The Irish standard., 1890-01-25

4 Have you 4 piano at your lol lgingsPP''
asked Mrs Miller. 81.
Naroissa colored and shook her head.
Il 4'stsI can not afford it, said she. u Am
very poor. Z #5.
chen we Will go to my house and sry
your voice, said Mrs. Miller 1.
The verdict was:
I. sasNot bad. Your voice is tolerably
sweet, but not strong. / dare say, how
ever, it may do for this occasion. " .
Poor Narcissa. This s<faint praise"
was contrast to what she had ex-
pected when she had first trained her
fresh young voice for the applause Of
breathless thousands. But she stihed
her modification and smiled her graft
tude for Mrs. Miller's encouragement
and recommendation. And then she
went home to pra.tic her ballads and
make the best ',argain she could with
old Madame Monise, who kept a second
hand clothing emporium, for one even
,ing's use Of q dark blue silk dress,
trimmed with black lace, which was not
SO perg much worn! For Narcissa had
nothing Of her own but the plainest
black alpaca, and well-worn olive
green serge, neither of which costumes,
however respectable in themselves,
were exactly adapted to the splendors
Of Mrs. Dayton's bathrooms.
The eventful evening arrived at last,
and the professional balladist found
herself >ated at the piano, among the
glittering throng. She need not have
been so nervous, nobody took any mo-
tice Of her beyond the merest passing
glance. Mrs. Dayton herself, a sweet
faced blonde in white satin and pearls,
came up to the singer when her first lit
tie song was finished, and thanked her
pleasantly.
II will send waiter to you with a
glass of wine," said Mrs. Dayton. 'sYou
must be tired"
So until the time for her next song
should come Narcissa sat quietly watch
ing the dancers, the promenaders, the
inevitable hirters, while one Herr So
bieski did musical wonders upon the
violin. Presently she saw In the flower
garlanded portal Of the door tail fig
ure which she knew we'll, though years
had elapsed since last she looked upon
it-Charles Dallas self.
She turned to the plump, elderly lady
who sat next her, eating forced straw
berries and cream with countenance
Of the serenest satisfaction.
s'Who is that gentleman by the door?"
she asked. ssThe gentleman talking to
Mrs. Dayton?"
The plump lady paused, with straw
berry as plump as herself poised upon
her gold spoon.
"Why," said she, sits Mr.. Dayton, to
be sure.''
II think you must be mistaken" said
Narcissa, with her heart beating very
fast. Ell am quite certain that I
used to know him years ago; and his
name was Dallas-Charles Dallas"
''It is the same one," said the plump,
elderly lady, nodding her head. 'You
haven't heard of the death and eccentric
will OF his rich uncle? Dallas inherited
a fortune fit for a Prince, with only the
condition that he should add the sur
name of the old miser--Dayt his
own. Dallas Dayton, it is printed on
the cards; and his wife was great heir
ess, too; she was Miss Moneyman, Of the
firm of William Moneyman e. Co. But
/ am told the marriage was quite love-
match. You can easily see how devoted
they are to each other. Mr.. Dayton
met with quite disappointment early
in life. have heard; but 1t is easy to
perceive"-with onplacent chuekle-
s;that the old wound is entirely healed
by this time" 800" s...a
So Narcissa Mindencroft sang her Sec
ond ballad and her third, and received
her check for ten dollars from Mrs. Dali
las-Dayton's gracious hand and went
home, quite unnoticed and unrecognized
by the man to whom her smile or her
frown had once been like second fate!
There were great many people there.
and it was scarcely to be expected that
the host should seek out the paid bal-
lad singer who trilled her notes for the
amusement of her guests, any more than
she should distinguish Herr Sobiesxi or
Signor Tremolini who played the violin
and ''did" the cornet solos. 1t was all
right and natural enough.
But Narcissa cried quietly upon her
pillow when she got back to her cheer
less room. A homeless, friendless,
loyeless old maid 1t was hardly the sort
OF life she hsM anticipated when she
threw off Charles Dallas faithful love
like worn-out glove.
The lesson of lifel We all have to
learn it, but to some it is bitterer, far,
than to others.-Amy Randolph, in n.
Y. Ledger.
Raw Oysters Self-Dige stive.
s'Fothergill on Indigestion" in speak
ing Of the oyster being eaten habitually
and by preference in the raw or un-
cooked state, says: ''It is interesting to
y, to roh a4r1rN