The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-02-11

1
| There were two other ladies' at the Ia
bic with me-a mother and daughter
wealthy people as | supposed and the
girl was the most exquistely pretty crea-
ture L had eyer seen. She was so tall, 50
slim, so round, with such fair, frank
brow, such shining brown eyes, almost
startlingly dark, with her bright hair and
her fair complexion such sweet mouth,
such dlmples, my heart seemed to 60 out
to her at once. And she was so charmed
with everything, and so full of bright
chatter.
Her mother was a great contrast; she
was little, plaintiff, aggrieved-looking
person one of those people who, | think,
take kind of pleasure in being unhappy.
And there was an odd-looking man-a
very odd-looking man somehow-tall, and
largely made, with rugged, fair tace
very wide-open blue eyes, and fine head
held very high. Somehow he was not
like the usual run of our visitors, and,
strangest of all, he brought in dog with
him-a handsome pug, II any pug can be
called handsome-who preceded his mas
ter up the room, his wrinkIed nose sniff
fng the air and his crooked eyes looking
in every corner.
looked at my pretty girl Ter face
was all dimpled and flushed
"The dear old doggie Do let me hold
him for little while; am so fond of
dogs"
Her mother moved uneasily and pro-
tested feebly:
"Alice, dear
The stranger turned and looked at her
"Thank you so much," he said. "Do
afraid of Jack"
"Some day, some day, some day we
shall meet" Miss Verinder sang. | re-
member just how she looked; | could
not wonder at the passionate admiration
in the young mems eyes. Old woman
as l was, found her q pleasant sight.
GA sweet voice and sweet face" said
some one beside me. 1t was our neigh
Dor at dinner. lie had come softly across
the room, holding his dogs leash. He
stood moment by me, and then he sat
down behind the piano, took his dog on
his lap and threw back his great head,
listening with evident enjoyment to the
music. thought again what a strange
looking man he was. Miss Verinder fin
ished her song and turned round with all
the pretty light on her face. lie crossed
over then and thanked her, while the
young men looked rather supercliously
at him.
81 felt sure you had singing face he
said. Are you well off for music
here?"
"Not very" she told him, and then she
asked if he played.
eyes" he said. " 1t is almost the only
solace have" He paused moment,
and then went on in such a low, hope
less kind of voice. 81 am almost blind"
ooh am 80 sorry"
Poor man! | thought it ought to be a
kind of compensation to see the sweet
tenderness Of the bright young face, to
hear the soft pity of her voice. He said
something-I did not catch what it was
and then he sat down to the piano.
Play, should think he did play. Never
had there been such music brought out
of our piano. A great hush fell upon the
room. Even those who did not care for
music for it's own sake were silent from
astonshment.
AS for Mr.. Gorst himself, the music
seemed to transform him. He shook back
his hair, and his grave plain face bright
ened up.
"Jack," sitting at his feet kept his
eyes steadily fixed upon him, as it he un-
derstood il all; and for Miss Verinder,
the pretty color grew brighter in her
cheeks, and her eyes shone. She was pas
sonately fond of music.
"Odd man! Don't you think so very"
whispered Mrs. Colquhoun-t greatest
gossip in the house-to me- Not a
gentleman, decidedly; actor l should
think; professional, certainly. Dreadful
firt that girl is to be sure. Do you ad-
mire her? No, surely not.'
/ held up my hand to silence her. |
did not like Mrs. Colquhoun. knew her
mischief making tongue Of old, and ] had
caught flash from Alice Verinder's soft
eyes.
Mr.. Gorst was going to sing for us. AS
he played the first bars of the message,
Jack gave kind of strange howl.
"He is wonderfully fond Of singing"
his master explained with pride.
Clearly, thought, he was thorough
old bachelor, and this dog was wife and
child to him.
"WeIl have heard many fine voices,
but never one, think, like Mr.. Gorst's.
As the passionate beautiful words of the
message rang out, felt my very heart
stirred within me.
A great hush fell upon the room as he
finished. One could well believe such a
voice would "pass through the golden
gate" l saw strange, moved express
sion on Mr.. Hardyge's face, the quiet old
bachelor have mentioned before and as
for Miss Verinder, did not like to look
at her: knew there were tears in the
bright young eyes.
And after The Message, he gave us
For Ever and Forever, and The Distant
Shore. He would have sung all night, |
think. if the loud clsng of the tea-bell had
not sounded out, bringing US all back to
the world around us.
He dropped his hands. from the keys
quite startled.
..Ohl.lt's only the tea-bell. Are we
expected to eat again But ] have in
iicted myself upon you"