The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-23

spirit left my body yondor in that small
room. If you will listen respectfully III
talk Of it,"
! took drink Of ale In spite q my
self | could not help seeing that hideous
figure IN the ether room. Ii appeared
now like Cainpbell's skeleton clad in his
gown.
He did not begin his story n once, but
sat wrapped in profound thought. while
the wind soughcd dismally and his pipe
went out unhccdcd II was not until |
aroused him from his reveric that he
spoke.
81 don't know why feel like talking
OF myself to you," he said. FOR you are
full Of gibes and ridicule; Dut ! like you.
lad, and although have chosen 70 live a
hermits life, sometimes grow weary OF
silence and solitude, and hunger bit for
human sympathy.
II was born in Dunblanc, and began
hfe in humble circumstance. Ny
father died when | was i'airn. and my
mother was too poor to give me an easy
life, though she gave me hit Ct cchcol-
ing. On Saturdays ] worked ia the
bishops library, where | earned little
money by busting and climbing for the
librarian. After my mother died | went
TO live with a great singer. Twas a good
scholar. and he made me his secretary.
When had been with him a little while
! went 10 the opera 70 hear him sing.
and this experience turned my head. ]
wished TO bc a singer, too. ! heard him
praciicing. and ] practiccd. | was his
imitator, his emulator hi porot And
! could sing. | knew well that had The
talent the fcrvor, the patience and the
enthusiasm Of am artist. Oh. man. man,
! had the vanity. too. Of all stage struck
lnaticG, and was sure / would be a mas
ter.
My employer heard me sing, and Of
fcrcd 70 teach me. was p wears old
when ! was offered my first engagement
to sing inpublic.
"You probably remember the Bishops
Walk in Dunblane. 1t runs close 70 the
River Allan. and was named for the
bishop, Robert Leighton. Used 10 he
very fond of that walk. and enc spring
morning ! found woman in IT who
Liked it alsC-ag bright and tlithc q
woman as ever trod upon Scottish
heather. do not pretend 20 he a connois-
scur of feminine lOvelincss, but / know
that Mailic Morrison was beautiful. Her
ewes were blue and sweet, her hair brown
and Eonnic and her throat WIS like SNOW.
Bradford. ] can't make you sec Ter rs
she looked coming down the Bishops
Walk with her hands full Of prilnroses,
and Eer checks surprising them. The
lass was straight and trim and strong,
and there was q deal of shy sweetne $
looking from under The broad brim Of
her hat
after know her my life was changed.
Nv greatest object had been TO become a
famous singer, but now that ambition
was eeCondary. ] wanted 10 marry Mai
lie Morrison
Her father was not willing that !
should visit her, but cared little, since l
found ray lass in the fields 10y the runs
Of the Cathedral of St. Blanc, and ever
and again in the Bishops Walk. But by
and by had reason 10 leave DunblanC.
| needed to study more, and my manager
offered TO take me To Italy, where, lac
said. ! could take lessons IN the great
conservatories and still earn my living
with him. Maiie Morrison consented TO
marry me and 70 with me if we could
gain her fathers consent
Morrison was a COvcnantcr and a
man Of such iron will that hcVas an I'M
pleasant opponent to tackle. lie was
bitterly preiudiccd against public myers.
lie hated the theatre, and openly pro
nounced it the gateway Of he'll. Besides
his aversion 10 my profession, hc hao an
other and more pGsopai lrudSc a. '"si
me. He had been mp for mayor a the
place. and blamed nc for his defeat. !
had tried my prentice hand at Journal
ism. and had written some fierce things
against his party. But ! could not think
he would long oppose my suit fer two
such reasons.
Il had reckoned without my hest. He
hated me. He would have rciOiccd If
he'll had orcned and taken Inc IN. What:
J. singer. marry the daughter q 30
great a man as lie, LORD, man. Led
have sooner trusted her 20 odd Bctlze-
hub! He raved at my proposal and
dashed himself into q terrible fury. lie
said that | had written such pack Of
lies about him hc had lost his election.
MY lass took her Bible for guidance.
and found nothing IN II 10 justify her
wedding without her fathers consent.
II said: Children. obey your parents III
the I.old. - this is right. and 10 her
simple mind nothing could lie palmer
than hen duty. Certainly che could find
10 passage commanding obedience To-
her lover. Her father told hcr that If
we married hc would curse Us and our
children.
II besought her not 10 yield 70 his IN
reasonable prejudice, bat she stood IN
the Bishops Walk, white as ghost and
babe me good-by. told her she lad
not the heart of woman OF she could
not send me away.
t"I did not 60 to Italy, for my ambition
had vanished. How could | sing with
such n heavy hearti chose the life Of
q rcclusc. / came 70 Montreal and
scratched out such living as my pen
would yield.
Morrison was so mortified by his 20
litical defeat that he could not bide III
Dunblanc. lie and his daughter went TO
live in Pittsburg. ] learned Of this
through Dunblane newspaper.
"As yesterday was my birthday, Brad
ford. ] made some resolutions. / re
solved that | would waste no moro time
For ten years / have bidcd in this house,
hugging foolish hope that Mailie Nor
rison might some day wish to recall me.
and knowing that II would be easy 10