Mower County transcript., 1890-04-16

q mountain in her path as Eliza had
proved. ,'..
1t was really torture to her to leave
the house with her cousin by her sido,
so greatly did her pride suffer, for Eliza
wore bright green worsted dress, the
antiquated sacQue and the brown folt
hut with the red feather.
''Iow can bear two weeks of this?"
thought Alice.
And just then she saw Amy Howell
coming toward her.
"Would you mind if called you
Elsie?" she asked, turning to her cous-
In. ELIZA Is SO old-fashioned and
staid."
II don't think would know myself
by any other name," answered Eliza,
laughing. ''But you can call me Elsie
1t you like-I don't mind. But il I fail
to answer sometimes, you mustn't think
it odd
Alice hoped Amy would pass by with
out speaking. She was q very stylish
girl, and an intimate friend of Maud
Westerly. Therefore her good opinion
was Of value.
But Amy stopped, and the introduce
tion had to be made, and Alice felt
rather than saw the keen glance the
fashionable-attired young lady gave at
the old sack and the red-feathered hat.
"You are on your way to rehearsal, of
COURSE" said Amy. "Well, you won't
find Maud there. She's At the telegraph
office, waiting for an answer to a tele.
gram she sent off this morning to girl
in the country. IT that girl can't come
and take the part of the Gypsy Queen,
we might as we'll give up the concert"
"Who 10 she?' asked Alice.
"Some one Maud met last summer
when she was out camping" answered
Amy. as she passed on.
lis there any trouble about your con-
cert?" asked Eliza.
Eyes. Laura Moore has soro throat,
and won't be able to sing; but we will
find some one else, Of course" answered
Alice, as she pointed out large dry
goods store on the opposite corner, and
then said goodbye.
She breaLhed more freely when she
was rid Of her unfashionable cousin,
and no longer shrank from meeting any
one she knew.
When she reached the hall whore the
rehearsal was to take place, she had al
most recovered her good humor.
She was surrounded at once by a
group of anxious girls, all talking at
once.
If Maud doesn't get some one to-day,
We will have to give up the cantata,"
said Belle Waite; ''and won't the audi
ence growl if we have only few songs
after all our big talk, too!''
"And the cantata so extensively ad-
yertised,'' sighed Della Long. ''Of
course we will have to offer to take
tickets back. We can't give what we
promised"
''And such lovely costumcs-all vast
ed," added Flora Gray.
1t was almost time for the rehearsal
to begin. Monsieur lie Fevre, who had
been training the girls in their several
parts, appeared and began to arrange
the stage.
A number OF the girls ran to tell him
that as yet no one had been found to
take the place of the Gypsy Queen.
But all at once the door of the hall
was thrown open and Maud Westerly
appeared, on her pretty face such
bright smile of triumph that all knew
at once that she had found some one to
take the part, and close beside her, en-
circled by her protecting arm, was q
girl in bright worsted dress, an old
black sack and brown felt hat with
red feather.
'Girls, let me introduce Miss Eliza
Tappan!" cried Maud. Never before
did have such luck. I telegraphed to
Brooktown, and found she was here
actually here, all ready to my hand.
And drove straight of and got her.
Now you'll hear voice! Laura Moore's
isn't circumstance to it. Don't deny
it, Eliza. You know that you can sing
like a peri. And she's so quick, too.
She'll learn that part before she sleeps
tonight"
Alice could scarcely believe her eyes.
She saw Eliza surrounded, the center
of all interest; she saw how fond and
proud of her Maud seemed to be-Maud!
the refined and proud ar.stocrat, whose
opinion of Eliza she had dreaded so ter
ribly. 1t seemed as if it must be all
dream.
No one appeared to look at or think of
Eliza's unfashionable garments. 1t was
enough for all the girls that Maud, their
recognized leader, gave her distinguish
ed consideration.
Monsieur LIE Fevre was delighted with
the new Gypsy Queens voice.
"A little training in posture and
movement-that is all that is needed"
he said. 1--WE will have a few private
lessons as we'll as the public rehearsal,
and all will go well.''
Maud took Eliza home in her carriage
and kept her to lunch. When Alice saw
her again, her cousin had her hands full
of flowers.
"Maud almost stripped her conserva-
tory" she explained. ''She is so gen.
crous!'
"Why didn't you tell me you could
sing?" asked Alice, wishing that on her.
self had fallen the honor of finding the
new Gypsy Queen. What a card it would
have been to gain Maud's favor!
"You didn't ask me-" answered Eliza:
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