Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-03-14

a fine concert-hall and listens critically 10
London "SaIs'-evea now il remembers and
speaks OF that marvellous singing.
The story which Guy Hallam had taken
for his cantata was the beautiful story of
Ruth, and the words which the wonderful
voice took up were the tender ones which
have been loved for centuries and will be
loved while the word lasts-"Intreat me not
to leave thee or TO return from following
after thee Tor whittier thou goest, will go.
and where thou lodgeSt, | will lodge; thy
people shall be my people, and thy God my
God; where thou dieSt will l die, aud there
vii be buried
As the last sounds died. away, there was
the sound rs OF Sobbing amidst the vast con-
course of people throughout the great Cathe-
dral; but the composer of the music which
had SO moved them neither heard nor needed
the involuntary tribute to his genius.
Among the crowd that passed out of the
huge doors of Downbury Minister that day
there was not one diSSentient voice. Even
would-be cavaliers were silenced, feeling it to
be impossible to say anything which would
not be condemned as unjust and assigned its
true motive. The town rang with applause,
and the wires flashed the news to all-ahsorh-
Ing London of this young genius, this won
derful composer, who from the very midst of
the people had suddenly sprung into the
light Of fame.
Nor did they cease tomaryel and to inquire
about the singer who had so much 70 do with
Guys success. Whence came he, and why
had he never been heard Of heforep What
was his nameP Was he town-bred or strang-
er?
The general opinion was that he was
pr0tcge OF the young composers, kept pur-
posely in the dark, in order more efIectually
TO dazzle and bewilder his hearers.
But, as usual, general opinion was wrong;
and CIV was rs completely in the dark as all
the rest He scarcely waited TO near the last
vibrations Of the organ before he turned TO
where the young singer had stood, only TO
find his place vacant He passed through
the congratulating throng which surrounded
him, md sought but sought in vain, for the
vanished boy. As he had come, so he had
departed. The choristers, on being question
ed, one aud all disclalmed any knowledge OF
his whereabouts and, more strangely, de-
clared that, were they 20 meet him, they
should not recognize him. Every inquiry
seemed to be futile, and at last Guy Hallam
went home TO his lodgings, with feeling Of
disappointment In his heart quite disprop0r-
tionate to the occasion.
After all, he had achieved signal triumph,
and il was sheer absurdity, he reasoned, TO
feel himself debarred from the full enjoy
ment of it because he who had so greatly
helped was not there TO share it.
Waiting in his rooms he found his sister.
She took both bis hands, and her calm eyes
filled with tears.
"Ah, GUY she said simply, 81 thought il
was almost good enough for me 20 know your
genius; but | find | am much happier now
the world acknowledges 1t too.'
lie kissed her tenderly
"You have always helped me, my dear,
and have been mother to me ever since we
lost our own. Most of the good that is In me
! owe TO you, and the greatest JOY | have In
my success comes from the knowledge that
very soon | shall be able 10 offer you home
with me. 1t has been cruelty bitter TO me TO
feel indebted even 10 yOu and TO know that,
from my having spent your money, you have
had 10 live on charity"
"Fidess charity has been by no means
cold, Guy" returned his sister, smiling; "and
! should not like TO leave her now, much rs |
love you. She has been so good to me-"
WAS She there?' he asked, turning away
abruptly and lifting, as II absently the pho
tograph on the piano Did she think well
of itp'
"She had a special engagement" his sister
answered land did not care to accompany
me-"
There was a sudden crash The picture
had fallen, and the frame and glass were
broken.
a ~ fTknn " ha uatl uu gbA
made a movement 10 pick up the portrait;
"let it lie. Its vaueless 10 me-"
His sister smiled slightly. She seemed
curiouslv obhyious OF the trouble in his face.
Even were | willing to leave fides, she
resumed, II know that a home with you
would be only temporarily established Now
that you have the ball at your feet and a
glorious future awaiting you, you will be sure
10 marry soon; and then should be turned
adrft again"
He sat down moodily and pushed away the
picture with his foot
II shall never marry" he declared.
"Nonscnsel Guy" she added, after
pause don't you think It would be good
thing to fulfil the old mans implied, II not
expressed, desire, and try for tldes~
"Theo. can you imagine that | could ever
be guilty of so mean an action2 You know
how by the terms of our grandiather's will,
she must if ask her-thank Heaven for that
If marry me, or forfeit her fortune. Sure
ly you must see how that precludes a man Of
honor from even thinking Of it, Ordinary
fortune-huntcrs are bad enough, but the
basest among them would not stoop to put a
girl into such a false position. If ! hated
her, could not. and, if | loved her'-his
voice softened, and he bent and picked up
the pOrtrait-"if loved her thousand times
less, could put before her the two aterna-
tiyes?"
But, If you loved her, Guy'-his sister
laid emphasis on the words-"why should
the happiness Of your-and perhaps her-life
be sacrificed TO the folly Of an Old and tho
false pride Of Young manY'
Better sacrifice happiness than honor,
my dear, as you know as well as do, what
ever you may say. Let her keep her fortune
ia peace and cOntentment, never guessing
that anything could shake her in It's posses
sion; and. whatever she does may Heaven
bless herl She shall never be troubled by me,
uness-unes3--
"Unless what, my foolish brother"
"Unless ! should know that she loved me.
There-its ont now, Theo-what dare say
you have guessed long ago-ulat Fides Is the
only girl have ever cared for or am ever