Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1886-06-17
OUR MUSIC TEACHER.
a WOmanly Heart Just Saved
from Bitterness.


Twas not a Roman Catholic, but |
liked to go TO that service, particularly
after the new church was built, which
pleased my eve with its pure beauty,
and appealed to my recollections i'm a
way, FAINT, TO be sure, but delightful
TO me. In those glorious mornings |
would hurry along the streets, hug
ging my cloak about me, the keen air
bringing the crimson to my face, my
eyes idly searching hither and thither
under hats and bonncts for face that
should strike my Imagination, and about
which L could weave strange, fanciful
histories. Thus l walked on till | came
TO the less thickly inhabited portion of
the city, Sharp brcezcs came from the
bay, whose scintilating surface was
now in sight across the plats of land
not yet built up. | turned rapidly
round the corner, and came in sight of
the church which was nv destination
j looked with admiration at its heavy
stone facade; | did not even scorn the
fingers that dipped into the holy water
in the vestibulc. Ny childhood had
been spent in Montreal, close by its
imposing cathedral, and the glittering.
impressive ceremonies enacted there
had remained in my memory like the
shining phantsm of a dream. So, with
education, l could never despiSe the
Icvo.ecs of that religion.
stood just within the door that led
from the vestibule. glancing through
the new corners, watching the degree
of dcvotcdncSS on each face as each
forehead was bedewcd with holy water.
The ma iority of the countcnanccs were
those of working pcople-some pretty
now and then an aristocratic form
and dress swept up to the marble basin,
and then passed Inc to the seats of the
church, leaving slight perfume behind.
The lights at the altar were cleaning
out below the picture of the Mater I'M
,nacmlatd. l was about turning to find
= seat, when a slender figure came up
the steps. Here was a face to dream
about. If had come twice as far this
cold morning, L should have been re-
paid by the interest this girl instantly
excited. She was not dressed like the
wealthy people who had passed me,
but she was more thoroughly an aris-
tocrat than any of them. Her clothes
were almost poor, but worn with that
manner which the well dressed would
have envicd. Was she Catholic?
AS she came up caught the CLEAN
of rosary of pearls at her belt,
whose heavy red gold fastenings were in
entire contrast with the rest of her dress.
But she did not stop to sanctify her
self with the holy water. though she
half paused. as if feeling an inclination
TO do so, then came through the door
and stood near me, waiting for seat.
She, too. was stranger. I'stood fur
lively watching the face of the girl. A
proud, dark face, not naturally pale.
but pallid now, from suffering, l
thought; handsome, with its full lips,
albeit so colorless now, and its hazel
eyes, though they looked cold and dis
tant now cool with that hopeless, dis
trustful look that must have been
caused by pain. In some people such
life struggles as | imagined for this
girl would have given pleading, sup
plicating expression. For her they
were doing worse: they were freezing
a nature passionate and impulsive. In
moment gentleman came up and
asked:
would YOU like seat, miss-and
your friend?''
The question was addressed to me.
bowed assent, feeling more pleased than
Al ,,, in l.
ing that this stranger would sit with
me. We both followed our conductor,
and sat down side by side rs the first
peal of the organ burst on the air. My
companion did not kneel, though she
followed the service in a little velvet
bound prayer-book. 1t seemed to me
that | had never heard much finer
organ music. but was so intent upon
watching this girl that il rolled on
comparatively UNDECIDED by me. She
leaned forward. shading her eyes with
her hand. her mouth growing Saddcr
and sadder, till thought should cry,
Just looking at those lips. At last a
tear dropped on the leaves of her book.
] turned away my head; it seemed
hardly right for me to look ut grief
which had no power to assuage. The
monotonous tones of the priest rang
through the church. and the responses
Of the organ and choir awakenedin my
heart that old romance of religion
which stands ready to spring into life
Mt the beck of the Roman ritual
When again looked at the stranger
her face was raised, her eyes looking
steadfastly forward; no trace of tears
on that naughty countenance. The
last peal of music, and the vast congre-
CATION rose and began to move toward
the door. Could / not comfort this
girl who appealed SO strongly to
my sympathics-almost to my affec-
tionP was wealthy; perhaps spoiled
child of too indul gent parents. The
thoughts that flashed through my mind
were more selfish than these. l con-
fesscd to myself that my wish to know
the stranger sprang first from my de-