Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-04-20

steps as she turned back, and she walked
slowly In order to avoid him.
His hat was on peg when she was adj
wistfully. 1t looked wofully different,
hanging on a mahogany hat-Iack with a
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 it, Mrs. Gibson, possibly !;
but Lefty had had tie impression that
Mrs. Gibson didn't play.
She listened with quickly appreciative
admiration, and with some longing, be-
cause she felt certain that that was better
than she could have done
She went on into the music room, in
eager curiosity.
Her muff lay on the chair where she
had left it; but Lefty did not take it.
She stood quite still in the doorway,
gazing, motionless and speechless, at the
person on the piano-stool
1t was Raymond Gibson. He was
absorbed in his occupation. His head
was thrown back, and his eyes were on
the ceiling. He was using the pedals
vigorously, and swaying gently as he
played
His music teacher had stood in the
doorway some three minutes before he
became aware of her presence Then
there was a crashing of the keys.
Miss Whittakerr' gasped her pupil.
Lefty only gazed at him. She was
quite stunned.
Mr.. Gibson sprang to his feet.
'Don't look like that" he entreated,
rushing toward her. Don't Miss Whit
takerm
But Lefty shrank back, her eyes fixed
upon him IN soIemnlty and sternness.
"What-what does this mean, Mr..
Gibson?' she said, with an austerity
which was married by her faltering voice.
Mr.. Gibson pulled her gently inside,
and shut the door
II know you'll forgive me-" he i'm
p!ored
Lefty looked at him with reddening
checks, and then burst into tears.
"What did you do it for!" she sobbed.
''What for?'' her pupil repeated, stand
ing very close to her and getting posses
sion of one Of her hands Don't you
know, Miss Whittaker-Letty? I've
wanted to know you so-fOr years-ever
since first saw you. And I'd begun to
think l never should be able to manage
it. used to lie awake nights worrying
over it. And walking home with you
that day. hadn't intended it, truly,
but we were talking about your pupils,
you know, and the idea occurred to me,
and couldn't help it. Don't be angry.
know each other. What's the odds,
dear?"
you've made me perfectly ridicu-
lous I" Lefty sobbed. = ------
If she had heard his last adjective, she
ignored it.
'No, no-rve been careful not to!
Nobody knows it-not soul. That's
why didn't go to the rehearsal-the
Taylors know [ can play, you see."
He did his best to stit1e laugh but
his teacher was laughing, too, through
her tears. The vision of her tall pupil,
laboring through ''Little Katy's First
Waltz" overcame her.
''You ought to be ashamed of your
self" she cried, laughing and crying to-
gether, somewhat Historically.
Il ami am" said Raymond. "Tm
ashamed; but am not sorry. Why, [
might not have known you yet if [
hadn't"
Then he paused, palpitatingly.
''What duets we'll have when we're
married, dearl" he said, softly.
"What will your mother say?'' said
Lefty, gasping with bewildered 5oy.
"Say? She'll say I've got the sweet
est girl in the world. She hasn't any
ridiculous notions; and, besides. she'll
never think of denying me anything l
want"
And neither did she.-Saturday Night.