, 1881-09-30
HEX First APPtARAACE.

SPAR.
And with good reason, for she had is-
sued cards for a morning cOncert-a
matinee musicale, as she called At on the
invitations; the first sine had ever given
since she had moved to the great house
in one of the most fashionable roads IN
South Kensiugton, aud she particularly
desired that it should be a success-and
now Signora Belcore had gone and fallen
sick Mt the eleventh hour, and the pro-
gramme would be too short unless some
one could be found to sing the cavatina
from Linda de ChamOunix."
Put in another song instead, sug-
gested Mr.. Alienby, whose taste was not
educated up to concert pitch.
"A comic song, indeed" echoed his
wife with a scornful laugh. George,
yOu are fool"
But as Mr.. Allenby had heard this
blunt statement a good many times be-
fore, he was not ut all decOmposed by it.
At that moment the door opened
softly. Mrs. Allenby started up.
Williams" she cried to the fOotman
I'm not at home! Didn't L tell you l
couldn't see anybody this morning."
Eyes, madam, " the footman answered,
coughing behind his hand; but it isn't
company, madam-it's the visiting gov
erness."
"Ohr Mrs. Allenby was visibly re-
heved.
Come in, Miss Ashton. Williams,
call Miss Constance ut once to her les
sons"
Margaret Ashton came quietly in, q
little, gray-dressed creature, like nun,
with soft, hazel eyes, a complexion as
pale as ivory, and mended gloves upon
her small hands.
'You are not we'll, Mrs. Allenby, 1 am
afraid?" she said, gently, Us she seated
herself.
II am we'll enoughr' said Mrs. Stew
art Allenby. petulantly, ''only I'm in de-
spair. You don't know of any one who
could sing that cavatina for me, do you,
Miss Ashton?"
'.Perhaps-I could" said Margaret.
''You?"
Mrs. Allenby stared as if the visiting
governess had stated that she could con-
struct a sentence in SanscTit.
81 could sing little once" said Mar
Saret :.:sga .Alas4s G..
favorite pieces"
s'You darlingr' she cried. ''If only
you could help me out of this dilemma.
I'll be grateful to You all through my
life."
Margaret went back to the humble 1T
tie suburban cottage where she rented
three rooms-a cottage where she sup
ported fretful valetudinarian mother,
and a pretty widowed sister, whose life
had been a failure all the way through.
Charlotte" she said, to the latter.
''Tm going to sing at q concert next
Wednesday,"
''Youw echoed the widow. you'll
fail, for a certainty"
''I can try" said Margaret, with fiut-
tering sigh.
''Your voice is we'll enough" said the
sister, disparagingly; but it has no
volume. And You never will have the
confidence to sing before an audience" "
The tears came into Margaret's eyes.
II must do something, Charlotte.
said she. Eve cannot live on as We are
living now. We are in debt every
where; and since the doctor has pre-
scribed dainties for mamma / haven't
known where TO look for the money to
buy them with"
"Perhaps shall get something to do
soon, said Charlotte.
But, in the meantime, said Margaret,
with n sorrowful uplifting of her eye
brows.
She was magnanimous little thing,
this hard-worked, pale-faced visiting
governess, or she would have reminded
her elder sister that sitting all day with
curl-papered locks and dog's-eared
novels was no way to obtain lucrative
situation OF any sort.
Its very hard on me-" said Mrs.
Ashton, who sat with devotional book
in her lap and bunch of grapes on q
china plate beside her. IF margaret
had been like any one else she would
have made brilliant match long ago."
Margaret did not remind her mother
how she had discarded Basil Hepburn
long ago, because he was not sufficiently
aristOcratic and wealthy to suit Mrs.
Ashton's lofty ideas-and how Mr.. Hep
burn had since become a wealthy man,
and man of mark.
IF he knew how very poor we are,
said Margaret to herself, with a sigh, 81
think he would be sorry. But L could
not tell him; and now that he has gone
10 travel in Egypt, and up the Nile, it
isn't likely that 1 shall ever see him
again.
You haven't any more voice than a
sparrow" said Mrs. Ashton.
"You have never cultivated what little
you have" said Mrs. Charlotte; land the
idea of your standing up TO sing among
those professional vocalists is simply
preposterous.
But Margaret stood vallantly to her
colors, and when the eventfnl night al
rived she stood there on the velvet-cov-
cred PLATFORM. in her well-worn black
silk sOftened with punches of pink rose
buds. and drapery of misty black lace,
spray of rosebuds in her hair, and an
intent look in her soft brown eyes.
Now, don't fail. Mrs. Allenby had
whispered as the pOrtierers of crimson
velvet were lifted for her to pass out upon
the mimic stage.
No" she answered, quietly, II shall
not fail"
Bnt, for an instant, she faced the bril-
liant audience, the hutter of fans, the flash
of diamonds, the glitter of the foot-lights
seemed to blind and dazzle her; a sutfo-
eating sensation arose IN her throat.
Il am going to fail, " she thought, and
the recollection of Charlotte's dismal
prophesies occurred to her-her mothers
prognostications of evil, her own tor
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