Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-01-28

TO the audience. when, stepping back
into the wings, came upon Miss Cas-
ton.
She chanoed 10 be alone and was just
In the act Of reaching upward for roll
OF music on little shelf above her head
when she heard my step and looked
around with bright, sweet smile.
The next Instant stiflsd shrek broke
from her lips, and, with . thrill of
horror, 1 saw that her light sleeve had,
In that unguarded moment, came In
contact with the gas'jet and was blaz-
Ing up quite flercsly.
Don't move u 1 cried warningly,
and then sprung 10 her side and crush.
cd out the light blaze with my hands.
II was all over in An instant, but,
overcome by fear and pain, for her fair
arm Was considerably scorched, she lay
against my shoulder white and motion
less as o lily.
my darling, my darling l"iI muir.
INJURED passion ately, believing her un.
conscious. "Thank God that I can
hold you 10 my heart for this one sweet
moment, II never again !"
bent over her pale, sweet face, half
tempted to steal one farewell kiss, but,
mol woald not take such q mean ad-
just then some of the other singers
came in, and l briefly told what had
happened, aud resigned Miss Castor to
her lady friends. But not before those
dark eyes had Enclosed and rested upon
me for moment with an expression 70
strange that / wondered II she could
have heard my foolish words.
Ny own hands were blisJered, but
did not mind that now. My only
thought was to get away from the
sweet torture that her very presence
had become to mo. And 30 / left the
town without seeing her again.
I0 the months that followed heard
OF her bat once. That was when Jack
Phillips returned from q brief visit 10
the place aud brought me news OF all
our old acquaintance.
"The cnoir?" he said carelessly,
n answer TO n question OF niue. "oh,
yes, they're about tie same as usual.
Had thousand questions 70 ask con-
corning you. You've no idea how popu-
lar you were, Ben. By the way" he
added, changing his tone, ~ don't be
lieve that pretty Miss Castor, the
orRsnist. 10 so very happy after all"
How SO ?" asked, trying hard not
to betray the intense interest that I
felt in the happiness of Mics CASTOR.
"Well," no rejoiued ughtfully,
you know what = vain, tickle minded
fellow Howard Wayne always was.
Nothing In him to keep the love Of o
woman like that, although he knows
how TO win II easily enough. Well, II
seems he can't give up his old penchant
for flirting, and Miss CASTOR has begun
TO sec him In his true character, 40 !
heard. At all events. there is shadow
on the lovely organist's face that never
used 70 be there. 1 couldn't help nc
,icing IT,"
II Was Christmae eve. l obeyed an
impulse which had seized me 10 run
down TO D. for q day or 90, and
ouce there, l yielded % another i'm.
pulse as soon as left the train namely,
TO turn my steps In the old familiar
direction OF the church.
The door stood ajar, and / entered
softly.
Hark the low, rich notes Of the organ
fell upon my ear, and, though It was too
dark in the old church to see the PLAYER,
l knew well who was there.
Nolselessly stole through the aisle and
up the stairs TO the organ lott and saw
her once more.
The shadows were growing thick, AMI
had approached quite close TO her before
she saw me.
How lovely she looked, rapt, as she was,
in the exquisite strains that rolled out
from the instrument under her inspired
touch
Even before she turned i noticed tina,
the glittering ring-Howard Wayne's-
was no longer on her hand.
At length she became aware of my
presence, and turned abruptly with a
startled little cry.
Mr.. Maurice !" she exclaimed, and q
deep color suIged up into her face that
thrilled my heart sweetly without my
knowing or carirg why. 81 am here
practiciny our Christmas music" she
added su idenly, and then as suddenly re.
lapsed into embarrassed silence.
"Miss Gaston-Ada," l said, taking
her hand, tell me, please, what you
have done with the ring that was on this
band when l last saw you. That night,
do you remember, when"
did not finish the sentence In words,
but only looked at her; yet those dark
eyes fell and the color glowed more
deeply in her cheeks.
"Yes, / remember" she said hastily.
And the ring? oh, have long been
ashamed that ever wore 1t at all.
And you heard what said to you
that night when thought you were sense
less In my arms? Tell me that-tell me,
truly, Ada, and then let me tell you wiz
| went away"
Yes, she had heard and never forgotten
them.
And she heard them over again that
moment there among the shadows cluster.
ing around us, aud TO day it is my ring
a wedding-ring at that-and not the hand.
some tenor's, which CLEANS upon her
white hand as she wakes the olden strains
upon the o d church organ.