The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-05-02


it's boroln
'T do get tired sometimes, y Lefty ad-
mitted. sBut like It. I've nice
class"
''All ages, I supposep said Mr.. Glib
ooh, yess--from six to twenty From
the first lesson in the instruction book
UP to Chopin Lefty rejoined.
You take beginners thenl"
ttYes"
The Wilcox carIiagC was approaching,
and the Wilcoxes were particular friends
Of the Gihscns. Lefty was glad the cor
ner Of the street was SO near
~ have always liked music, y said Mr..
Gibson, hesitatingly. I'll suppose I'm
rather cid to learn, but could you take
another pupill'
lie staminered over the inquiry, and
Lefty looked bewildcred.
Another pupil9" she echoed.
III should like awfully to learn, you
knowi' said Mr. Gibson, eagerly. "And
it shan't be any trouble to you. I'll come
to the house. You do take pupils at the
house, don't youl i should like it i'm
menselyl'
Lefty was dumb with astonishment.
A music pupill (Mr. Gibson0 What
an incredible ideal And yet, she was
not displeased at the prospect
They had reached her modest little
gate, and she looked up with timorous
smile.
'Why, certainly, Mr.. Gibson, If you
wish," she murmured.
81 certainly do wish, y he responded,
emphatically, and he looked highly de-
lighted.
And when he turned away fir ON the
door, five minutes after, the date and
hour of his first lesson had been ar
ranged, and he had forced upon his
teacher his first terms tuition.
Lefty gave her mother slight sketc h
of that first term, at its close. She had
gradually recovered from her amazement
ut the requirement of her latest pupil,
and had given herself TO his instruction
with all her usual interest and energy.
If the interest was greater in this case
than in the case of Juiiana Gray or little
Tommy Ducker, for example, Lefty was
innocently unaware OF It.
''He's very bright, really, mamma, ;"
she declared. ''Of course it seemed
funny to have to teach him the very
rudiments. Why, he had to begin with
the staff, and learn the names of the
lines and spaces, just as my youngest
scholars do 1t was all / could do 10
keep from laughing, the first lesson. But
he learns so easily. He really has good
technc, and can see he's going to have
lots of feeling for music. He's got along
real well. know he must practice aw-
fully hard. He can play little piece
with both hands already, and he says
he'll play it at the rehearsal Thursday
afternoon. told him he needn't if he
didn't want to. You know all my class
arc going to play, and Pm afraid they'll
laugh, it's so funny to see him playing
it. But he says he'd just as lief as not
OF course I'll explain that he hasn't
taken lessons long"
Mr.. Gibson came next day for his les
son; he took two a week. He played
his scales through carefully, and then
executed his piece" with laborious
lains, but with great success.
Lefty was delighted.
'slf you do us well as that at the re-
hearsal y she said, with pretty enthusi-
asm which glued her pupils eyes to her
face "Aliss Taylor has offered their
parlor, You know, and Pm so glad, be-
cause If all the parents and friends come
therc'll hardly be room enough here"
miss Taylor I" Mr. Gibson repeated,
somewhat Glankly, it struck his teacher.
But he went ON talking of something
else, and talked on till the striking Of
the clock made him jump up.
He had fallen into The habit of staying
after his lesson was over TO talk; SO that
aftei twenty lessons it was not strange
that they felt toerably well acquainted.
And Lefty had confided TO herself more
than once that Mr.. Gibson was ''uncom-
monty" entertaining and nice.
The rehearsal passed off with all pos
sible smoothness; but Mr.. Gibson was
not there. Lefty had received note
from him at the last minute, stating his
unavoidable detention.
A bunch of flowers had accompanied
it, and a white rose shown in Letty's soft
hair at the reception.
Little Genevieve came and played sue
cessfuily. Mrs. Gibson came with her,
and she smiled blandly on Lefty,
and complimented her on Genevieve's
progress. She did not mention her son,
and Lefty went home vaguely wonder
ing.
She gave Geneveve lesson next day.
She didn't understand why it was, but
the imposing hail. with lis stately fur
nishings, and the charmingly appointed
music-roonl, somehow depressed her.
/ She had another rose from Mr.. Glib
/ son sbouquetin button hole of her jacket
and she looked down at it rather drear.
/ lily. She had come to know him so well,
( and all this grandeur seemed to thrust
her so hopelessly far away from him. Not
that she had that thought distinctly in
mind. She was a sensible girl, and by
no means foolishly impresslonable and
romantic. But she was dimly unhappy.
1t was due to this mood, doubtless,
that she forgot her muff, and went three
blocks on her way home without it.
SIZE saw young Mr.. Gibson run up the
steps as she turned back. and she walked
slowly in order TO avoid him.
His hat was on peg when she was adj
mltted to ths hall. Lefty looked at it
wistfully. 1t looked wofuliy different,
hanging on amahogany hat-Iack with
long mirror, and lying informally on her
piano-top at home.
The notes of the Gibson piano were
sounding, and Lefty listened wonder
ingly. She recognized the moonlight
sonata, brilliantly and charmIngly ex-
executed.
Who was itl Mrs. Gibson, possibly;
/ I,,f 1 offxr LaI I.I - 4