The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-05-21

the piano
''Now what ?" Hereward asks, standing be-
side her.
''Now sing You must really"
Must y Hereward echoes in his turn,
with mutinous smile.
Eyes, must [ will take no excuse"
I.,And what shall l sing?"
Whatever you like,
Hcreward sits down to the piano and sings
''The good Rhine" in splendid style. Miss
Middleton feels that she woald give her right
hand could she have won i'll exchange his
perfect time and tune, his grand voice. his
perfect ditI0Htd The Countess reclines in
her easy chair at the distant fire; the great
room is but dimly lighted, scarcely enough
to bring out the ruby glow of the crimson
velvet Lady Gladys stands in the far-olf
window looking at Il itlt15nlere of rare plants
with Mr.. Cartwright, the Fraulein is explain
ing new box Of hiaderg(trton toys to EVE,
the Doctor and Lord Heriot are listening TO
the song from LITTLE distance, standing on
the rug-there are fires at each end of the
room-DIiss Middleton listens from her otto
man close to the piano. The spirited song
takes them ali by storm it is rapturously
encored but Hereward shakes his head
''Now sing something for me, Miss Mid
dleton pleads softly.
For you" he repeats, and there is q
touch of coquetry in his eyes as he begins,
looking up at her.
Love thee, dearest-love thee?
Yes, by y0uder star | swear! !"
And Bah Middleton, listening to the words,
fancied that this dark captive is chained to
her chariot wheels at last
Il wish I could sing like that !" Lord
Heriot admits frankly. ''Why, Hereward.
you're no end of swell at it. 1t was too
bad of you to keep it to yourself all this
time -
Lady Gladys stands by the ja,'diniere, and
tells MIR. Cartwright, one by one the names
of the rare flowers it contains.
She is looking straight before her at the
group, by the piano-only because they come
directly within her range of vision perhaps.
But the first notes of the song arrests her
attention, and now she listens, though an
swering her companions questions all the
while. She is dressed in wnite-white silk
with swansdown trimming that looks like
snow there is no color at all about her-for
she IS very pale to-night-except the intense
blue OF her eyes.
will you give me sprig of that myrtle ?"
Mr.. Cartwright asks insinuatingly, stretching
out his large white hand.
''Would you not rather have this lilac
ipomoea! 1t is very beautiful
'No. Give me q bit of the myrtle. Don't
you know what it means? want nothing
but that.
Lady Gladys plucks a spray of myrtle
and gives it into his hand. But she has never
removed her eyes from the other end of the
room. Mr.. Cartwright fears that his elegant
little speech is thrown away But he puts
the myrtle in his coat, making large dis.
play of the signet ring on each of his little
fingers as no does SO, and looks very sent.
mental.
Hereward leaves tho piano when he has
sung his second song, and Miss Middleton
takes his place. She sings very well and
Hereward, with his head resting easily against
the velvet cushion of the ottoman, listens to
'The Message and "When Sparrows Build"
and others of his favorites.
Lady Gladys, who has heard her friends
songs many times, looks at Mr.. Cartwright
with less dreamy eyes, and answers him with
less absent words and presently they be-
think themselves of the ball and the necessity
OF putting in an appearance thereat Lord
Herlot gives his arm to his mother, Lady
Gladys follows with Mr. Cartwright rs n mat
ter of course, and EVE runs to his friend
III going 10 luke you uOWn MISS Mluule-
ton. You promised to dance with me-" he
exclaims eagerly, seizing her hand.
$50 will, EVE But I'm afraid you are
too little to offer me your arm"
"Oh, no, I'm not" EVE cries. "Come
along"
AS Hereward makes no movement to sup
plant her small cavalier, Miss Middleton is
fain to be satisfied, and allows the child to
lead her down stairs Hereward following in
the wake of her rose colored skirts and
looking over, not OF, her holly crowned head.
AS they approach the scene of festivity,
the noise of dancing feet and violins becomes
almost deafening The servants hall is in
blaze of light and crowded with people-so
densely crowded that Miss Middleton Is
obliged to remain at the door for few mo-
ments, her presence unnoticed in the wel-
come given to the Countess and Lord Heriot,
who have passed to the upper end of tho
room. But the heat, even outside the door, is
oppressive, and she is very well content to
remain there for the present
The decorations, if not high art, at least
looks very well IN the glare of the hundreds
of candles. The violins commence again in
a few moments, and also the shutting. clat-
tering sound of dancing feet Miss Middle
ton looks in and laughs, and makes observe
tions upon the company In asides to Hare
ward. who seems rather bored
Eu,wu ACm