The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-02-18
A MOUNTAIN IDYL.

A famous prima-donna had been CIV
ing concert in the parlor of the large
hotel at Mount. The few last rich
notes of song had died away on the air;
the applause had ceased; and slowly the
audience was breaking up into little
knots, with the usual interchange of
greetings and comments.
Outside, by one of the long windows
that opened on the broad piazza, stood a
young girl, bending eagerly forward
The hood of her waterproof cloak was
drawn back, and the light from within
fell on her fair hair, her wide-open, blue
eyes, and her red, parted lips.
go, Dick" and the words ended with
little SILVER, wasn't it beautiful? If |
could only sing like that"
Her companion, tall, broad-shoul-
dered, young countryman, was leaning
carelessly against the window frame,
with his dark, earnest eyes fixed as in
tently on the girls face as hers were on
the gay scene before them.
81 think-I am almost sure-I could
do it if L tried" she continued, without
waiting for an answer. "Listen, Dick!'
She dropped her head slightly, and
warbled, in clear, flute-like voice, first
softly, then louder, two or three bars of
the song she had just heard, ending with
a crisp little run.
''There, | knew 1 could do it," she
cried, gleefully, "only, somehow, do
not exactly know how to manage my
breath, and my voice seemed to run
away from me. How pretty it is in there.
The beautiful dresses, the long trains,
the bright lights and the flowers. How
glorious it must be to stand there with
all those faces looking at you and all
those grand people listening, as if their
lives depended on hearing every word
you sang. And the applause, Dick-I
don't see how any one could help singing
after that"
A troubled expression passed over the
young mans face. ..
'Let us be going, Milly," he said,
abruptly, "or some of these fine people
will be coming out here and find us peep
ing"
But the girl did not stir. Her face was
still turned toward the parlor.
mo one will think of coming out here;
the dampness would spoil all those pref
ty dresses"
She pressed her face, as she spoke,
close to the window-pane. 81 believe l
could stay here all night and watch, :"
she added.
Come, Milly." Dick spoke sternly
now. Its half-past ten o'clock, and L
promised Aunt Rhoda to bring you back
early. The chances are that we will get
caught in the rain, as it is; the sky is as
black as pitch.''
Milly yielded, reluctantly, to his grasp.
But as they reached the edge of the
piazza, and Dick sprang lightly to the
ground and raised his arms to assist her,
she cast a last, lingering glance at the
window.
There's the beautiful lady who sang,
Dick" she said, standing there, with
all those people pushing and crowding,
to get chance to speak to her. / had
rather be in her place than to be a
queen on the throne. How nice it would
have been, if Ue could have walked in
at the front door,, with my long train,
and you, with your white gloves, and
have sat down with the best of them, in
stead of creeping up on the piazza, and
standing outside. in the darkness, listen
ing"
Dick lifted her to the ground. "Put
this on, Milly; it's chilly night, if it is
July," said he, drawing the hood of the
cloak over the girls head, and allowing
his hand to linger, for moment, on the
ripping hair, with caressing touch.
"What Eighty little Milly you are,
after all! To think that a few fine
dresses and gay people should be able to
turn such sensible little head as
yours
"Not so Eighty as you think, perhaps"
returned the girl, proudly, drawing
away from him. "And it isn't the sight
OF the fine dresses and gay people; it is
the thought of what might do with my
voice, if only had the chance. There s
trouble ahead, Dick. 1t is coming slow
ly but surely. I've lain awake many q
night thinking of it. Aunt Rhoda is old
and feeble and that trouble with Uncle
Seth's eyesight is growing worse all the
time. Ever since he had to pay those
notes that he had to indorse for friend,
and we had to put mortgage on the
farm, it has been very hard to get along
If his eyes should give out entirely-I
hardly dare think of it-there is no one
but me for them to lean upon in their
old age.n
You're not the only one, Milly,"
said Dick, bringing his hands down,
heavily, on his arm. "There is good,
strong ARMAND a willing heart to back
st." DIS t.
But you have your mother and your
education to look out for. No-no-it' s
very kind of you to feel that way, but
we have no claim on you. 1t wouldn't
be right"