Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1881-03-04

had lately bethought, to die leaying {
all her property to ID sectarlan, "llomt
for Old Ladies'" and the sublime
tcrests ri the everlasting hills were AZ
new. as they were delightful to her
Gleiis, cascades, wild gorges, and
desolate raylnes, clothed with the
black green growth ofpipes and cedars
succeeded one another in bewilderins9
array-and the mountain stage wal
actually at the door of Mount Sorcl
before Elsie realized that she was
more than half way on her journey.
1t was fine old mansion, with a
central tower of blue stone and two
long, lew wings, situated upon level
plateau on the hillside, with wall
almost perpendicular mountain ut
the rear, and u superb view extending
to the south. s:st 5st.s. s-~.
An old colored servant man, with
wool as white as snow and a suit OF
genteel black, came to the door.
is Mrs. serel ut home" Miss
Dale demanded, with what dignity
she might command.
"Yes, Miss, de missis she's home
briskl ly answered the sable servitor.
Tell her tits the music teacher,
said Elsie.
And the old man showed her into a
pretty little apartment, hung with
antique ohintz and sprinkled with
trees and butterflies in colors that
would have iriysna naturalist Wild.
4 fire OF some scented wood biazed
on low marble hearth, aud was far
from disagreeable among the chill
mountain heights, August even
though It was. s'
Presently s,ont lady, in black silk
add futtering cap-strings, Game hnr-
rylng IN. a..
"Goodness gracious NE, e. jao Il, ,ated
the stout lady ~ blaek, "laerss SONG
mistake.
Elsie rose up aud dropped an alarm.
ed courtesy. @t essN'
There's no no mistake ma ma, l
think SAID she. tsaa4E
"But sou are chilly sai,l Al rs.
Sorei. a.
Il aRr Is, ma am. said Elsie.
II wrote for Mme Duchesne.
"M me Duchesne could not come,
sxsd Elsie, feeling iier heart-throbs
begin to accelerate. :.Iam her favorite
pupil, and she MAS convinced that /
could represent her. Didn't yon gel
her letter.
Il have received no letter." said
Mrs. Serel. still viewing Elsie through
her eyeglasses, as If she were some
sort OF aa unacoountable MIA ariS..
Then epsuel another embarrassing
silence, which Elsie Dale felt must Dc
broken staall hazards.
al yoa would be SO good as to in
trednee mo 70 my pupil, said she, y
thin ~
"Oa. certainly" said Mrs. Sorel,
With u little hysterlcal laugh, Il viii
Introduce YOU 10 your pupil
And opening "A door which slid gen
tly back under part!srss Of pink and
hule ohiatz, she led the way into Il
study liae1 with books, where, by the
soft light OF shaded lamp, sat a
digntie! gentleman Of 80, busy over a
heap of manuscript.
IN ) SOP, the, rector of the parish,
said she. Rudolph, allow me TO in
,roduce You to Miss Dale, who has
come FROM New York TO give, You
music lessons. ,...-,
! The disnilisd gentleman rose and
bowed.
Elsie felt As fshe oonld slide, inyisi
BILE. through serack ID the floor
"Radolph has had every musical ad-
vantage a. Prague and Jenna said
Mrs. Sorel, ..but Madame, Duchesnt
Has reputation for classical sacred
musios aud my son thought it might
be we'll to refresh his memory With !
course of lessons in Haydn aud Mozarl
teiors commencing to instruct his
choir-boy- himself. :" e =.
Elsie colored like rose.
IL am very. sorry" said she
land so will Madame ~Duchesne be
She thought-and | thought, too
that the pupil Was child. beliey,
l am pretty we'll grounded in m,
music education, but, of course,
couldn't undertake to teach q gentle
man like Mr.. Sorel. Perhaps hat
better return. to New York by th.
morning stage. Haa e :
Here Elsie, quite forgetful of he
dignity burst into tears. sra
stop u minute." said Mr.. Sorel
gently. why should you not remair
at Mount vSorel aud Instruct my. little
choir boys in my stead:2 And Will,
they are still in the rudiments .you ca,
be practiciug with me-"
"If could earn my board in tina
way" Elsie said feebly. 49,
"You can do IA great deal more thar
that" said Mr.. Sorel, kindly. "And
now, mother, | am sure our pale little
visitor needs cup of tea"
Hospitable Mrs Sorel made haste t'
conduct her to. the breakfast room
" here fragrant tea, broiled CHECKER
and biscuits as light as "a puff of snow
were spread appetizingly on a LITTLE
round table, gllttering with old silver
and lighted with wax candles in an
tique bronze scenes.
Il THAT was an excellent thought a
bout the choir boys" said Mrs. Sorel
as she poured the thick, yellow crea n
into Elsie's cup. "Now, wasn't it
my dear:?'~ -
"If-if you are quite sure that i
was not merely to mako me feel cas-.
about staying here?" faltered Elsie.
Mrs. Sorel smiled wisely. 81. go $
"Nothing would have induced hin
to say what he did not think" sai'
She So
"Radolph is truth itself" so
! So Elsie stayed at Mount aSorel
going down day by day TO the littl
chapel among the wild, mountain