The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-08-19

ming, and in . week sail for London.
shall be in Europe certainly three
years, and at the end of that time l
shau look you up, to sec what you
have made Of yourself
felicie looked up to him with her
pretty dark eyes trimming over with
tears. She had learned to dread and
fear strangers. These two-Russell
Thornton and Miss Shepard-were the
only two who had ever been kind to
her in all her life.
Il will try, will try!'' was all she
could say
thornton rose to say good-by.
when come back l expect to be
dazzled with your acquirements.'
he shook hands with her as he spoke,
and then with Miss Shepard, and the
next moment they saw his graceful
hgure disappear in the darkness. She
turned to Miss Shepard.
''Wi]l he ever-do you suppose he
will ever come back ?" she asked. with
quivering lips.
"Of course he will. Three years will
slip by easily"
1t 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 me? l intend to learn to
sing"
Learn to sing ~ said Miss Shepard,
using the same tone as if she had said,
LEARN to fly"
EYES," said Felicie, .'to sing like the
great opera singers. My mother sang
beautifully. and l mean to sing like
Miss Shepard interposcd no obiec-
ton, and she soon learned to oppose
nothing that Felicie said. She was so
bright and so helpful! Miss Shepard's
dull little house had never known anv
youthful merriment, and: it warmed
the poor old souls heart to feel Fell
cie's active and magnetic young pres
encc about her.
She summed herself, as it were, in Fe-
licie' s youth and beauty; and Felicie
soon found herself to be the very apple
of Miss Shepard's eye.
She had begun her singing lessons
tho week after Thornton left, and she
might be heard trilling and carolling
down in Miss Shepard's stuffy 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 a
steady purpose of improvement that
wonders. She bought copy-books, and
changed her uniformed, childish hand
writing for one full of vigor.
She had a natural quickness in learn
ing everything that belonged to the
domestic affairs, and two years slipped
away in a happiness and content that
poor Felicie had never dreamed of.
About this time, when Felicie was
~, she saw an advertisement
for soprano in one of the
great city choirs. She determined to
apply for it, and without saying 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 the strange
professor who presided at the organ,
her heart sank; but when at last,
''Miss 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. And, indeed, about week af-
terward, she received letter from the
choir committee, who, ''having made
inquiries about her, and finding she
was suitable person, would be glad
to 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."
Felicie rushed up stairs to show it to
Miss Shepard.
''Just think! Five hundred dollars!
And only to sing for it! And lessons
from Barilli! What 1 have IL nged for
and could not afford.''
Miss Shepard looked at her in de-
lighted surprise.
"Oh, Felicie, dear, whit will Mr..
Russell say?''
"Don't yon think he will like it?''
asked Felecie, stopping short.
''Of course he will, my darling.''
''Then it's all rig ht," said Felicio,
skipping off to answer her letter.
In a little while Felicie began to
think she took 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 by
saying:
"When Mr.. Thornton comes homo,
he will have heard 50 many fine voices
that mine will be nothing to him; and
if he sees that am vain of it, he will
be utterly disguised with me-
She had been singing in the choir
ono whole winter. 1t was the after
noon of Easter Sunday, and the
church was packed to hear Miss
Brevard sing.
At last the service was over; tho
people had tlocked out; the sexton
would be around in half an hour to
lock up everything for the night.
Felicie remained. When everyone
had left the church she stole to the
organ and began playing. Then she
began to sing simple little hymn that
Miss Shepard had told her was the
favorite hymn of Russell Thornton's
mother.
II never heard anybody but her sing