Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1890-09-30
TIE MUSIC MAN.

school. tonight
"No. yOu can't. and there's an end
ont sail Aunt Bctsey Bla,chford.
knitting away as II her needles were
made of sheet lightning anil her elbows
worked by eloctsiciiy.
Della looked sober enosgh. She Wa
. tall. fresh conp.exiouei girl of II OF
r.. with large brown eyes. q forehead
surmoun,ci by naturally curling rings
of chcstnu, hair. and sweet rel mouth
always rcady 10 brcak into gracious
smil--l
She hal worked hard all day making
soft zap and flnishing OF the family
ironing. but her labor- had besn chccrcd
by the anticipation Of tho evening sing
ing -chool- that was IN come.
I, IL more than likely tha, Aunt Bet
.cy knew all this. but shc Eat there like
q determined Fate In a brown calico
gown and iiuicl cap frills Aunt Bcis-y
was the auiocrai of Reibrrry farm. She
owned Oh. hous. AMI the surrounding
acrcs AMI tho quartz mill by the riyrr.
and Della. although by courtesy called
her niece. was in rrAliiy only dis,an,
relation who. N not taken In AMI brought
up Ivy old Mr.. Blaichford. would have
bc.n turned over a. the tender mcrcis-
of the town Inor house
"Delia's a goDi girl enough. sa.d the
old woman. "And . spry worker as ever
was. Du, don't believe In girls larking
around the neighborhooi the hull time.
They'r, y deal better OF n, home. swim
ON their patch work OF cuitin' rags for n
new kitchen carpet"
"Du, I promised the schoolmasicr.
Aunt D,iscy.- said poor Delia, her dim
pied face falling Ike the barometer be-
for, q storm. Hes to call for mo nj
half past n AnJ hc will $50 mo safe
home Afisrwapl"
"weli. let him ~ away again. aid
Aunt Bctscy.
Della could hardly scc the glitter ~
,h. Knitting needle. through the tears
that blurred her vision At thee cruo'
wurls
''Thsrc'- "a H. n dance out In the old
barn afierwari." shc yentur,d Ia add,
'and ironoi my pink calico dr-s -
n~aily. AMI my laces Arr all done up!
Oh. Aunt Dctscy. III work ~ hari AZ
the carJct rags all the rcst ~ the week
N you would 1T mo 80 this once 20 Elns
ing school.
AuAt Dctsey wheeled herself rouni In
her chair and eyed Della sharply through
the moon like glasses % her big silver
bowed srcctacles.
well. vel. 80 u You want TO-" aid
abe. tartly. Though AL this music Il
nothin' but clear waste ~ time. In my
yuimg dAys N We could join into the
psalm tunes In church 70 was Ill folks
oIpciel % us''
"E,crybody plays and SIMS nova
days. yeuturyJ Della, who's lofticst and
brightest aspiration was for melo'icon
Or a cheap rarlor organ u her own.
"llumphf' commented Aunt Betsy.
They'd a deal leticr play ca tho waSh.
boarl anil sins calling home the cows
That. the sorio music that pays
Della sighed and abandoned the ques-
tiou. COn-rni "a ~ 10 singing school,
was sufficient ~ a victory Tor the prs
ent time. And when Marcus Wayie,
the village Iedagogue. oallel for her ai
tb. ,nciiisl holr she wa. all ready. In
the stiff. rusiling. pink drrss. the freshly
iron.l lAocs AMI little pair ~ brown
cotton gloves over fiilcd ribbon wrist.
lets that wvrr catire.y new.
but its the Last time she sighed
aunt Dcissy thinks that mlsic u Use
l.-.. and non-cnsical. aud she won't have
me fcoling away my time a, singing
school. .hc says.
"Oh, Delia-and iho~c lessons on the
melo,eon that Ihsys been giving you al
DIR. BArtlett's."
"They viii all b. of no use.- said
Della. with little tremor in her voice.
"Do.-s she know that people sometime.
earn their living by the aid OF musieF
persisted wayte.
"she don't believe it!-
and YOU hav. such n taste Tor II,
Della, Nay. more than taste-a decided
talcnt. oh. we must not let the thins
drop. You must have - meloieon-i'
.y,ut cost much Ia hire one by the quar-
ier-and ~ on with your lessonsT
Della shook her head.
ut will bs impossible. said sh"
mournfully.
"Ill see about that" said Marcu
wayte. My cousin Is In the business
III send him to sec your amt.
Della shrugged her pink calico shoni
der-. "Ah." said she. ''you don't kno"
Aunt Betseyr
"well,- smiled Marcus, well see.
Mr. Ives wayte listened with the mos
earnest interest % the tale Vt his cousin
the schoolmasier.
"Got a real talent for music. chr
said he.
"a most decided ono.
"And POOR
.sbe Ia answered Marcus But TN
old iaiy has plenty os money. IL only sh
chose to spend it In this way; AMI si'
ought to do 20"
.Pienty OF money! And plenty ofprs
judioes. ehy'
THAT is 1t. exactly said Marcus
smiling.
.very well. I'll prumise to do the tr,
I can-to obligs you. Mark. For. ~
ded ,ir. Ives WAITE. with q genia
twinkle of the eye. ~ 80 your heart v
In the business"
at ia frankly confcssed Marcus
sror 10 Della Grey could be qualified ..
give music ie-.ons We might bs marrses
and take the weipells academy at ono'
"a day and boarding school, don't 70,
sres And she II the dearest little thing.
Mr.. Ives wayte laughed. "its .
good ~ DONE said he.
Il was . drrary. rainy night towAr,
the clo.s of that drcariest month OF a
the yesr-the ssd November-when ther
came knock at Mr~- Dlatchfori's doos
Che was all alone. Thomas bates, Oh
hired man, had gone 10 see his brothe
Cd ON the steamer for Florida, where b
Wa Intending to start IN orange orchard
Della Grey had been summoned TO "a
bcsiside Of . dck neighbor. where %
was TO rrmain until late. But Mr.
Biatchford had yet 10 80 tho tramp. th
wild animal OF tho tame one Of who's
shs entertained the least fear. Shs g
up and went 10 the door. Tbcre stood
dripping Traveller On tbs thrshold.
"b Ma Nugsnts place near here
nid -, taking o6 hiscap In spiss oe q