Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-12-20

|
when she had first trained her frest
young voice for the applause OF breath
less thousands But she stiHed he,
modification and smiled her gratitude
for Mrs. Millars encouragement and
recommendation. And then she went
home to practice her ballads and make the
best bargains she could with old Madame
Monisse, who kept second-han cloth
ing emporium, for one evenings use Of
a dark blue silk dress, trimmed with
black lace, which was not so very much
worn For Narcissa had nothing of her
own but the plainest black alpaca. and
well-worn olive-green serge, neither
of which costumes, however respectable
in themselves, were exactly adapted to
the splendors Of Mrs. Dayton's ball
| rooms.
The eventful evening arrived at last,
and the professional balladist found her.
self seated at the piano. among the gilt
tering. throng. She need not have been
SO nervous. nobody took any notice Of
her beyond the merest passing glance.
Mrs. Dayton herself, sweet faced
blonde in white satin and pearls, came
up to the singer when her first little
song was finished and thanked her
pleasantly.
ri will send waiter to you with q
glass of wine" said Mrs. Dayton. -
"You must be tired
So until the time for her next song
should come, Narcissa sat quietly watch.
ing the dancers, the promenaders, the
inevitable flirters, while one Herr So
bieski did musical wonders upon the
violin. Presently she saw in the fower-
garlandcd portal of the door tall figure
which she knew we'll, though years had
elapsed since last she looked upon it
Charles Dallas self.
She turned to the plump, elderly lady
who sat next to her, eating forced straw
berries and cream with countenance of
the serenest satisfaction.
"Who is that gentleman by the door ?"
she asked. The gentleman talking to
Mrs. Dayton 7"
The plump lady paused, with, straw
berry as plump as herself poised upon
her gold spoon,
Why said she, 'it's Mr., Dayton,
to be sure"
81 think you must be mistaken, said
Narcissa, with her heart beating ,sery
fast. Il am quite certain that I
used to know him years ago aud his
name was Dallas--Charles Dallas.
at is the same one" said the plump,
elderly lady, nodding her head "You
haven't heard Of the death and odd will
of his rich uncle Dallas inherited
fortune fit for prince, with only the
condition that he should add the surname
of the old miser---Dayton--to his own.
Dallas-Dayton, it is printed on the cards
and his wife was great heiress, too;
she was Miss Monogram, of the firm Of
William Moneyman IL Co.. But am
told the marriage was quite love-
match. You can easily see how devoted
they are to each other. Mr.. Dayton
met with quite disappointment early
in life, have heard bnt it 10 easy to
perceive"--with complacent chuckle---
that the old wound is entirely healed
by this time"
SO Narcissa Mindencroft sang her
second ballad and her third, and re-
ceivcd her check for ten dollars from
Mrs. Dallas-Dayton's gracious hand and
went home, quite unnoticed and unrec-
ognized by the man to whom her smile
or her frown had once been like Sec
ond fate There were great many
people there, and it was scarcely to be
expected that the host should seek out
the paid ballad singer, who trilled her
notes for the amusement of her guests.
any more than he should distinguish
Herr Sobieski or Signor Tremolini, who
played tho violin and did" the cornet
solos. 1t was all right and natural
enough
But Narcissa cried quietly upon her
pillow when she got back to her cheer
less room A homeless, friendless, love-
less old maid---t was hardly the sort
of life she anticipated when she threw
off Charles Dallas's faithful love like d
worn-out glove
The Lesson Of Life We al. have TO
learn il, but to some it is pitterer, far.
than to others. ~ Y. Ledyer.s