Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-09-11

1ng5 a young man appeared to be writing,
while several persons loun9ed IN com
Portable seats around the room.
About the piano was a group which
chiefly attracted the attention Of the
spectator in the tres. At the instrument
vas graveIy seated a young girl of some
twelve years; Immediately behind her
stood an elderly man, remarkable for his
wonderful physique head bald, with
crown Of white hair, and bushy, dark
eyebrows.
BE played the violin with skill and
dignity. Seated near him was a man of
about fifty, with the most benevolent face
Imaginable, who played the bass VOL with
great gu~tO.
Between them stood the singer. She
was q pale brunette, slight and graceful,
and not apparently more than twenty-five
or tWenty-six years Of age. The some
what severe oval Of her face was relieved
by a bright pair Of black eyes that
seemed to grow larger as she sang. One
hand rested gently on the shoulder Of the
girl at the piano, and with this she
seemed to keep time, pressing gently on
the shoulder of the performer to stimu-
late her zeal. And that hand was de-
ieious!
The hymn OF PaIestzina had succeeded
the Prelude of Bach. 1t was a qUartette,
to which two new voices lent their aid.
One Of the new singers was a young lady
Of about twenty, quietly dressed, and
divinely beautiful albeit. there was an
IndescribabIe expression of sadness on
her face.
The benevolent gentleman laid aside
his bass-v1Ol, stood up, took OF his
glasses, and his deep, rich voice completed
the full measure Of the melody.
After the quRrtette followed a few
moments of general conversation, during
which. after embracing the young girl
pianist, who Immediately left the room,
the principal songstress walked to. the
window.
She leaned out as if to breathe the fresh
air, and her profile was sharply relieved
against the bright light behind her, in
which the others formed a group around
the young man at the table, who seemed
preparing to read what he had written.
The lady leaned from the window,
gently tanning herself as she looked now
at the sky, now at the dark landscape.
Leland imagined he could distinguish
her gentle breathing above the sound of
her fan and leaning eagerly forward for
a better view, he caused the leaves to
rustic slightly.
She started at the sound, then remained
immovable, and the fixed position of her
head showed that her gaze was fastened
upon the oak in which he was concealed.
He felt the full aWkWardness of his
position, but could not judge whether or
not he was visible to her; but, under the
danger Of her fixed regard, he passed the
most painful moments Of his life.
She turned into the room and said, in
a calm voice, a few words which brought
three or four of her friends to the win
dow; and among them Leland recognized
the elderly gentleman with the violin.
The moment was a trying one. He
could do nothing but lie still in his leafy
retreat-silent and immOvable as a statue
The conduct of those at the window
went far to reassure him, for their eyes
wandered over the gloom, with evident
uncertainty, convincing him he was but
suspected-not discovered.
But they exchanged animated observa-
tions, to which the party most interested
lent an attentive ear.
Suddenly a strong voice, which he rec
ognized as belonging to him Of the violin,
rose over them all in the pleasing order,
Loosen the dOgi"