Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-04-18
voice is not good. You will do dem.
MAY see you home, Mees Gordon"

was not lar OF.
They rehearsed nightly. the week OF
the concert.
For two or three nights Miss Stem
mons was very friendly and cordial to
Miss Gordon, praised her singing, and
behaved wonderfully we'll. Wednesday
night she came very early and Asd
little chat with Ruthie about certain
piece they were drilling NJ on. and was
very kind and pleasant. Presently she
said:
Ruthie, I'm an old friend. you
know. May venture the least little
bit OF advices"
"Why, certainly" said Ruth.
"Then wouldn't, il were YOU, let
Professor Bahr walk home with me 30
much. OF course there's no harm in
il; but when man has wife, you
know, it"
Ruthie turned white, then scarlet,
ana said, huskliy.
a wife Professor Bahr is not mar
riedr
"why, didn't you know it, Ruthie ?
I supposed every one kew it. He was
married FIVE years ago in Boston. It's
q positive fact and can prove it"
But Ruth had recovered herself now.
at doesn't matter to me at ALL" she
said, proudly. "Of course he meant
no harm by mere politeness. I thank
you for your canton, Lucy. / shall
not invite gossip"
She walked away ahd Miss Lucy
smiled again. Her work was we'll done,
she thought She wondered if Ruth
would be SO distressed she could not
sing. But, no, indeed. Never had
Ruth rang clearer or swecter. fro'
lessor Bahr was proud OF her. He
meant to tell her 80 after rehear' al ;
but when he looked for her she was
gone. And he walked home alone with
a clouded brow.
While Ruthie, hastily bidding good
night to the friends who We're with her,
ran home and flew up to her cham
ber to give vent, alone, to the shame
and agony which we're wringing her
heart. She could not doubt what she
heard. Lucy said everybody knew it,
and it could DO proved. And, that
being true, Professor Bahr was-why,
he was q villain, that was all But he
shouldn't break her heart. Thank
goodness, af.sr the concert he would
90 away, and lhe need never see him
any more and until then she could
treat him SO he would never guess she
cared.
She met him the next day and was
very coldly polite and at rehearsal she
brought her father with her, and left
before 1t was falriy over.
Professor Bahr met her again on the
day before the concert, bat she was still
cold. He meant to speak to her, but
she slipped away from him again.
"She does not sing one note till l
know vat dish meansr grovled the
professor as he strobe away.
BE was not able TO spare a moment
to 60 to her 1; but fortune favored
him.
The singers were to meet in the small
library back OF the main room where
the stage had been erected for the per.
formers. Professor Bshr was there first,
running over list Of pieces to be given
es encores. In q moment Ruthie came
in, leaving her escort at the door. She
would gladly have retreated. but it was
too late. Professor Bahr called her and
asked her soms questions regarding
her first solo. She answered him and
threw off her cloak and hood, wishing
some one else would come in. The
professor stood and looked silently at
her for q moment. Her costume was
cardinal satin skirt, with white satin
polonaise, looped at one side with car
dinal ribbon, second cluster Of rib
bons falling from her left shoulder !;
rich, soft lace puffings filled the square
neck and fell to the long white gloves
which hid the whiteness OF her dimpled
arms, while a single cluster OF cardinal
flowers rested in her brown braids. The
bloom of youth and beauty lit cheek,
lips and soft bright eyes, and it was no
wonder the stern German heart was
moved as the professor looked at her.
One instant-then he strobe to her
side.
"Mees Gordon, tell me why it is 20.
hal run away from me"
"I-have II" stlmmered Ruthie,
flushing hotlv.
"You know you hafl haf not de-.
ceived you. I haf not lied to you'll I
will know what haf done dat you treat
me 90"
His look and tone compelled obedi-
enoe. In spite Of herself Ruth an.
swered:
"Why did you not tell me you had q
wife p
because have not"
When Professor Bahr was strongly
excited he dropped the slight accent
which clung to him.
You have !" said Ruthie, clearly.
"Miss Slemmons told me you were
~ rial ~, poakor Aun vo.-u n~n anI