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

"It would be very interesting to know,
said Lila, shyly.
aListen, then, and will tell you"
Lila slid into a sitting position on the
floor, and prepared to give her whole at
tention to the story.
@Fifty years ago" began the old lady,
"when was young, but neither beautiful
nor particularly happy, there came into my
] life one whose memory has never since
ceased to influence it. The first words I
ever heard him say were these: 1T is the
most beautiful piece of music know, and
l always regret that shall not hear it when
they play it at my own funeral.
'IHe was not speaking to me; indeed, |
had never seen him before, and but for
these words might not have noticed him.
Then looked at him as he stood talking
to my stepmother, and thought what a
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.
"He caught my look, and returned it by
smile as he went on:
{" 4 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
stepmojher languidly. She evidently put
the question from civility, without any
interest in the answer He saw this, and
looked at me, as he replied:
e The first part is long-drawn, sobbing
melody-the wall of human sorrow crushed
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
tha5 tells of victory over the grave, Of
heaven and eternity
'He had begun with enthusiasm; he
ended with the lowered voice of reyer-
ence.
aMy stepmother said, 'Ahl' civilly and
vaguely. l was too shy to say anything
But | think my face spoke for me.
'He 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:
"aThis is the only subject on which
Jack disagrees with me. He hates the
Dead March. Don't you, old fellow
0For answer the beautiful animal rubbed
his head earessingly against his master;
hand, and wagged his tail as he looked
up with all the affection a dogs eyes car
express.
@'Jack is, as a rule, perfectly amenablt
to my authority his master continued
Though not lover of music, he will at 6
sign from me tolerate "Black-eyed Susan,
and | have known him go so far in his
regard for what is expected from patri
otto dog, as to feign liking for the
''British Grenadiers." But the Dead
March is invariably too much for his. self
control
"'Perhaps,' I 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 sigh. 1T Ii
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 worlC
it will be for ever? Oh, dear old doggie
if this be so, our parting will indeed be ;
sorrowful one 1 look upon my dog, Miss
Fortescue, as a friend, for he is the only
creature in the world who thoroughly love:
and trusts me-
II looked at the speakers handsome
face, and wondered if this could be SO.
ale answered my look by saying will
laugh:
az don't mean to represent myself as ;
friendless ''horphen' No. Depend upor
it, when people are neither loved no
trusted, it is because they deserve not t.
be-
'Here our conversation was brought t.
a conclusion by the approach of my two
sisters, who told my stepmother they haC
had enough of the entertainment and wished
to go home.
awe were at garden party where th'
fair sex considerably preponderated, ant
where there was nothing to do but eat ice
and drink tea. My stepmother, therefore
acceded to the request of the girls
and we forthwith parted from my nev
acquaintance and went in search of ou
hostess.
GAS we drove home [ asked who Jack
master was.
"'Colonel Davenant, replied my step
mother. He commands the til, VIII
have just come to Croxton. He seem
nice, but rather prosy.
II thought him anything but prosy
However, 1 did not say so, conscious tha
my opinion was never considered to b
worth anything.
II occupied the unfortunate position 0
being the one unremarkable member of a
otherwise remarkable family. My eldes
sister, Claire, was beauty; Amy was wha
passed for a genius; | was neither one no
the other, and so was practically nothing
[ had already learnt in the three month
that [ had been out that [ could not hop
to be judged according to my own merits
but must always undergo a comparlso
with my sisters which could not fail to b
unfavorable to me.
"At home it was the same. My steI
mother loved Claire, who, in addition t
her beauty, was gifted with singular power
of fascination; and her pride in the atter
ton Amy attracted abroad, though sh
seldom made herself agreeable at home
supplied the place and served the purpos
of affection.
''Thus, though l was not either plain Q
stupid, l often thought l might as we
have been both, and fear was neithe
less selfish nor ill-tempered than my sisters
though these faults were so little tolerate
in me that l had to suppress their outwar
manifestation, and consequently was scarce
ly conscious of their existence. The frs
doubt that ever occurred as to my being
perfectly amiable person was suggested b
Colonel Davenant.
"'When people are neither loved nc
trusted, it is because they don't deserve
be-
aWas it possible I did not deserve to
loved?
'But if Colonel Davenant created tn
> doubt, he also secured its refutation. FC