Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-05-06
GUYS CHORISTER.

The candlelight, falling on the boys face,
seemed TO whiten ii curiously, and his brown
hand shaded his eyes from the glare.
~ am confounded fool 10 talk like this"
the young composer continued, with some
self-contempt; "but l have lived so long
alone that | cheat myself into the belief
sometimes that her picture is really alive, or
that her spirit lives in 1t for me. What was
/ saying? Why should l ask you, my poor
boy" he broke off, with a laugh, ''you, who,
dare say, do not understand one-tenth Of
the words speak or one-hundredth part Of
what l meanY'
"You were telling mo of your musi :" the
boy answered quietly.
''NIy music-rightl was telling you how
/ thought it was to make me famous, and
how happy was in dreams of tomorrow.
Well, the dreams have faded away, as all
dreams do, and l am left with ruined hopes
and blighted prospects TO comfort me-"
'Will you not tell me more plainly what it
all means, sir?" his young companion asked.
III scarcely know myself my boy. All
can tell you is that the chorster who was to
have sung the great solo part of it has disap-
peared."
one who can take his placer
"You don't understand, child" the young
man answered impatienty. "How should any
one take his place at days notice? Even if
there were one of the chorsters who had
voice for it, it would need weeks and months
of training to make him sing it as it should
be sung. / gave every moment 1 had to
spare to teaching that boy, and now
all off oil
world knows and cares nothing about me,
suppose, and the small one will only laugh,
and say put him out of the way because l
feared to produce my work. l don't care for
them; but what is hard to bear is that she
will believe it too, will think more than ever
that bartered my inheritance for mess of
pottage, and will, like the rest, condemn me
as vain egotistical fool whose boast of
genius was but arrogance. Besides, If any
thing serious has happened to the boy-whch
Heaven forbid!-I may have trouble in the
matter, and may as well make up my mind
at once TO leave the place that has been dear
TO me for so long. For here, in this little tat
thing town, where Justice Shallow reigns
pre-eminent, though am not likely TO be
killed by the law, shall run every chance
of being socially communicated and finally
come to a man of whom it is whispered, as
my enemy Luttrell, sneeringly sympathetic,
told me only this afternoon, that it is strange
the boy was last seen in my company and
that il is awkward l had seemed so angry
with him."
Through the dusky skin of his companions
cheeks red glow burned.
do not add that to your troubles" he said
4 hah ac
gone"
"Luttrell knows! The villain! Are you
sure?"
THE boys own mother told Inc So"
Guy made movement as if to leave the
room. His companion laid his hand detain-
ingly on his arm.
ut is not of any use, Mr.. Hallam," he said;
"they would not tell you where they have
hidden him, and, even if they did, he is sent
too far away to be of any service to you to-
morrow"
The young man sat down again in his old
Responding attitude. He was presently
reused by gentle touch on the shoulder.
Don't despair, sir" the boy added-and
the words were spoken in so jubilant tone
that he looked up in establishment to see his
companions face fash into beauty with his
words-"don't despair, sir, and with Heav-
ems help We'll triumph over your enemies.
What l came tonight to ask is that you
should allow me to fill the missing boys
place, and take the solo,"
Your Hallam sprang from his seat in
amazement, and, Selling the boys shoulder,
gazed deep into his clear eyes. Your he
repeated and then released him with laugh.
"Why my boy, did you not hear me say that
il has taken months to teach young Estwick
the part? No, no; you are kindly lad, but
this is no simple hymn-tune to be sung at
sight 1t is the whole soul of the cantata."
II know" the boy persisted. II have
heard it more than once. L am not a bad
musician in small way. My schoslmaster
used to take good deal of pains with me.
Trust it to me, and think may promise to
do it as well as young Estwick."
In spite of himself Guy Hallam hesitated.
There was something reassuring in the boys
evident sincerity and confidence, and the rich
tones of his voice themselves pleaded for
him.
AT least let me hear you sing a few lines
OF IT," he requested.
But the boy drew back and refused posi-
lively.
mo" he said; ''if you accept my offer, l
will do my best, and 1 think you will be salts
fed; but you must take me on trust. Re
member what you yourself said, that there is
absolutely no one to sing the part, and con-
slider that you waver between possible failure
and positive defeat. Already have stayed
here longer than l ought; you must make
your decisiol at once"
The young man stood for moment in
doubt, then he took step forward and inn
pulsively laid his hand on that of his compan-
ion.
"My boy" he said, ''if trust you, you
won't deceive me? You don't know what
depends on my success tomorrow 1t will
kill me If my work proves failure or, If it
does not, shall kill myself This Is not an
other trick TO ruin me and break my hearth
mo, no, sirr' the boy exclaimed holly.
give me your confidence, and will lay
down my life sooner than forfeit it, III l
don't sing your music as ii deserves to be
sang, 1t won't be for want of doing my best"
The young man was quite carried away by
the boys enthusiasm.
81 believe YOU" he said, land trust you
with what is dearer than life to me. If we
fail, l shall thank you all the same. And
now, by-the-bye, what is your name?
For moment his companion looked as il
the simple question embarrassed him.
Harry SssOn," he muttered at last: and,
before Hallam could inteuogate him further,
he had slipped downstairs, and was lost in
the night
The production Of Guy Hallam's cantata
was the most fashionable event which had
taken place at Downbury for long time.
Amateurs of music who knew nothing about