The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-03-20
..I am almost certain. xes.n

"Rose will take the part;o and,
Later, by the same lady, was introduced to
Miss Bryant herself, whom he found a
petite brunette of agreeable if not fault
lesslY regular features, whose mouth in
Dictated firmness, self-possession, pride,
whose age could not have been more than
twenty.
His mental comment, on seeing her, was,
"She'n do the part to perfection" The
first rehearsal confirmed this impression,'
and, at each subse quent rehearsal, she inn
proved upon the preceding. When the
play was performed, on Independence Day,
she outdid her previous best efforts.
Every word she made express exactly
what was intended, and her gestures were
quite in harmony with the text. In the va
rious love passages between herself and
Mr.. Ainslee-as heroine and hero-she
manifested such genuine feeling as it would
not be supposed any one could exhibit save
toward the veritable object ofher affection.
The play was, mostemphatically, a success;
and, at its conclusion, crowds of people
rushed to Mr.. Ainslee to congratulate and
thank him..
"Please offer your congratulations and
thanks to Miss Bryant rather than to me-"
returned that gentleman, looking toward
the girl who stood near him, her cheeks
flushed, her eyes sparkling with excite
ment. "To her, especially, is the success
of nv innovation DUE"
All did as he requested save Ella Mason,
who was profuse in the encomiums she be-
Il slowed on MI. AlnSlee, OuU nao nO "Oru U
commentator for Rose. She was not
willing to take any step which would les
sen the distance, that, in her ~well-known
opinion, ought to intervene between herself,
a daughter of the wealthiest man in Camp
ton, and a servant.
After this Mr.. Ainslee met Rose each
Sunday at church, and each Thursday
evening at the prayer.meeting, which lat
ter he came to attend regularly, having
learned that she was never absent from it;
.nI EI0 -n~-a h4 sou e hnr. fbn mora r
| ested in her did he become. Once he es-
| corted her from the vestry where the even
ing service was holden to the home where
she was employed, and her conversation
chaste in diction, elevated in tone, thought-
full in sentiment-convinced mir that she
was fitted for quite another sphere than the
one she occupied.
Miss Ella Mason was thirty years of age,
at the lowest estimate, and her chances of
ever becoming a wife daily grew fewer. A
state of 'single b~lessedness" was exactly
what she desired not to enjoy, and to its
avoidance she would hardly have hesitated
to adopt any tactics. For Mr.. Ainslee-
though much younger than. herself-she
had conceived a warm liking, which she
took no pains to conceal, whenever they
were thrown into each others. society. In
the heyday of her youth she had aspired to
become the wife of some man of high social
position; now she was less particular.
Her father was amply able y quite willing
to give her an establishment, and very likely
Mr.. Ainslee would be ready to accept her
and the establishment, as soon as he knew
they were to be had for the asking. On
his part, there was no Ignorance OF the rea!
the thought of her transparent plans called
many a smile to his face. So far from re-
ciprocating her regard, he had an antipa-
thy to her from the first; as a brief study
of her mannerewas sufficient to convince
anyone that she was self-willed, imperi-
Gus, affected-such a person as no sensible
man would select for his wife.
The various invitations that she had ex.
tended him to call upon them, he had re-
fused the first that he received after form
solely in the hope of seeing the latter.
But, during the entire evening that he
paused at the Nasons', she was not visible;
and such was the case n three subsequent.
occasions, when he called for a few min
utes. !
One evening his ring at the door-bell was
answered by Rose, who, having informed
him that the family proper had gone to
ride, iaskedshimhin, and.he gladly availed
himself of the opportunity for alonger con-
versation with her than he hadAoften been
privileged to hold. Soon imnsic became
their theme, and she expressed her gratii-
cation that the choir had so improved under
his direction; said that, whereas
their rendering Of worn-eut tunes,
now it was a pleasure to listen to the sing
ing in church.
aDo you play or sing2" he inquired.
ST used to do a little of BOTH"
"Win you favor me now? 1 presume
her piano in her absence. At least, 1 will
assume all responsibility for SO DOING"
with a smile.
sIf you will not c~riticise me too severe
w." she laughed.
fsThat I promiseyou." -
And he opened the instrument.
She seated herself at the piano and ran
her fingers over the keys; then she glided
INTO one of Beethoven's sonatas. When
she had finished, he said: "Please sing,"s so
TREMENDOUSLY that she looked up to his face
near her OWL.
Without a word she began Labitzky's
'sFlow on, Sweet Ripping Stream" the
quivering tones of her rich soprano voice
counterfeiting the "rippling Of a stream
ously. "You are by. far a better musician
than ever I shall be-"
Snow you must play and sing for me,n
she quietly remarked, rising from the piano
stool.
performance will seem Insignificant com
pared with yours" taking the vacated
seat. -. -s.r
In a few moments, turning to her, he
7 asked: -
why nave you never Joined the choi'
"Principally because Ihave had no invi
. ~tation,' smiling.
: : "You nave had no invitation; yet I ven
ture to say you are the finest singer even il
Campton."
: 81 fear you give me credit for more thar
l is my due. At any rate, you are the only
, person in this town who has any knowl
edge of my musical ability, whatever il
may be; as, till this evening, I nave nevel
: played or sung a note since / came here
!, Servants''-a bitter, ~ironical emphasis OF
the word-sare not supposed to be &C
quainted with the accomplishments o.
> those occupying superior stations in life.'
> "H,mw he muttered. "Just at present
r invite but entreat you to become a member
of it, for so long a time as I hold the rela
ton to it that is now mine"
! 81 will, if you wish it,"
= 81 wish it very much"
Then he mentioned various Duets fol
Z soprano and tenor voices, and having
, named one with which she was familiar
p they began it. While thus engaged, sc
Ella Mason entered the room.
s 81 was not aware that a concert awaited
y me on my return home,e else / should hay,
come sooner" were her first words as tn,
: duett ceased; and the singers, ignoran
. that a third person was present. gave
{ start.
l 81 haveto ask your pardon for the libert!
n 1 took in using your piano when you wer,
away" said Mr.. Ainslee, rising.
81 am glad you feel sufficiently at hom
9 here to do so. 1t is always at your dispo
sal, whetherI a am here or not, responds
q Miss Mason, g~raciously.
"Thank you," he observed, as Ros
n withdrew from the room with a 1900,
evening""
The young man wished in his heart tina
4 he might, with propriety, request her t
remain, though he fully appreciated he
motive in doing as she did-probabl
g nothing else than a consciousness that Mis-
: Mason would prefer to see him alone.
81 never knew that she was a singer,
q remarked Miss Mason, when Rose ha
gone.
"She told me that she had never befor
d sung since she came to Campton."
Sand to you belongs the credit of havin
discovered her TALENT" with a smile whic
indicated annoyance quite as much as