her
hands in her muff, while L stood there
feeling like q school girl and ready to
drone, as | began to read with falter-
ing voice what happened to be Thack-
eray's most beautiful chapter-the
death OF poor old Col. NcWcombe. l
know my voice trembled at times, and
a strange sense Of choking came upon
me as / went on battling, oh, so hard
to real these piteous, heart-stlrrln9
lines! but | was weak and suffering, /
was faint with hunger and exertion
sick with despair Of hope deferred
and at last the room with its costly,
furniture, seemed to swim round be-
fore me, cold Precipitation bathed
my face, and with a weary sigh J
caught feebly at the curtains and then
fell heavily upon the polished floor.
| have some faint memory of being
lifted and wheeled in chair whose
castOrs | heard chirrup, to the front
of the fire, and then, as my senses be-
gan to return, seemed to feel arms
around me and pleasant voice saying,
half aloud:
An she just lost her poor father,
TOTO set her to read such thing as
that! declare Pm about the wicked
est, most though tlcss and unfeeling
old woman under the SUM-"
Then there was the refreshing odor
of a vinaigrette, and the sick feeling
began to pass away.
IL beg pardon" I faltered, trying
to rise.
Il leg yours, my DEAR" she said, ten
derby. sit still, sit still. Now, then,
try and drink that"
Some sherry was held to my lips
and then | was almost forced to eat a
biscuit. They, however, rapidly re-
lived me, and [ found Mrs Porter had
,Orn Off her bonnet and mantle and
,Jas knecling by my side.
That's better, my dear" she said,
smiling at me, as she passed her arm
round he and drew nc nearer to her,
Ind kissed me in a gentle, motherly
way. And now this was too much,
.or L was weak and hysterical. l
could fight against harshness, but her
lender words and ways unlocked the
doodgates OF my grief, and [ laid my
head down and sobbed as if my heart
would break.
An hour later, after she had literally
iorced Inc to partake of the breakfast
ordered up, she sat beside me, holding
my hand, and more than once | saw
the tears slide down her pleasant face
Is she won from me, bit by bit, the
story of my troubles and my bitter
here in town.
AT last | rose to go, trembling and
Would she engage me? 1t
vas more than dared to hope.
sit still, my child,' she said ten
ierly. Il has pleased God to make
nc-a childless, widowed woman
Ills steward over much wealth, and if
did not make a home for one of His
empest-s lambs | should in
Iced be worse woman than L think |
IN. Say VITA me; we shall be the
JcSt of friends"
L sayed-stayed TO know her real
worth and 10 " i'll her motherly love
to find when John Murray
'cturnCd. that his love was greater for
ny sister, Than for me, ami patiently
esisncd my love to her, and then bat
led with Il long illness when they had
,OnG TO their Iar-otf home. But every
.ay gave NE new lesson on not judg-
ne 100 hastily. That is ten years
'.nce; and L am still i'll my peaceful,
Apply home, though only as conn
!anIoh 10 il lady. -,