The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-04-04

"LlSten, tnen, ana VIII teH you.
Lila slid into sitting position on the
floor, and prepared to give her whole at
tention to the story.
"FiftyT years ago." began the old lady
"when | was young, but neither beautiful
nor particular y happy, there came into my
life one whose memory has never since
ceased to influence it. The first words
ever heard him say were these: 1T is the
most beautiful piece of music | know, anc
[ always regret that shall not hear it wher
they play it at my own funeral.
''He was not speaking to me; indeed,
had never seen him before, and but fol
these words might not have noticed him
Then looked at him as he stood talking
to my stepmother, and thought what {
pleasant face he had. He was not very
young man. He must have been forty.
But he was tall and handsome, and there
were no signs of advancing years In his
thick chestnut hair, nor in his blue eyes
which were bright and frank as boys.
'sHe caught my look, and returned it by
a smile as he went on:
Il am no musician, and dare say my
idea of the Dead March in Saul is wrong
one; but it is my idea, and satisfies me-
"'And what is your idea?' enquired my
stepmother languidly. She evidently put
the question from civility, without any
interest in the answer. He saw this, and
looked at me, as he replied:
"'The first part is long gdrawn, sobbing
11 H. ,ro;I of bun,on corroU cruShad
helpless and desparing, Then when we
are wrought to the highest pitch Of pain,
and the oppression at our hearts is unbear-
able. there comes the loud triumphant burst
that tells of victory over the grave, OF
heaven and eternity.
He had begun with enthusiasm; he
ended with the lowered voice of rever-
"My stepmother said, 'Ahn ciViHy and
vaguely. | was too shy to say anything
But think my face spoke for me.
Gle seemed embarrassed, both at hel
obtuseness and my comprehension, and
stopping to pat magnificent brown
water spaniel that lay at his feet, he said
lightly:
"This is the only subject on which
Jack disagrees with me. He hates the
Dead March. Don't you, old fellow?
'For answer the beautiful animal rubbed
his head caressingly against his masters
hand, and wagged his tail as he looked
up with all the affection dog S eyes can
express.
"'Jack is, as a rule, perfectly amenable
to my authority, his master continued.
Though not a lover of music, he will at a
sign from me tolerate "Black-eyed Susan, y
and I have known him go so far in his
regard for what is expected from patri-
otic dog, as to feign a liking for the
"British Grenadiers. But the Dead
March is invariably too much for his self
control
"'Perhaps,' [ suggested, for mamma
had moved out of hearing, and [ felt less
shy, 'he feels the sadness of the air, while
the consoling part can't reach his poor dog
mind
"'Ah no. he said with a sigh 1T is
too hard to think that creature so faith
full and so intelligent has nothing before
him but entire annihilation. Can it be
that when Jack and [ part in this world
it will be for ever? Oh, dear old doggie,
if this be so, our parting will indeed be a
sorrowful one! I look upon my dog, Miss
Fortescue, as a friend, for he is the only
creature in the world who thoroughly loves
and trusts me.
II looked at the speakers handsome
face, and wondered if this could be so.
"He answered my look by saying with
laugh
"I don't mean to represent myself as a
friendless Hhorphen.' No. Depend upon
it, when people are neither loved nor
trusted, it is because they deserve not to
be-.
"Here our conversation was brought to
conclusion by the approach of my two
sisters, who told my stepmother they had
had enough of the entertainment and wished
to go home.
awe were at a garden party where the
fair sex considerably preponderated, and
where there was nothing to do but eat ices
and drink tea. My stepmother, therefore,
acceded to the request of the girls,
and we forthwith parted from my new
| acquaintance and went in search of our
hostess.
GAS we drove home | asked who Jack s
master was.
"'Colonel Davenant, replied my STEP
mother. He commands the til, who
have just come to Croxton. He seems
nice, but rather prosy
'I thought him anything but prosy.
However, l did not say so, conscious that
my opinion was never considered to be
worth anything.
IL occupied the unfortunate position of
being the one unremarkable member of an
otherwise remarkable family. My eldest
sister, Claire, was a beauty; Amy was what
passed for a genius; was neither one nor
the other, and SO was practically nothing.
[ had already learnt in the three months
that | had been out that [ could not hope
to be Judged according to my own merits,
but must always undergo comparison
with my sisters which could not fail to be
unfavorable to me-
cat home it was the same. My step
LnoIAer IoNeu Clalre, VINO, IN aQQltlOn TO
her beauty, was gifted with singular powers
of fascination; and her pride in the atten-
tion Amy attracted abroad, though she
seldom made herself agreeable at home,
supplied the place and served the purpose
of affection.
'Thus, though was not either plain or
stupid, often thought I might as well
have been both, and [ fear 1 was neither
less selfish nor ill-tempered than my sisters,
though these faults were SO little tolerated
in me that | had to suppress their outward
manifestation, and consequently was scarce
ly conscious of their existence The first
doubt that ever occurred as to my being a
perfectly amiable person was suggested by
Colonel Davenant
"'When people are neither loved nor
trusted, it is because they don't deserve to
be-
"Was it possible I did not deserve to be
loved?
0Rnt ;f nolona1 navo,or+ orootod tIo