Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-02-14


polite to her which she was much too
nervous to understand. Yes, he was
very good looking; her eyes timidly in
vestigated the state of his right hand.
1t was gloved, and looked like any other
hand.
81 shall be pleased to do anything l
can" she was at last able to utter, "but
1 don't play half SO well as Mrs. Marley
says"
"My dear, you do. You have such
trained wrist; and, Mr.. Carlton, you see
that little hand, but you have no concep-
ton what touch it has'
Having unconsciously planted these
daggers she departed, and her victim
seated herself at the piano, saying ner-
vously: II can but do my best. am 30
sorry you need help. Oh, don't try to
move that heavy book for me-you-you
have hurt your hand Mrs. Varley says"
Eyes, l have hurt it-that's to say, it
was hurt"
"By an ACCIDENT"
"Well, not exactly; there was good
deal Of intention in it" and he smiled in
way that was very CALLING to Miss
Falkland.
In the whole Of this great city Of Lon
don there was but one man whom she
! dreaded to see, and yet ON the very first
occasion when a meeting was possible it
had pleased her i'll fate to set him before
her. Well, she would play his accompa-
niments; he could not possibly recognize
her; she had only seen the crown Of his
hat, and he had seen nothing Of her.
Being SO sure of this, her woman's nat
ure asserted itself, and while taking off
her gloves and bracelets with trembling
fingers, she said, rather anxiously, "Does
your hand give you much pain?'
"a little, but it is only one finger that
is hurt; the doctor says it will be all right
again in a week or SO"
Then you had to send for DOCTOR"
she said, looking regretfulD il his hand
some face.
"No, l took my finger to him. 1t is
nothing; don't think about it.
1.-THE person who caused the accident
must be very unhappy" she remarked,
tentatively, taking off her last bracelet.
81 wonder what she thinks of the
transaction?" he answered, smiling. 81
think it is very doubtful whether she
thinks about it at all But we must be-
gin, they are getting impatient. Mrs.
Marley wants Inc to sing this, he said,
putting Maude Whites setting Of THE
Devout Lover" in her hands. "Do you
know it,
II know Mr.. Walter Pollocks words,
and of course l know Miss Whites set
ting; heard it at the Haymarket-I
think 1 can play it."
She played it charmingly; his voice
was indeed magnificent but in the midst
of his triumph she heard some admira-
ton Of her playing. 80 clever of her
to sit down and read that at sight. "
"Most beautifully played" Most strik.
ing" IF they use the word striking
again." thought Miss Falkland, Il shall
go home"
Il have SO enjoyed that, Mr.. Carlton, Vi
she said. "Do let me say so; that is
singing"
You made me sing well, if l did, "
said he. II have never been so well ac-
oompanied in my life; and that accom-
paniment was by no means an easy one
to play at sight
mo, it is not particularly easy. II
you could but have played it yourself
the thing would have been perfect"
''Do sing something classical now,
pleaded Mrs. Marley.
"Oh, yes, something classical" was
echoed on all sides.
"They want to talk" he whispered.
How classical must it be, Mrs. Var.
leyt"
'Oh, go back as far as ever you can
that's what l call classical"
"Plutarch spoke of music as a super.
fetal vulgar science; Plato didn't like
places where they infatuated persons
with words and songs. suppose that
is too far back
ooh, don't tease me, Mr.. Carlton
something classical want-what's called
classical, you know. There was pretty
thing of Mozart's they used to sing, Bat.
ii, BATH; sing that"
mot today" said he, laughing
"haven't had enough of that?' Some,
thing was found, and he sang it, and
then something more.
'Oh, thank you, dear Mr.. Carlton, =
cried Mrs. Marley etfusively after yet
another song; lit is SO kind of you-sc
really kind to do so much for our amuse.
ment, and when you are in such pain
too. Now will you take Miss Falkland
to supper"
"Are you in painr' she inquired on the
wak,o the supper room. II hope not. .
"On no; Mrs. Marley exaggerates So
should have forgotten all about it long
ago if she didn't keep reminding me OF
it."
"But if you are in pain that reminds
you, hate pain myself" observed Miss
Falkland.
What a strange world this would be-
he continued, "if every woman went
through the same amount of physica!
training that men do, and was as strong
of limb and heavy of hand as they arel'
How irrelevant this remark would
have been if made to any one but Miss
Falkland. She knew what prompted it
and as If In despair Of keeping to indiffer
ent subjects, said; "Some women are
Haya won navar spap apvIp