Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-09-15
.RUTH'S PROFESSOR.

what the denomination was), IN which all
the leading singers were to take parte.
Now there ought to be harmony among
the musicians but there isn't always.
There wasn't in Hillsboro', just at present.
Miss Lucy Slemmons had been the leading
soprano for several years. Not because she
deserved to be, but because, like good
many other people in this conceited little
world she had assumed the place herselt
and wouldn't be put down.
Professor Bahr, with bis quiet German
manner, and his sharp, far-seeIng German
eye, saw through Miss Slemmons directly,
and bore with her arrogant ways very pa
tiently all through the convention.
It was true that several times, when he
wanted Z difficult passage interpreted, he
called sweet, brown. eyed Ruthie Gordon
to the piano to sing it, and never seemed
TO notice that Miss Slemmons sulked the
rest of the evening, and would not sing
at all.
Still he gave her quite place and atten-
tion enough to satisfy any reasonable
woman. But Miss Lucy wasn't reasonable
and wouldn't be satisfied. She wss mad
enough TO tear Ruthie's pretty brown hair
out but she meant totally TO eclipse her
on the nigh. Of the grand concert, and 80
now, when the sulkY BIT was over, she could
afford to smile and be gracious.
81 do hope to goodness Professor Bahr
will put Ruth in first soprano, and leave
Lu SIemmons clear out, " said the leading
alto, ,swhen they were discussing probabili-
ties On rehearsal night.
:" So say I. Miss Clement, " remarked the
best basso.
Don't believe he'll venture. The Slem-
mons is too strong to be put down, re-
turned a tenor.
"Strong she may be-sweet she isn't. "
said the basso "And l think know what
Professor Bahr will do"
Well, we shall soon see," said Miss
Clement, as they were called to order.
What Professor Bahr did do was to as
sign Miss SIemmons two or three parts, but
not the best ones. When he came to them
he said in his odd way
"Mees Gordon, you will sing de aria in
Angels ever bright and fair, and you will
sing Who's at my window !? Mr.. Braun
viii play de accompaniment. Mees Slem-
mons you will sing de solo in de next
chorus, and de second soprano in de Greet
ing"
Miss Slemmons bridled and her black
eyes snapped.
"I'll do no such thing" che said. "Pve
been used to the leading parts.
Professor Bahr fixed her with his quiet
"Who is de leader of dis class % he
asked.
81 suppose you are. retOrted Miss
Lucy, insolently.
"Den you viii obey my orders, or you
will leave de class it matters not to me, p"
said the Professor.
Ruth, who sat silent and blushing tried
to speak, to say she did not care for her
parts but the Professor marched grimly
on to the next row and gave her no chance,
while Miss Lucy, who had no idea of being
put clear out, subsided. But inwardly she
was furious, and watched for chance to
revenge herself on Ruth and the Professor,
too.
After the rehearsal was over Ruth went
up to the piano where Professor Bahr was
arranging his books and said /:
professor, please let Miss Slemmons
sing my solos, won't you? 1 don't care
about them.
"What, you naughty, too: No, I will
not let Bfees Slemmons sing dem. Her
voice is not good. You will do dem. May
see you home, Mees Gordon p
"If you please" said Ruth, blushing
hotly and retreating quickly for her cloak
snd books. It wasn't the first time that
Professor Bshr had walked home with Ruth,
OF paid her many little attentions.
But as they passed Miss Slemmons she
smiled oddly. Perhaps her revenge was
not far of.
They rehearsed nightly, the week of the
concert, the class duties, in the day time,
having given place to Christmas feativ.
tiles.
For two or three nights Miss Slemmons
was very friendly and cordial to Miss Cor
don, praised her singing and behaved Won
derfully well. Wednesday night she came
very early and had little chat with Ruthie
about a certain piece they were drilling
upon, and was very kind and pleasant.
Presently she said "Ruthie, I'm an old
friend, you know. May venture the least
bit of advice! %
Why, certainly" said Ruth.
"Then I wouldn't, if l were you, let
Professor Bahr walk home with you so
much. OF course there's no harm in it /;
but when a man has wife, you know it"
Ruthie turned white, then scarlet, and
said bruskily:
"a wife Professor Bahr is not mar
ried -
"Why, didn't you know it, Ruthie
supposed every one knew it. He was mar
ried five years ago in Boston. It's posi-
tive fact, and can prove it.
But Ruth had recovered herself pow.
1t does not matter to me at all" she
n Ho
harm by mere politeness. thank you for
your caution, Lucy. l shall not invite
gossip"
She walked away, and Miss Lucy smiled
again. Her work was well done, she
thought. She wondered if Ruth would be
so distressed she could not sing. But no
indeed Never had Ruth sang clearer or
sweeter, Professor Bahr was proud of her.
He meant to tell her so after rehearsal !;
but when he looked for her she was gone.
And he walked home alone with a clouded
brow.
While Ruthie, hastily bidding good night
20 the friends who were with her, ran in
home and few up to the chamber to give
vent, alone, to the shame and agony which
were wringing her heart. she could not
doubt what she had heard. Lucy said that
everybody knew 1t, and 1t could be proven.
And that being true, Professor Bahr was
why he was villain, that was all. But
he shouldn't break her heart. Thank good
ness, after the concert he would go away,
and she 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 it was
fairly over.
Professor Bahr met her again on the day
before the concert, but she was still cold.
he meant to speak to her, but she slipped
away from him again.
s'She does not sing one note till l kno W
vat dish means p grOwled the Professor as
be strobe away.
He was not able to spare moment to
60 TO her; 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 performers