The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1881-07-16


new f.iend's, with a basket, con
tanning all of her worldly possess
ions.
Mrs. Monson came home, to find
Felicie gone, and no clue to her,
Felicie was being snugly enseonsced
in a nice little sunny room at Miss
Shepard's.
Miss Shepard had been an humble
friend and dependent of Russell
Thornton's mother, and was only too
glad to have it in her power to do
anything for "Mr Russell"
Thornton appeared in the evening,
and fixed upon plan for Felicie's
future arrangements.
"You shall have certain amount
month" said he, "beyond your
board. With that You may do as
You please. You may go to school,
or learn dress making, or anything
else YOU like. leave for New York
tomorrow evening, and in week ]
sail foi London. shall be in Eu-
rope certainly for three years, and at
the end of that time | shall look YOU
up to see what you have made out of
yourself"
Felicie looked at him with her
pretty dark eyes trimming over with
tears. She had learned to dread and
fear strangers. These Russell
Thornton aad Miss Shcpard-were
the oyly two who had ever been Kind
70 lier in her life.
81 will try will try" was all she
could say.
Thornton arose to say good bye.
"When / do come back ! will expect
to he dazzled with your acquire
ments."
He shook hands with her rs he
spoke. and then with Miss Shepard,
and the next moment she saw his
graceful figure disappear in the dark
ness. She turned to Miss Shep-
ard then.
"Will he ever-do YOU think he
will ever come back?' sire asked, with
| quivering lips.
"Of course. Three years viii slip
away easily"
1t seemed an eternity to took for
ward to, in Fe1icie's imagi alton.
The next day she said TO Mrs
Shepard
'Do yon know what I am going to
do with What Mr.. Thornton gives
meg / intend to learn to singr'
"iearn TO singr' said Miss Shep-
ard, in the same tone as if she had
said, Learn to fyr
Yes" said Felicie-"to sing like
the great opera singers. My mother
sang beautifully, and sfcan TO sing
like her."
Miss Shepard interposed no objcc-
ton, and she soon learned to oppose
nothing that Felicie said. She
was so bright, and so helpful Miss
Shepard's dull little horse had never
known any youthful merriment, and
warmed the poor old souls heart to
feel Felicie's active and magnetic
young presence about her.
She summed herself, as it were, in
Felicie's youth and beauty; and
Felicie found herself soon to be the
very apple Of Miss Shepard's eye.
She had begun her singing lessons
the week after Thornton left, and
might be heard trilling and caroling
down in Miss Shepard's stuffy little
parlor, and touching light cords on
Miss Shepard's wheczy 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 color
less that she really did not know
what she liked except singing. But
she read with steady purpose of
improvement that worked wonders.
She bought copybooks and changed
her Uniformed, childish handwriting
for one full of vigor.
She had natural quickness in
learning everything that belonged to
domestic affairs, and two years slip
ped away in happiness and content
that poor Felicie had never dreamed
of.
About this time, when Felicie was
twenty, she saw an advertisement for
a first soprano in one of the great
city church choirs. She determined
to apply for it, and without saying
word to Miss Shepard, she slipped
off, and went to the vestry-room,
where the candidates were being ex-
amined.
When she found herself before so
many persons, and saw the strange
professor who presided at the organ,
her heart sank; but when at last
"Miss Brevard" was called forward,
and she saw the familiar notes, her
voice returned to her. She had new
er felt more mistress of herself She
sang with inspiration. Her voice
was so pure and rich and beautiful
in tone and compass that she knew
almost intuitively that she would sue
coed. And, indeed, about week af-
terward, she received a letter from
the choir. committee, who, "having
made inquiries about her, and find
ing she was a suitable person, would
be glad to have her accept the place
of first soprano. The salary would
be five hundred dollars, with the priv
IL l. 81. L. = !