The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-03-31

day. We made the best arrangements
we could, and the lady never failed to
appear promptly at the hour. She was
so anxious and SO perseycring that she
made the most extraordinary progress,
and, when spring came, her voice had
SO strengthened and developed as to be
almost beyond recognition.
During the summer / heard nothing
of her beyond mention in the society
papers of her being at Saratoga, but
about month ago she called upon me,
and, taking both my hands in hers,
shook them earnestly, as she said, '.Pro-
fessor, have come to thank you for
making me the happiest woman alive"
She then told me that her husband, to
whom she was deeply attached, was pas
sionateiy fond of vocal music, and had
always regretted that she could not sing.
She had never cultivated her voice be-
fore marriage, and afterward the coming
of children and the claims of society had
prevented her attempting it; but the un-
lucky day came when. Mr.. r. made the
acquaintance of charming widow with
a charming voice. who was always
ready and willing to sing sweet songs to
him, and he gradually fell into the way
of spending his evenings with her.
At heart devoted to his wife, he was
unconscious of his gradual neglect of
her, and would have been astonished
had she resented his enjoyment of these
musical tete-a-tetes. About the widow
am not prepared to speak. Mrs. R.,
like a nice woman, did not resent it, but
undermined the enemy, as you viii see.
Her music lessons she kept a profound
secret from her family. In the summer
they went, as usual, to Saratoga and
took possession of one of the pretty cot
tages, at. the United States hotel.
The morning after their arrival the
local newspaper contained notice that
the leading soprano of the Episcopal
church was i'll with a throat affection,
and the congregation was asked to make
due allowance for the disabled choir The
next morning Sunday Mr. r., with
two of the children, wendell his way to
the church, Mrs. r. having excused her.
self on the plea of headache.
After the opening service, the minis
ter announced that "a lady from New
York had kindly volunteered to sing in
place of the sick soprano, and in conse-
quence the musical service would be the
same as usual" A few moments later
a clear, sweet voice rang through the
church and touched the hearts of the
people, and perhaps, even more through
which the music was rendered than the
qualities of the voice itself. Mr.. r.. was
fascinated, delighted, and inwardly made
comparison between it and the witching
widow, not fiattering to the latter. After
the services We're over he eagerly sought
the minister to ascertain the name of
the charming soprano, whose face he
had not been able to see from his seat.
Come with me and will introduce
you,'' said the minister, who knew Mr..
r.. by reputation. They entered the
choir together, and the good man be-
gun. Miss Brown, permit me to intro
duce-''when he was interrupted by
r. calculating: .sGreat heavens, it is my
wifer' And, place and company Tot
withstanding, he gave her Il hearty en-
brace in his delight and surprise. To
cut the story short, he fell in love with
her all over again, the singing siren was
forgotten, and don't believe you could
find happier couple in New York