Middletown transcript., 1883-02-16

tolerably happy life with her three
grandmothers until her eighteenth
birthday. From that day dated sucf
strict surveillance, so much sarcasm, sc
many seedlings, that even the hair.
brush-and-slipper period seemed by
comparison a regrettable one. And al
on account of the young man who
came to fresco the parlor ceilings. A
handsome young man he was, possess
ing the highly euphonious name OF
Everdell Tremlett. But neither his
good looks nor his romantic name
aYailed him aught with the two man.
aging grandmothers, who saw in him
only one of the working-day race, with
which the Huffey's and the Won Breeks
Won Starches had nothing in common.
And therefore with no more thought
about the matter than if John the man
servant had been there in his stead,
they allowed their granddaughter to
practice her music lessons in the back
parlor-the sliding-door being partly
open-while he was at work in the
front.
And so it happened that Gertrude,
trying to play an air from memory, and
finding it continually eluded her, was
about giving it up in .vexation, when
some one softly whistled it behind her !;
and turning quickly on the revolving
stool, she saw the young painter, brush
in hand, standing in the doorway.
"Beg pardon, but that is what you
wanted, is it not P" he asked, as he
ceased whistling, in voice as deep as
that of the baSsoon grandmother, though
much more melodious.
sob yes, thank you, said Gertrude,
with a blush and turning to the piano
again, she played the whole air skill
fully and gracefully.
"It's a beautiful thing" said the
painter, still standing in the doorway !;
" but 1 think the song beginning in
this way''-and he prepared to whistle
again, when he encountered the frozen
frown Of Madam Won Breeks Won
Starch, as she stepped into the room
from the balcony, and fled.
And the next day the piano was
closed and locked, and the fair per-
former a prisoner in her own room
and Grandmother Huffey, meeting Mr..
Everdell Tremlett as he came to work,
him in one brief sentence to
g get through his work and go about
his business as soon as possible"
But Love-bless his merry little
heart laughs at locks and lOcksmiths,
and the very next time Gertrude went
for her singing lesson to the Conserva-
tory Ito and from the door of which
she was always escorted by either Mad
anne Won Breeks Won Starch or Mistress
Huffey) she found there new pupil
with magnificent bass voice, and that
new pupil was the fair-haired, blue
eyed young fresco-painter. Not one
word of this meeting, nor of the meet
ings that followed it two or three times
4 week for six months thereafter, did
5he naughty girl breathe to either of
5he three grandmothers, and the two
younger of the trio eXulted greatly over
jhe strict vigilance with which they
guarded the future bride accord
ng to their long-laid plans of Diedrich |
von Breeks, the rich Holland merchant,
lue in New York with the new year.
But their exultation came to an end on
NeW-Y ears Eve. On that evening the |
of Music gave a pupil
and the very first duet was
sung by Miss Gertrude Won Breeks and |
Mr.. Everdell Tremlett. In vain had
he latter begged to be left out Of the
program in vain had he summoned to |
lis aid mysterious throat disease. His
professor declared that sing he must,
or lose his place in the Conservatory,
md, what was still worse, prove him
self an ingra-a-te r. And so the
5hree grandmothers, sitting in great
state near the stage, were Mortified
hat is, two of them were (great-gran
nunched her caraways as placidly as
,ver)-by seeing and hearing their
granddaughter made operatic love to,
n a very real love-making way, before
/ most fashionable audience, by the
7oung man who frescoed their parlors.
In moment the whole truth flashed
lpon their minds, and how they sat
)ut the rest of the concert, so great |
vas their Indignation, they never knew.
But at last, much to their relief, it
came to an end, and the ominous 81
ence with which they received the
pretty culprit prepared her for the
storm (the after-claps of which / have
'ecorded at the beginning Of my story
hat burst upon her head as soon as
hey reached home. When it was over
Gertrude was allowed to seek her room.
Here she threw off her cloak, turned
he key in her door, and took from her
BOSOM note, which she hastily read.
"MY DEAREST" thus it ran &C
fact, l know-you will
lave a scene tonight with her Royal
Won Breeks Won Starch and
lei faithful henchwoman the Duchesse
lie Huffey. 1 am so sorry for you,
lear But don't let them frighten you
md don't be frightened at what am
.bout to propose. Tomorrow will be
New-Year's Day. Consent, I entreat
you, to begin the new year with me. 1
lave but humble home to offer you,
,ut in it waits the blessedest of moth
rs and the best Of grandmothers (who
will make your fourth to welcome you.
shall be waiting, when you read this
tote, with carriage around the near
,st CORNER Our alto and tenor will be