Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-01-24

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evident deraaA ~ found It here, and, do
you know, { like il very much, indeed. Did
you really compose il. You are musical,
then, % well as poeticall7
Verify, Mistress Natalie was overcoming
her man-hating proclyities.
Still this was not ut all surprising. When
this young man resolved to win the good
win of any one, male or female. few reason
able mortals could resist hun. That frank.
ness, that apparent simple-mindedncss,
threw strangers off their guard, and ere
they knew it, the citadal of their reserve had
quite capitulatcd.
II am glad you like il indeed, answered
he, with slight bow, looking very much
pleased. "How fortunate am to have met
you'll For, strangely enough, have been
unable to recall all OF either the melody cr
the words. May return with you to the
house and get itf
Certainly, replied Natalie, falling quick
" into the trap; I'm very glad to have dis.
covered its owner"
The ice was now broken.
Fairfax had once more plotted success
fully. Natalie, had abe only paused to re-
fleet upon her course, might have been sur
prised, to say the least. She was chatting
away as gayly and unconcernedly with this
!
nothing, as il she had known him for years.
They walked together up toward the cot
tage, Dolores between them, holding the
hand of each in her tiny fingers, while Max
followed demurely behind.
Fairfa- .(quite naturally let slip the re-
mark that he was located in the pretty cot
tage across the fields-Natalie had often
seen it and admired its charming situation
and quaint architecture and, = he added,
Il have rented it for the autumn months.
Glen Gore is its name''
Fairfax refrained from making any per.
sonal remarks whatever to Natalie until, as
they approached the house, he said:
Il think | must have heard you singing,
when | passed along the shore recently.
You sing, do you not.''
YES answered she, simply do you ~
mo, AM sorry to say do not. I some
times play for my own amusement, but
there is such wretched piano in my cot
tage that take little pleasure in perform
ing upon it. Have you good pianol''
Yes" said she, readily and unsus-
piciously falling into the second little trap
he was laying.
he had so timed his question that they
now stood on the porch, and Natalie, before
she realized what she was doing, had added,
courteously:
''Will you come In and try it4'
"With pleasure" responded he, immedi-
ately stepping in through the door.
AT first Natalie felt a little alarmed, when
she considered that she had introduced an
absolute stranger into her defenseless and
''maleless' home. Fairfax, however, gave
her no time for reflection. With easy
grace and the utmost GOODNESS he moved
he neared it, the pleased exclamation:
''How delightful! know the make well -
So saying, he sat down before the key
board and began a soft, sweet prelude Of
Chopins. Natalie immediately recognized
the touch of musician, and listened with
increasing pleasure.
Fairfax now decided upon y bold coup
d'e.dt.
He ceased playing, unexpectedly, and Sc
lected, as if by chance, song from those
piled up on the music stand beside him. 1t
proved to be that fateful Addio''--(f for The
uery sinlpis and excellent redso,t that Blaache
had orders aleayi to place uas song secoad
from, The Top tp tbs pile.
You will sing for me, will you not!' he
said, quietly; and, without waiting for her
answer, began the prelude. The Princess
was startled, and flushed deeply as she
+ recognized the strain.
How strangel How very strangel AL
ways that song" murmured she TO her
self.
Her first impulse was 10 refuse TO sing
(st least that especial song. But Fairfax
kept on playing the introduction with all
the expression Of which he was capable.
Had be asked her point-blank, be doubted
not that she would refuse to sing the
Addio.m
She could no longer resist, and when the
last bar Of the prelude was finished, he was
not surprised to hear her voice commence,
although tremblingly and timidly. Each
one inspired the other. She soon was OBJ
hyious to every thing but her singing and
that wonderfully sympathetic accompani-
meut.
Fairfax's triumph was perfect.
When the song was ended neither spoke
word, but each understood the other.
Tears stood in her eyes, and even his eyes
were moist-hard- hearted man who used to
declare that nothing had made him weep
since he was q boy of twelve. Az for
Dolores, the orbs Of that little creature were
filed with pearly drops, while near by on
the floor lay Max, with whom she had been
playing, sorrowfully regarding his new
mistress emotion.
Little mamma, you did make me cry,n
said the child.
Whereat, they both went TO her, her
naive innocence having changed their tears
to smiles.
''You poor little dearl'' CALCULATED Fair
fax, tossing her up in his arms. did she
make you cry. Well, she did make me cry,
too. But look out of the window and see
the steamer passing by. That is the Mt.
Dazart She is late to-day =
So, from one topic to another, the two
went on, regardless of the moments fast