Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-12-24

MOI untll tne bOuuu OF music Tell urOn
his ears did he glance toward the parlor in
some bewilderment. 10 was Years sinceshe
had heard the old instrument, gift of
his mother, when she came a bride to the
farmhouse, and he wondered now who could
haye the audacitY 10 open. II,
:. He, dr6se dnd weht ,int6 the hallway:
Edith's back was toward him; but presently
she turned to reach for some music, and he
beheld, with thrill of admiration, the del
icate profile, surmounted by masses of rip
pling hair. She had finished the accom-
paniment to the song she was practicing,
and commenced an old Scotch air, which
he remembered having hadfd his ni6ther
play in years gone by:
He stood for a moment as if rooted to the
spot, and before he could make up his
mind TO retreat she had left off playing
and turned to encounter his gaze.
She started slightly, and James Rod
brook advanced into the room.
II beg your pardon he said, "but your
playing charmed me SO that / came nearer
to listen"
Hhe smiled feassutinglyi at Is J whe
Ought to apologize for taking possessioh OF
the room, but Miss Peeriani said might
use the piano, and 1 thought we were the
only persons in the house. Mr.. Rodbrook,
He bowed and considered wnat next to
say. For several years he had been ur-
accustomed to ladies' society, and at the
outset it did not appear easy to continue a
conversation with this fair girl.
"Have the pleasure of addressing one of
my neighbors" he inquired at length.
my aunt, Mrs. Hargrave, lives in Elm
dale, but am only Q visitor Gt her house.
My mamie IL Norton"
"But She is not the .Millie Nort6n who
iiiarried Sam Hafgrave?"
"Yes, that was my uncles ,narie:i''
"Poor Sam: / heard of his death when
was in South Africa. We were boys
together, and often played truant from
school to go hickory -nutting."
"He was always ready for any expedition
of that kind" responded Edith. "His
nephews and nieces generally had good
time when they came to visit Uncle Sam. "
There was another pause. then Edith
said;
al wish could find the words of that
old song. There are only few lines that
can Remember"
"fhe one you were playing as T came
in?" lie asked:
"Yes, sir"
"I believe that l have them stored away
in an old trunk upstairs. At least packed
up great many of those Scotch pieces,
and, if l remember rightly, that was among
them. will look for it this afternoon"
II couldn't think for a moment of putting
you to so much trouble"
at will be pleasure, and if succeed in
finding 1t, and you will allow me, will
take it around to your aunts house this
evening""
There was little flash Of triumph in
E1stbfo 1,,k oha thav
modestly, and he did not perceive it.
"Auntie will be very glad to see you, ami
sure" she said demurely.
Thus it was settled that he should call at
Mrs. Hargrave's, and so pleasantly was he
entertained that the visit was repeated sew
eral times during the ensuing fortnight.
Many and varied were the comments
which this proceeding elected from the vii
lage gossips. Some of them were of the
opinion that his attentions were bestowed
upon Mrs. Hargrave, who was his junior
by several years, but it soon became ap-
tracuon!
So rapidly had their acquaintanceship
progressed that when Edith left for her
home he had obtained permission to call
there on the occasion of his next trip to the
city.
TO her mother and sisters she gave a glow
ing account of his evident devotion, and
they were not surprised when the brlet
courtship resulted in an engagement shortly
after his arrival.
Mr.. Norton, poor, hard working man,
was glad to know that one of his daughters
| would be we'll provided for, and received
his future n-in- law with open arms.
| 1t was decided that the marriage should
take place on New Years Eve, and prepar-
ations were forthwith commenced.
To Albert, working hard over books ano
bills in the distant metropolis, no udlngS
| of the approaching nuptials were sent.
did not occur to james Rodbrook that there
was any necessity of informing his nephew
of the step he was about to take, and since
the latter part of October Albert had no
heard from Edith.
He attributed her silence to pique, caused
by correspondence he had been oblige'
to carry on with Agnes Draper, in regard u
her brother, student at the same college
who had fallen in with bad companions ant
narrowly escaped expulsion.
Albert wrote several times, endeavorin
to explain the matter, and receiving no re
sponse. determined at Christmas time to
himself.
What was his surprise, upon reachin
Edith's residence, to be told that she wa
to be married few days later and did nj
receive callers.
"But l must sec her." he said, turnin
pale, and some desperate resolve to carr
her off in spite Of her relatives and betrothe
husband flashing through his mind.
"What name shall l give?" asked th
girl.
albert Rodbrook."
She ascended the stairway TO an apar
ment on the upper floor, and presently II
turned to admit him to the family sitting
room. which CHANGED at that time to be V,
cant.
When Edith appeared, he burst into
storm of apology and entreaty, which cou
hardly have failed to move the heart OF
less worldly minded person.
She had not previously heard of his lie
ters to Agnes, but she was qulck-wltt'
, girl, and his words decided her as to ho
she should act in this emergency. She w
, cool and disdainful. refusing to accept b
, apology, and it was not until he had q
hausted every species of pleading he cou
command that he asked the name OF h
; intended.
' CONSERVATION was visible upon eve
/ feature when he received her reply.
r "But my uncle James is twice your age
he exclaimed; she cannot love you as do
Then followed another impassioned pr
,, posal for her to fly with him, and becor
a his wife at once, defying relatives on DO
q sides.
e There were real tears in Edith's eyes B
h fore he had finished. He was you
and handsome, and she had bestowed {
4 small amount of affection her nature "
4 capable of displaying upon him. But S
It was firm in her refusal TO accede to his J
: quest, and, seizing his hat abruptly, Alb