Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-12
ALICE LESLIE's: FORTUNE.


knock at the front door.
The music teacher! Are you taking les
( sons, Miss Ainsiie?" he asked.
Yes, " she replied, and this is my hour.
If you have nothing special to do, howev-
er, you may stay here and look over the
pictures, and read till return. general
Iy get tired and wind up my lessons in
about half an hour"
Il love music so we'll that | would glad
ly stay, even to hear you practice, he re-
piled.
Very well; but you must stop your
ears when | come to the scales, said Ma
bel, laughingly, as she left the room.
Sir Russell Sydney admired Mabel s
beauty and elegance with sufficient warmth
to have his sentiments for her kindled into
love, If no adverse fates interfere1, and his
regard had now reached critical point at
which the scale must soon be turned. He
listened eagerly for the sound of her voice,
for music formed so important an element
III his existence, that he wished the woman
whom he might choose should possess a
fine voice. Mabel's, however, disappoi Mt
ed him. It was correct, but cold and life
less, The electric spark did not glow IN
its tones.
But ere long another voice broke on the
air. SO warm, SO full of sympathy, and of
airy, exquisite sweetness, that he felt him
self carried irresistibly along on the tide of
melody. The song was GOunod's delicious
''Fruhlingslied." (Spring songl; and, as
the singer went on, it SCENE to Sydney
that he could see the fragrant green and
tender violets springing round him. Snow
and sleet lay on the ground. The
winter breeze sighed through the bare
trees; but all this passed from his con-
sclousness, in the bright vision of spring
which this beautiful voice called up
He drew long breath of regret whan the
song drew to a close; but when Mabel re-
peateC it after her teacher, although she
did so very well. as far as the execution
was concerned, yet the spell was broken
the snow, sleet and wintry wind were no
longer conjured away.
Who is your teacher" asked Sydney,
eagerly, when Mabel returned. LAS the
Mahometans say of the Angel ISRAELI,
Her heart strings are a lutte, and she
has the greatest voice of all Gods crea-
lures
She is Miss Alice Leslie" said Mabel,
coidly. ''She is a good teacher, think,
which is very fortunate for her in her re-
duced circumstances.
Is her music all her livelihood" asked
Sydney
"Yes she is an orphan, and has little
brother and sister dependent on her. Her
father was dissipated man, and made a
complete wreck of his property; but, for
tunately give this girl some ad yantages of
education before he totally squandered his
estate"
Sir Russell Sydney seemed disposed to
question Mabel further about the young
music teacher, but her replies were so
brief that, after awhile he could not avoid
seeing that the topic las unwelcome and
so dropped it.
Some weeks after this conversation
Mabel gave musical soiree.
Il don t wish to have Miss Leslie here
at all, said she to her mother; ''but no
one else plays my Accomplishments so we'll
But remember, mamma, do not wish her
asked to sing"
When the guests were all assembled
there was one who looked strange among
the gay company-a young woman dressed
With lady like refinement, but perfect
simplicity; the face lit up by clear, gray
eyes, and shaded by waving black hair,
that rippled on her temples.
The first song Mabel sang was Schuber's
Gondola song, one in which the effect OF
the song is greatly heightened by the
weird rich beauty of the accompaniment.
So exquisitely did Alice Leslie render all
the graduations in this accompaniment.
that the majority of her hearers listened
more eagerly to this than to the song, and
after Mabel had finished singing lady
standing near begged Alice to sing,
adding that one who accompanied the
singing of others so beautifully must sure
y sing well herself This request being
seconded by large circle, Mabel and her
mother were forced to let Alice comply.
Never had Maoel's beauty shown with
bright luster than on this night. bat
her naughty, jealous heart chafed as
she saw Sydney bending over Alice, in
long and earnest conversation. She re-
solved that never again should he see
Alice. if she could prevent it. in which
case she felt sure that her own attentions
could speedily eradicate any impression
the insignificant music teacher might
have made on him.
But fate defes all human calculations.
Not long afterward Mabel went to con-
cert with party of friends. Sydney bein :
of the number. Who should enter and
and take the seat in front of them but
Alice and lady friend, who had brought
her thither, knowing her passionate love
for music.
Alice was sufficiently near for Sydney to
| readily enter into conversation with her
and gradually he transferred his attentions
almost entirely to her, as the concert went
on, and he found that no one in his party
| could enter into it with the keen delight
! and subtle appreciation that Alice showed.
Her beautiful eyes kindied. her cheeks
glowed, her breath came quick and short.
| There was greater beauty in her face,
| for time then in Mabel's. She and
Sydney enjoyed, with kindred rapture
Beethoven 5 immortal seventh symphony,
filed with such unearthly, mysterious
| beauty that it sounded like angels talking
| together. They entered with keenest en-
| joyment into each note of Mendelssohn s
wonderful "Capriccolo Brilliant, into the
| heavenly. sweet Kreutzer Sonata, and all
| the selections from the grand masters.
Seldom were two persons gifted with a
, finer musical intuition. The concert had
| but one alloy to them, which was that it
must come to a close.
| To Mabel the close was relief, Her
| jealousy and chargin had so mastered her
AS to make her forget common good breed
ing. She thr. W scornful chances on Alice,
and whispered derisive remarks Oh her
dress and appearance. Sydney could not
help overhearing some of these, and they
had the effect of making him more defer
entral and attentive to Alice than he was
before, and he wondered how he could
ever of thought Mabel so beautiful when
her expression was so naughty and
ignorant.
| For weeks Alice went brayely and hope.