River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-08-19

quivcring lips.
"Of course he will. Three years will
slip by easily"
IL seemed an eternity To look for
ward To in Felicie's imagination.
The next day she said To Miss Shep-
ard. "Do you know what am going
To DO with the money that Mr.. Thorn
ton gives inc ? intend TO learn 10
sing"
Learn to sing !" said Miss Shepard,
using the same tone rs if she had said,
Learn To ily.
'.Yes." said Felicie. TO sing lire the
great opera singers. My mother ang
beautifully. and mean To sing like
her"
Miss Shepard interposed no obiec-
ton. and she soon learned to oppose
nothing that Fclicie said. She was so
bright and so helpful Miss Shepard's
dull little house had never known any
youthful merriment, and il warmed
the poor old souls heart To feel Fell
Gle s active and magnetic young pres
encc about her.
She summed herself. as il were, in Fc-
licic' youth and beauty; and Fclicie
soon found herself to be the very apple
of Miss Shepard's eye.
She had begun her singing lessons
the week after Thornton left, and she
might be heard trilling and carolling
down in Miss Shepard's stuify little
parlor. and touching light cords on
Miss Shepard's wheezy old piano, all
day long.
Nor did she forget To learn some
other things, besides. She never knew
herself TO be fond of books. Her life
had been SO hard and coiorless that
she really did not know what she liked
except singing. But she read with
steady purpose of improvement that
wonders. She bought copy-books. and
changed her Uniformed, childish hand
VIZ ting for ono full of vigOr.
She had natural quickness in learn
ing everything that belonged to the
domestic affairs. and two years slipped
away in happiness and content that
poor Fclicie had never dreamed of.
About this time, when FClcic was
20. she saw an advertisement
for soprano in one of the
great city choirs. She determined TO
spply for it, and without saying 4 word
To Miss Shepard, she slipped out and
went tO the vestry-roOm where candi-
dates were being examined.
When She found herself before so
MANY strangers, and saw tho strange
professor who presided at the organ,
her heart sank; but when at last,
..MSs Brcvard' was called forward
and she saw her familiar notes. her
voice returned To her. She had never
felt more mistress of herself. She
sang with an inspiration. Her voice
was so pure, and rich. and beautiful in
tone and compass that she knew al
most intuitively that she would sue
coed. Aud, indeed. about week af-
terward, she received a letter from the
choir committee, who. .'having made
inquiries about her. and finding she
was "A suitable person. would be glad
10 have her accept the place of first so
pranO. The salary would be $500,
with the privilege of taking lessons
from any professor she might select in
the city. not to cost more than etc"
Fclicie rushed up stairs TO show it TO
Miss Shepard.
just think! Five hundred dollars!
Aud only to sing for III And lessons
from Barilli! What | have Hinged for
AMI could not afford.
Miss Shepard looked ut her in de-
lighted surprise.
on, Fclicic, dear, whit viii Mr..
Russell say?'
Don't yon think lac will like it?''
asked Felccie, stopping short.
"Of course he will, my darling.
Then it's all right" said Fclcic.
.sl-fp,,f,trr oil q, an-ttgaf. h.F. l.ff.F
In 4 little whilo Fclicio began to
think she took n wicked pleasure in her
voice. She could not but be- proud Of
it. Sunday became a day of triumph
To her. She felt that when she sung
her solos every note was listened To
with delighted attention; but she kept
down her innocent, girlish vanity 10y
saving:
when Mr. Thornton comes home.
be will have heard 50 many fine voices
that mine will he nothing To him; and
if he sees that am vain Of il, he will
be utterly Disguised with me.
She had been singing in the choir
one whole winter. II was the after
noon of Easter Sunday, and the
church was packed 70 hear Miss
Brevard sing.
At last the service was over; the
people had ilocked out; the sexton
would be around in half an hour to
lock up everything for the night.
Fclicie remained. When every one
had left the church she stole 20 the
organ and began playing. Then she
began 10 sing simple little hymn that
Miss Shepard had told her was the
favcrito hymn of Russell Thorntou's
mother.
II never heard anybody but her sing
it," she often said, as she heard
Felicie singing it.
She thought she was alone in the
great. dark church, while the twilight
shadows slowly crept in through the
stained glass windows but there was
some one else there a gentleman
was sitting in corner of the church.
who turned around so IS TO face the
choir.
1t was oN er in few minutes. Fclicie
rose and made her way down the
rickety steps that led from the choir
gallery. When she got to the church
door the gentleman came forward out
of the dusk, and caught her two hands
in his.
Felicia" was all he said"
II thought that you were not coming
back for three years; and now oh, |
am 50 startled.
Are YOU sorry, Fclicie?
mo, y she said, boldly.
They walked together 10 Felicie's
home in the soft spring eventidc.
How glOriously YOU sing, Felicie,'
said Thornton. but do you know,
that little hymn you sang was my
mothers fayorite hymn?"
Il know il" said Felicie. Miss
Shepard told me so, and taught it to
me; and | have often thought that
would learn to sing-much better than
do nOw-and sing it to- YOU
They fingered on the way home, so
that Miss Shepard was quite miserable
when they came in.
II knew something pleasant was 90
ing to happen" when Fclicie said, for
felt bird singing in my heart all
day"
/ In week people were saving:
"Do YOU know Russell Thornton is
going to marry that pretty girl with
/ the French name, that sings in ST.
I Peter S church (?
The report was true.
''DO brides ever select their wedding
+ presents p asked Fclicic, just before
fE.,~s rr.r-ss ravvf.I