The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1888-05-08
A CIIOIR-SINGER.

= III Y fE'tF
There are two sides to every question,
ais the best Of reason demonstrates; but
Marie Pirot, try as she might, could
Z lind only one side to the question Of her
engagement to sydney WORTH; and
that, unfortunately for the lover. was
the negative.
sydney. on his part, being a man.
: was logical enough to take-ih all the
bearings Of, the case. and yet heroic
enough to await Marie IS decision with
4 courage worthy Of a cause more sub
lime than the yea Or, nay Of a brown
eyed gill. In this trembling balance,
however, was hung his hope of all
earthly happiness, while the smoked, his
cigar and talked, aud walked about the
world as usual. """'' +" .''1r
- take q week, only a week. for calm
consideration, he had begged her, and
then proceeded to enhance her calm
ness by daily letters Of urgent pleading.
His eagerness harassed and worried
Marie into state almost of resent
n!el,t, and took from her much Of the
responsibility OF her final action. It
gave her[something. to fight against, and
armed her with necessary tlrmness.
Whereas. .:..E he had thrown himself
completely and helplessly on her mercy,
she would lave found it doubly hard to
wiring his heart by her decided refusal;
but she would have wrung it, all the
same
When her letter came at last, poor
Sydney kissed the dagger before he re-
ceived it's stab-that is, he kissed her
handwriting, and then very likely /.
few moments later dropped tear or
two IN the same spot. But the letter
was folded and put away, as such let
ters and such poor and broken hopes
are being folded and put away all ever
the world to-day and every day, and
Sydney went about his business aston
Ished and miserable at the heavy
weight OF his disappointment.
But the days and. years went on;
Sydney sat at his desk and made money,
and Marie sang in her church and gave
music lessons, losing her youthful
beauty somewhat, but gaining always
in grace and attractiveness. She and
sydney met occasionally as friends, and
Ans eyes still told the same old story
that was now forbidden Of all other
expression. AS for Miss Pirot, she met
the usual experience that falls to the
lot Of talented and gracious women.
She had hosts of male friends, quite an
array Of admirers, and always one or
two ardent lovers who were much in
the same case as Sydney himselfr-for
1t would seem even to the most inter.
ested observer that Miss plrOt's being,
musical and harmonious as il was, had
never yet responded to, the master-
chord Of all-the chord Of Lowell
But at last, when the keynote of
Marie's destiny was struck, and It's
flood of melody came pouring into her
life like an overwhelming tide, neither
the alto on one side OF her, nor the bass
on the other, nor even tile Organist,
Lucy Crumm, who was her bosom
friend, guessed that anything unusual
had happened "'.
It8came about i'll this very common
place way. Old Brande, the regular
tenor, was absent, for the first time In
seven years, for the Tuesday night re-
hearsal. The choir had assembled, and
stood about. waiting and wondering,
ahd comforting on Mr. Brande's posi-
tlon apart from all other tenofs ON
record by the genuine surprise at his
delinquency, when there came suddenly
up the choir staircase a tall and slim
young man, very fair, with plenty of
flowing blonde hair that hung in stu
dent fashion on his broad white collar.
lie spoke with a foreign accent, in
high musical voice, addressing Miss
Pirot, who happened to be nearest to
him, as he approached the organ.
2 Mr.. Brandt has sent mo to sing
ne is too, much i'll for this night, and
aiso.j for Sunday, he thinks. But if it
is pleasing, l sing his part for all"
Miss Prot only bowed and smiled,
but did not speak. There was good
reason for her#silence. She had fallen
ia love with this young man, of whose
existence she %had been aware three
secondsI 1t IS not to be wondered at
Thai, in the confusion of her senses,
she had, for the moment, mislaid her
voice.
$50 very glad" said Lucy Crumm,
all animation, and reassured on the
score OF the quartette; ''but so very
sorry to hear Mr.. Brande Is i'll. Moth
ing serious, l hope2 Wo were just
wondering how we should manage.
You read, suppose2 Mr. Aiken, will
you please hand--thanks. We in,
tended to rehearse the quartette. All
along here Is Mr.. Brande's part---the
tenor's; the bass comes in next below;
but, or course, you understandp" #.
"Oh, yes--yes." q" "d "'%
He was already humming through
the bars of the music she had placed
in his hand, like one sure Of his ground,