Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-02-12
ISLAND POND, VERMONT, FEBRUARY u 1885,
Madame Arditi's brilliant playing

Madame Arditi's brilliant playing
emptied the room of all save Mary and
Major Browning.
"You are satisfied that was not mis-
taken,n he said, exultingly.
at has been too wonderful she an.
swered softly; straining her ears for the
sound of that well-known step.
"You are not afraid to occasion me a
terrible loss snQw,I. fancy?" he went on
smilingly. 1st world shall see you
and hear you a ..slia after all'-but she
was paying "a eei to him, she was
across the roq4 .ff hands clasped in the
strong, brown ND ,of her lover.
Very cold N stern his face; his
voice quiet al 4|i<N had met after a
separation of Instead of two years.
You did " eige my letter." he
asked. ''Thtie;t ~ which announced
my intended ii
II have hsfs> .3Qdon for week, !"
she asSSthdx IS f..H<3l Beating violent
ly. II did not aiioM you were coming
home so soon.
81 have had ~ excellent position of
fered me in England, but" here a
quiyer broke his IFpiee cit would have
been better for mt had i not accepted it. y
"Nyhy notf 4 do ,not understand
YOU"
"No!" lrhea he broke out bitterly,
81 come hoIhe ts yoa the Mary whom l
left so shoft 4 time i time ago, and what
do l tind2 1i&se you given me up, that
tindon the stage of 9 concert room the
woman who was my promised wife"
Major Browning groaned audibly. He
only need to look from young Temples
set white face to Mary's fearful eyes to
know that he stood in great danger of
losing his young singer. He drew near
and bowed graciously to the young man.
pardon me, " he said blandly. "but |
think | have the pleasure of speaking to
Mr. Temple?"
Alfred bowed stifily.
'Allow me to explain the rather be.
wildering state Of affairs" he said smil-
ingly; and then in his own inimitable
manner he related the whole occurrence.
"But l knew it was all up with me, :"
he said afterward to Colonel Forester.
THE moment she turned to him and
asked in that low, sweet voice of hers,
what he thought of it all. Thought of
it'-why, the fellow was black as thun-
der as he said, stifly; thot he thought 50
much of it that this was not the place to
discuss the matter"
"You are not angry?" she asked,
softly.
"Angry? With you?" Then he said,
very quietly, 'Is it your intention to ac-
cept this gentleman's terms to become
an opera singer"
81 had thought so for little while
You know did not expect you home SC
soon."
Then for last attempt Major Brown
ing said in his quick, decided way.
"The whole affair can be easily settled
at once. Miss Percival, will you sign the
promised contract? Your success is as
sured, your fortune secured there is
nothing which you can desire the signing
of your name to this paper will not give
you. Fame, wealth."
son the other hand" said Alfred, "a
can offer you very little; neither wealth
nor fame-only an honest name and q
mans true heart"
Mary looked from one to another, the
wild rose flush in her cheek, her soft
bright eyes misty-and then she smiled
diyinely and put her hand in Alfred
Temples strong clasp. =
"Without word, | assure you, Guy.
And my ship went down, down to the
bottomless ocean, and poor Julia still
waits for her breathing semblance."
"What did tell youI" laughed the
colonel, gaily.