Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-04
siiornilto Elrmo Srrialo.
AMONG THE PHluSTINES. 4
By MRS. NORA LIpMAN HUssEY.
CHAPTER

! l.
CHAPTER Y.
Several days had elapsed since Roberts
return. The curiosity of the guests con-
corning his ward had subsidized. and the
inmates of the Castle had been fully re-
stored 90 that sense Of hOme-like, pleas
ure-takins which was so delightful to all
of us.
one afternoon, when the July heat had
driven the ladies to their apartments. |
was sitting in the library ostensibly read
Ing, really doing, when the FAINT sounds
Of piano aroused me.
Gradually the touch grew holder. and
recognized the quaint, rhythmic, minor
melodies which characterize Hungarian
and Polish music. Ny curiosity to know
who Of all our household could put into
theirp ianO-playing an expression amount
Ing almost TO words, forced me out Of my
chair towards the heavy curtains which
hung before the arch separating the library
from the back parlOr.
just as l touched the curtain l heard
the child's voice.
you DO not object, madame?" she said,
timidly; II was very tired. And | am so
glad to lind piano once MORE"
object. Indeed l do not. But what
tiny creature you are to play so nicely.
DID the fairies give you a birth-glft p
Through a slight opening in the curtain
/ could see quite plainly how the little
face-hrightened.
All. madame, YOU have spoken her
words. The fairies have kissed your
fingers, Liska,' she would often say"
"'ohe* Who is she dearf" Lois
asked, very tenderly.
My mamma" and the blue eyes cloud
ca. 1.-The beautiful one they call her.
All. madame, she sings like the angels.
10 was IN Munich they took me from her.
''Is she dead, theus' Lois asked, gazing
intently into the face Of this little one
whose childhood had in it such odd matu-
rity.
'.She was very i'll, then; but they have
told me She is alive and well now. How
can that 5e true, though, if they Will not
let me SO back to her2 The Maestro. Herr
Mcneil, brought me to New York; and
There Herr tonway found me-
-Jncle Conway, Liska,' Lois correct
eN- gently. our mamma is a great
singer, then: Did she teach you all those
pretty airs
Yes. A long time ago she would teach
me every day"
Lois smiled. 1t was amusing to hear
this tiny creature-unusually small for
her years-speak so gravely Of ''lOng
time ago.
And now YOU must let me teach YOU"
she said. smiling still, and taking the lit
he hands i'm hers.
The child gazed into the face looking
down upon her, as if trying to read il
with the unchildish wisdom which char
acterlZed her.
FL like you," she said, slowly. ''You
are not like her; but You are very beauti-
ul"
Then. quick as the thought, she sprang
tl her feet upon the piano stool and threw
her arms around Lois, kissing her long
and pJssiOnatelY.
'What does all this meanE" McRhea
said, laughingly, as he came into the
room from the Yeranda. mot a reconcilia-
ton already, / h0pe:"
The child springs eagerly towards him.
.-Ah, Monsieur McRhea, l have seen
YOU so little: and i'm Munich"
.What is that. Liskag' he said, break
iuE into her words somewhat hurriedly.
~B0h has doubtless told you that Liska
and are old friends. No: His unusual
i3cituTuity surprises me. Yes; Liska and
B used 20 sit i'm the 'G3rteu' and listen to
the bands and the birds, while her mamma
was singing herself into the hearts of the
0pera-gOers. Those were happy times,
weren't they. Liska:" taking the child
upou his knee as he usurped the piano
stool.
~But how is it she speaks English so
c0rrcctly.' Lois asked, IN perpleXed
toug
.~he has always spoken English. al
though the greater part of her life has
been spent ON the continent. Her
mother was an English woman, YOU
bu0w:'
Did he slightly emphasize the ''was:'
Or did my nervousness mislead mef
FL Ike Paris best" the child began, but
ceased suddenly as Lois spoke:
Did YOU say her mother was an Eng
fish wOman:'
The emphasis was unmistakable this
time.
YES. She became very foreign in her
manner of. life; but she remained true
enough to her mother tongue TO teach 1t to
her child. You have had music enough
for to-day. dear" he added, turning to the
child "Run. catch the butterflies. We
must take care Of those eXcitable nerves,
You know" and with surprising tender
ness he fled her from his knee aud turned
her face towards the door.
There was a slight tone of anxiety in
his voice when he spoke again to Lois.
''Liska is marYelOusly precOciouS
clild-the inevitable result OF her life,
I guess She has been brought up alto
Cether apart from children; and has
made plavmates of some Of the greatest
artists the old world ever claimed
"a very unhealthy training l re-
marked. coming into the room.
Upon my soul, Maxwell. Where did
YOU spring trOm!'
From behind the curtain" answered,
C0ldly.
Something in his face, or in the tone of
his voice, or somewhere, irritated me be-
youd control.
And you nave heard that child's
strange talk Lois said.
Yes. She has been brought up in an
unhealthy atmosphere. She has missed
al. the childish joys, and has been
brought face to face with some very I'M
childish sorrows, l fear. You must
make it your first aim, Lois, to undo as
much of the harm as it is possible to I'M
do"
D watched McRhea turtiYely as l spoke,
and the shadow Of bitterness which swept
over his face was not lost.
'-Pray do not read Mrs. Conway lee
ture upon child-trainIng," he said, with
some aCidity i'm his voice. ''And, above
all things. don't make her think Liska a
prodigy. The child has Just come from
the heart of Bohemia, remember. Give
her time. and she will. Eve no doubt, be-
come as uncommon and in as good form
as any Philistine in the land.'
Poor childvr Lois said, signing soft
lv. Il fear it viii be hard for her."
I looked at the delicate, mObi lie face of
this woman whose artistic nature put her
50 much in sympathy with the child, and
sighed deeply as L turned from her and
walked out of the room.
Taking a book with me, as l passed a
little reading stand, l went of towards
the garden.
For a long time 1 sat under the rose
vines, now almost flowers, and dropping
from the heat.
sad thoughts and nervous fOrebOdings
held high carnival in my mind. McRhea' 5
words TO Robert as they talked together
that first day came back into my mind.
Who was this Carevna? What claim
had he upon McRhea that he should bur
den him with this sin dimly limited at
Was Liska concerned in this affair, as hi
words seemed clearly to indicate: If s.
how could she be the child Of COnway's
cousin? If the child be Carevna's, why
this mystery? And if-as her eyes PROVED
her to be-if she be McRhea's, Why die
he not boldly proclaim the fact? The mai
was not weak; nor was be wanting il
moral courage. His words to Robert con
Entered according 10 act OF Congress IN tn
year 1854 by J. II. Estill, in the Office of th
Librarian OF Congress at Washington.