The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-10-14
nrn v.asr APPEARANCES

ment, such q contretempa should occur,
and the more she thought Of II, the
more was Mrs. Stewart Allonby In de-
spair.
And with good reason for she had
issued cards for morning concert-a
matinee musicale, as she called IL OF
the invitations the first she had ever
given since she had moved 10 the great
house in emo OF the most fashionable
roads ia South Remington, and she
particularly desired that IL should be a
success now Signera Beleore bad
gone and fallen sick at the eleventh
hour, and the programme would bo too
short unless SOME one could be found
70 sing the cavatina from LINDA dc
| Chamounix."
Put in another sJng instead Gug-
gested Mr.. Allenby. whose taste was
not educated up TO concert pitch.
"a comic song, indeed r echoed his
wifs with a scornful laugh. George,
you are u fool"
but as Mr. Allenby had heard this
blunt statement a good many times be.
lore, be was not at all disomposed by
il.
At that moment the door opened
softly. Mrs. Allenby started up.
Williams" she cried to the foot
man, "I'm not at home. Didn't / tell
you | couldn't see anybody this morn
ing r.
ayes, Madam" the footman answer
ed, coughing behind his hand but il
isn't company, madsm-it's the visit
ing governess.
"oh r Mrs. Allenby was visiLly re-
lieved.
"Come in, Miss Ashton. Williams,
call Miss Constance at once to her les
sons"
Margret Ashton came qnietIy in, a
little, gray.dressed creature. like nun,
with soft. hazel eyes, q complexion a.
pale as ivory, and mended gloves upon
her small bands.
"You are not we'll. Mrs. Allenby.
au afraid r. sho said gently, as Ahe
seated herself.
al am well enough r said Mr.. Stew.
art Allenby, petulantly, -only I'm in
despair. You don't know of any one
who could sing that cayatina for me,
do you, Miss Ashton T.
"Perhaps-I could" eaid Margaret.
"You +.
Mrs. Allenby stared as il the visit
ing goyerness had stated that she could
construct sentence in Sanscrit.
81 could sing little once" said
Margaret, land that cayatina was one
Of my favorits pieces"
lyon darling" Ahe cried. "If only
you could help me out OF this dilemma,
III be grateful 10 you all through my
life."
Margaret weI4t back To the humble
little suburban cottage where che rent
ed three rooms-a cottage where she
supported n frctful valetadinarian
mother, and pretty widowed sister,
whose life bad been failure all the
way through.
Charlotte" she said to the latter,
| : I'm going TO sing vt u concert neat
Wednesday 70
"You !" echoed the widow. You'll
fail, for certainty"
IL can try" said Margaret with a
nuttsring sigh.
"Your voice is well enough" said
the Sster disparagingly "bnt il has
no volume. And you never will have
the confidence TO sing before an audi
encs."
The tears came into Margarst's eJ ei.
81 must do something, Char lotte,
said she. ave cannot live on as We
are living now. We are in debt every
where and since the doctor has pre-
scribsd dainties for mamma haven't
known where 10 look for the money to
buy them with"
| perhaps shall get somethinx TO
do soon" said Charlotte.
"But, in the meantime" said Mar
garet, with sorrowful uplifting Of her
eyebrows.
| She was magnanimous little thing,
this hard-worked, pale-fa faced visiting
governess, or she wonld have reminded
her elder sister that sitting all day
with curled-papered locks aud dogs.
cared novels was no Way to obtain a
lucrative situation of any sort.
| cts very bard on me-" said Mrs.
Ashton, wac Sat with a devotional
book in her lap and bunch Of grapes
on china plate beside her. "If Mar
garet had been like anyone else she
would have made a brilliant match
long ago."
| Margaret did not remind her moth
er how she had discarded Basil Hep
burn long ago, because he was not suf-
iciently aristocratic and wealthy to
snit Mrs. Ashton's loft ideas-and
how Mr.. Hepburn had since become a
wealth man, and q man Of mark.
"If he knew how very poor we are
said Margaret to herself, with sigh
al think he would be sorry. But
could not tell him; and now that hs
has gone to travel in Egypt, and up II
the Nile, it amt likely that | shal
ever see him again"
"You havn't any more voice than
sparrow" said Mrs. Ashton.
.sYon have never cultivated wha
little you have" said Charlotte; "ant
the idea of your standing up to SIM
among those professional vocalIsts i
simply preposterous.
But Margaret stood vallantly to he
colors, and when the eventful night al
rived she stood there on the velvet
covered platform, in her well.worl
black silk softened with bunches o
pink rosebnds, and drapery of mist,
slack lace. u spray OF rosebuds, an.
drapery Of misty black lace, a spray 0