Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-12-18

tween friends, you know" said Jocelyn
smiling as one who is superior to preju.
dice. "Great gifts like hers-deuce take
it, you've no right to hide 'em! We're
not living in the feudal ages; what's the
good Of girls being talented if no
bodys to know anything about it? Be
Edee, talent means money nowadays,
and your daughters voice is fortune
II it's rightly managed. Don't you agree
with me, general?
"Well, a great deal depends on the
management" returned that gentleman,
squeezing his large nose between his
thumb and forefnger. "But with good
management - yes - she could make
money. as much as she wants"
81 should say she could, as much as
she wants, or as much as you want
either, Randolph, if these stories hear
about your embarrassments have any
truth in EN-"
81 scarcely understand; perhaps you
Will explain yourself more fully" said
Randolph, looking from oneSo the ether
IN manner that betrayed agitation.
81 see you don't know who lingo is"
observed Jocelyn suavely. you've
made such hermit of yourself up here
of late years you've dropped out of the
running. Why, lingo, my dear man
simple as you see him sit THERE'S the
foremost impresario and musical man.
ager of the age. He has heard report
Of our Beatrix's powers, and-wel, go
ahead, lingo; put it in your own way"
''I'll just tell you what it is, Mr.. Ran
dOlph," said the impresario, assuming
the reins of the conversation with wave
of the hand. "a few words are best,
when it's about business. came up
here TO find out if your daughter could
sing as good as Jocelyn here says she
could. Well, she's got fine organ, and
she knows what TO do with it; no mis-
take about that! Well, I've got an open
ing and I'll take her in, and I'll pay her
first prices; that's what I'll do. She goes
night on, in opera, under me, and she
makes her fortune; that's all about it,
I'm a square man, by Jupiter! and l
don't make no fuss about terms; when l
buy a good article pay good money for
il. When 1 say III make her boom
I'll do il. When Moses lingo says he'll
do the management the young lady's all
right, if she was as homely as cow and
sung like bull; and if she gets fool to
manage her, or manages herself Cts
about the same thing, she might sing
like an angel and look like Venus and
not make fifty dollars week, and don't
you forget it,"
81 am not accustomed, 1 need hardly
O1,co7-ua1 Pon1ol,,11
pealing glance at Jocelyn, and endeav-
oring TO appear calm and Indifferent, ''to
consider or discuss such matters. have
always lived, as my forefathers have be-
fore me, upon my private resources,
without reference 20 trade of any
sort. However, gentlemen, / must
admit that fortune has played me
a very scurvy trick, through no fault
Of my own; and | suppose that what
you say is true-the good old days
are passing away, and each one of US
has to fight for his own hand. At the
same time it could only be with the
greatest reluctance, and under pressure
OF the severest necessity, that could
permit daughter of mine"-
ITO be-of course-that's understood"
put in Jocelyn comfortably. But you'll
be surprised to find how little annoy
ance there is about it, especially since,
in your case, it very fortunately happens
that we shall be able to put Beatrixupon
the stage without any ones being aware
who she is. She will be, incognita from
first to last"
''Ah! that changes the aspect of the
matter materially" said Randolph, look
ing at the impresario. "But it occurs
to ME that
The entrance of Beatrix herself at this
Juncture prevented the thing which had
occurred to her father from becoming
known. She announced that supper
was ready. The gentlemen arose, and
Jocelyn, approaching her, took her hand
and put it under his arm, murmuring
confdentially in her ear, "How would
our little Beatrix like to pay all her IA
theirs debts, and setup the family on its
legs again.
Beatrix gazed round at him with
searching eyes and questioning lips.
The unruly part of her excitement had
been composed by her singing, but the
exalted mood remained, so that she was
ready to expect anything that was not
commonplace. She could not have told
what JOcelyn meant, and yet she seemed
to herself to anticipate what he was go
ing to say. Good news was in the air.
However, for the moment nothing more
was said. Her father was behind, with
the general, and they were speaking in
an undertone. Her heart beat high, and
her step was light AS they came to the
supper table, and Jocelyn pressed her
hand, she gave him q smile which, had
he been worthy of it, would have knight
ed him on the spot. She was young and
knew nothing worse than her own pure
self, and she was ready to give gratitude
without waiting to know for what her
gratitude was due. Experience of the
world is apt TO correct this impulse.
The conversation at table wandered
first over miscellaneous topics, for Mr..
Randolph was somewhat at loss how
to present the all important subject to
his daughter; Jocelyn was busy thinking
over his own part in the little comedy,
and the impresario, besides finding much
to occupy his attention in the viands,
was now wholly at ease in his own mind
and dreamed of no difficulties. He had
interpreted Mr.. Randolph's scruples as
merely bid for good payment, to which
he had responded in his usual whole
souled style; as to the young lady, of
course she would follow her fathers |
lead OF the three it was Jocelyn who
first spoke.
81 don't see why we should keep this |
dear child any longer in ignorance of the