The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-01-19

Belle, bursting iutO the room, where
was thinking over my troubles. ''cOme
down stairs. won't YOU? You have
been moping all day. Here it is eight
o'clock in the evening. and you are still
sitting up here by yourself. You have
no writing to do for that tiresome
paper, | know. | don't see why YOU
do it at all. Literature is well enough
in its way. but 1 think the trouble and
annoyance must far outweigh the glory
snd-cmolument."
Never mind, Belle. Go away. NV
head aches"
''Of course. The old excuse when
YOU feel cross. But do come down,
there's dear. Papa has brought q
gentleman home with him, and We
want some music. Mr.. Wilton sings"
'I am tired of singing"
mo you are not, Mamie. You are
disagreeable. | will 60 and tell papa
that you will not come"
Belle. don't be impertinent. Tell
papa l will be down in a few min
utes."
Plump came kiss on the end of my
nose, and Belle danced out of the
room, reappearing for minute to say:
''Oh, by The way, Mamie, Mr.. Wilton
is member of the Fourteenth p. Z.
Church choir. You must have heard
him sing yesterday"
"Beller l screamed.
But Belle was gone, after firing her
parting shot.
Now what should / do? III l only
knew whether Mr.. Wilton were the
black-bearded basso or the blonde
mustached tenor! / had good mind
not to go down stairs at all. And yet
that would be cowardly. No! j am
not afraid to write boldly. and would
be consistent in my actions. At the
worst Mr.. Wilton would hardly strike
me. especially with my father there
10 protect me. Besides, he might not
even know that wrote for the papers.
Ii Was with beating heart that put
the finishing touches to my toilet and
walked slowly down stairs.
The parlor door was shui. but /
could hear voices in conversation on
The other side. among Them that of a
strsngcr-Mr. Wilton. 1 tried To dis
ting1iish the tones, that might deter
mine. if possible, whether they were
those of tenor or bass. This is some
thing that can very seldom be decided.
even when the speaker is by your side,
the singing voice and colloquial tones
being in many persons entirely dis
tinct. knew this, and with mighty
attempt TO be calm. opened the door
and stood in the presence of Mr.. Will
toni
Thank fortune. IL was Il gentleman
with blonde mustache whom nv
father introduced ME to by that name.
u bowed To the handsome tenor. FoI
ic aaS handsome AZ god. Or 50
ihought.
soon found that Mr.. Wilton was q,
brilliant in conversation - he Wa
handsome in person. He had beer
everywhere and had seen everything
and above all was thorough musician
1T heart. To my father he talked abOu
stocks. bonds. the labor problem. thi
political situation and the relative
merits of natural gas and bituminou
coal - elements in the iron industry
soon found that he had lately becom,
mcilber of prominent iron firm
and that he gave mis- services to the
choir of the Fourteenth =. r. Church
from pure love Of music.
viii you not sing. Miss Medland."
asked Mr.. Wilton. when he had been
chatting for an hour OF So
felt little nervous about singing
before him, but as | knew possessed
fairly good soprano, well cultivated.
l did not hesitate. / sang two bal
lads, and then came Mr.. WiltOn's turn.
Your must sing for us, Mr.. Wilton.
What shall il be?" [ asked, carelessly
running my fingers over the keys OF
the piano. Have i anything that you
know?"
He was hunting over my sheet music
and picking out piece here and there.
Yes. here are several that I have
sang before. / will try this if you will
play the accompaniment"
He placed before me 81 Fear No
Foe
lis not this in too low key for youf
| will transpose it, if you like"
No, | can manage it." was Mr..
Wilton's confident reply.
| said nothing, though IS l began
playing the symphony wondered how
this decidedly bass song would sound
when rendered by tenor voice.
The symphony finished. ne com
menced.
Horrors! The excrucisting bass that
had spoiled the quartette!
Yes. There was no doubt about it.
My handsome ''tenor" was the bass,
and the sweet voice had credited to
Dir. Wilton was possessed by the fierce
man with the black beard and eye
browsi
He got through rae song somehow,
apparently to his own satisfaction, and
| did not ask him to sing again.
He had not read my criticism then.
but he saw it the next day. for he has
told me so since.
Mr.. Wilton does not consider me q
good musical critic, but he is satisfied
with me in every other way, for il was
only last night that he asked me 10