Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-09-13
Martha did not sneak. 81


hard and disagreeable. She recalled
the resolves just made in the little cham
Der, but the recollection did not do
her much good She knew she was
yielding to evil. She felt her eyes burn
| and snap.
The two girls sat in the broad seat of
the swing, which barely moved. A red
shouldered blackbird came into one of
the apple-trees over them, and sang out
his delicious melody. At the first note
Jenny turned toward her sister. She
knew instantly all that Martha was feel
ing. She had moments fight with
herself; then she said:
"You shall take my turn, and I'll have
the next two turns at our gown. That'll
be fair, won't it2"
Martha had spoken truth when she
said that Jenny was better than she was.
She knew in her heart that she had often
taken advantage of that self-sacrifcing
spirit, and she had many "crying fit
of remorse because she had done so. Now
she was tempted again, and almost ready
to yield.
She shrugged up her shoulders vio-
lently. "No," she said, with emphasis,
sit wouldn't be fair. You know as well
as do that this chance is worth all we
may have in year" She made great
effort, and added: "And l won't take
your turn, so therer'
She kept bravely to her resolve all
through the three days which followed.
1t was Jenny, the lucky one, who went
about her work in perturbed state Of
mind. She kept looking forlornlY at her
sister.
1t was only on the morning of the
Wednesday that she appeared to cheer
up somewhat. She had private con-
sultation with her mother, who constant
ly interrupted her with the exclamation:
"The lands sake! It'll never dol It's
jest a crazy ideal" but she laughed as she
uttered these interjections, and finally
said; "Well, p'raps there's no harm 10
it, but don't ask me to help yo> m If
you get into any trouble, don't blame
nobody but yourselves. >"
''There no trouble to get into" re-
sponded Jane Martha, confidently. "No-
body'll ever know anything about it,
anyway. I'll go up to the village now
and call at Mrs. Hardy's. l know she'll
be willing"
1t was not half an hour later when
Mrs. Hardy, who lived just across the
street from the tall, veraudahed house
which was Miss LAWYERS home, opened
her front door to find one of the Halves
twins waiting.
"Come in, she said, cordially. "Of
course l don't know which tits, but
you're welcome all the same"
ats Jane Martha" applied the girl,
stepping into the cool hall.
When she was seated by the kitchen
table, whereon Mrs. Hardy was rolling
pie-crust, she hesitated and blushed a
good deal before she really announced
her Grand When she had done so,
however, she went on easily enough, and
laughed with the good -natured lady wAo
listened to her.
"Mother finally told me I might" she
said, ''if you were entirely willing"
"Just as willing s can be, was the
answer. ''There'll be great time at the
LAWYERS tonight Very select, too.
Only musical people going. 1 suppose
Miss Lawler thought you aud Martha Jane
are musical, and so you are"
When, at a quarter before eight that
evening, Jane Martha timidly went up
the path leading to the great Lawler
house, she saw through the windows how
brilliant the rooms looked, and how
lovely were the flowers in them, She
felt very small, but still very eager.
Miss Lewler herself, tall lady in thin,
shimmering silk, was coming through
the hall when the servant let in the twin.
She smiled on the shrinking child, and
Jane Martha collected her wits.
The first thing the lady said was what
everybody said when Martha or Jane was
met alone (Which is it, and when the
girl had told her, 'Tm sorry you codld
not both come. I'll put you in good
place where you can see and hear"
Jane, in the pretty light colored cfsh-
mere which belonged to her and her sis
ter, was placed in chair near the door
where she could see the piano and every
one who played or sang. She looked at
the open door and breathed a sigh of re-
lief Then she gave herself up to erjoy-
ment.
The German Herr, as she called him,
played. She had not known that a
piano could sound like that, but still she
waited for the singer. She knew that
the slender girl in white, who had at her
throat cluster OF carnation pinks, must
be the one.
Yes, it was she; and at last she sang.
1t was only in dreams that Jane had ever
heard such tones, but she had dreamed
of them often, and now it had all come
true. The notes penetrated ana thrilled
more. She had unconsciously pressed
her hands to her bosom, and as the last
high notes scared in pure sweetness,
Jane, still not knowing what size did,
rose from her seat and leaned forward.
Miss Dalrymple, turning when her
song was done, saw the figule and met
the vivid glance of the eyes.
Hardly noticing the applause, she
turned to her hostess and said, "That
child can singa"
Miss Lawler looked at Jane, who was
now shrinking back.
'Indeed, she can. You shall hear her.
She loves music so well, think she will
not even be afraid to sing now"
'Let me ask her"
The next moment Jane Martha felt a
hand on her shoulder She looked up
adoringly into Miss Dalrymple's face, aIsl
that lady felt that she had never given
more pleasure.
"Will you sing for mel" she asked.
"Now9n whispered Jane.
presently. You shall stand close by
me, and l will play for you. You shall
sing what you please, Are you wiiling1'
ooh, yes; for your answered the
girl.
Miss Dalrymple smiled down upon her
and took a small, cold hand in both her
own.
So it happened that James fresh, IN
sullied soprano voice, full of suggestions
of power, was heard at Miss LAWYERS
musicale.
Miss Dalrymple listened in admiration
She rose from the piano and said, so that
every one could hear, 81 could not do
nearly as well as that when was of the
age of this child. 1t would be shame
r.