Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-01-26
CHAPTER XIX.
DISSEMBLE!

self so closely concealed that Natalie was
not even aware of his presence.
One day, however, returning from a
drive, she distinctly heard the piano sound
ing forth, it seemed to her, the last notes of
a slow movement from one of Beethoven's
sonatas. Quickly entering the house, she
found no one within. Blanche was in the
adjoining room, busting the furniture.
Undoubtedly the maid had been cleaning
the keys of the piano and accidentally
struck the notes that seemed to complete
the matchless adagio of the master.
At another time Natalie found Io1 of
MS music blown about by the winds among
the rocks on the shore. 1t was called
''Stella Mea.''
*AIusic and words published by Oliver Ditson
s. Co., Boston, Mass.
I'STELLA MEAT
Words and music by 4. p.
Thou art my life! my souls one start
Thou art my guide DER carths dark mainf
When behold thy beams from far,
My heart with hope revives again.
ssWhene'er the reefs of woe near;
When mournful wrecks fortell my doom;
Like sweetest bells upon mine ear,
Thy warming voice falls thro' the gloom.
When binding mist beclouds the day,
And wild the wave and fierce the storm
sudden glory lights the way
And DER calm seas view thy form
'-Oh deathless love eternal start
Tho raging seas between roll,
My steadfast course I'll shape afar
And moor with thee nv storrn-tost soul
Another day, while gazing out of her
window over the fields, she saw man
leisurely crossing the meadow between
Field and the cottage on the left. To
her surprise, as clearly as she could dis
tinguish, he was whisthng the air of "Stella
Mea."
One morning, after Natalie's return from
a dashing horseback ride, little Dolores
tripped up to her, sounding the praises Of
'ssuch nice gentleman I've just met" who
had talked to her, carried her, given her
flowers and completely won her heart
a day or two afterwards she had the same
experience again to relate, with the added
command that her little mamma ''nl1St meet
the gentleman, he is SO nice and lovely, just
like you.'
Every pleasant afternoon, after dinner, it
was the custom of this devoted pair to wan
der to the shore, where Natalie either read,
or watched Dolores skip stones and ''sail''
pieces of wood in the water.
AS they were thus engaged upon the
afternoon of the day of Dolores second en-
counter with the stranger, huge dog sud-
denly sprang, barking, through the bushes
along the shore on the right, and mascu-
line figure followed him.
ton, being terrified at the sight of this
great creature. But, when she caught sight
of his master, she gave cry Of JOY, and
running up, took him by the hand, disre-
garding the dog. The man STOPPING down,
kissed the child and called to the animal:
MAX, Max, come here! want to present
you to the sweetest and fairest little maiden
in Christendom.
Max, in a sheepishly -digniied manner,
lifted one large paw and put it in the little
girls hand.
s'Now, Max" continued the gentleman,
81 want you always to carefully watch this
little lady and never let any harm befall
her"
Max appeared to understand the injunc-
ton He walked beside Dolores very meek
~ but, ever and anon, cast regretful
chances toward his master.
All this time the newcomer pretended
that he had not observed Natalie, who,
thus, had a good opportunity of studying
him.
He was of about medium height, had
brownish hair, frank, open face from
which every vesuge Of Jeard and mustache
was removed, a fresh color in his cheeks and
She judged him to be, perhaps, one and
twenty.
Dolores, after Max's introduction to her,
took her friends hand, saying:
''Cone now, want my little mamma to
see you
''Who is yosr little mamma and wherein
replied he, still looking down at her, and