The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1891-05-22

"SdUe mel" crted she.
When Eugene Ashton came to Ne,
York to visit her aunt that lady was dc
lighted to see how pretty she had grow
in the ten years of absence.
Eugene had been studying music a
they only study it in Germany, and he
voice was said to be phenomenal.
For a long while Eugenie's mother, il
writing to Mrs. Morgan, had quoted
what Herr Schelling, an old friend O
the family and a composer of note, hat
said of it. Mrs. Morgan always skipped
these passages, which conveyed no ideas
whatever to her except that the German
gentleman admired Eugenie's voice
Now. as she looked at her critically, and
with the eye of a oma who had her.
self been a beauty, she saw that if she
chose she could win hearts as well as
fame.
"Eugenie," she cried suddenly, "tell
me all about your conquests. Tell me
who is to be the happy man. I'm sure
that at twenty something more interest
ing than music must have come into
your life, you charming thing"
Eugene opened her great eyes widely
and gave a little laugh. "Oh, no., %auntie,"
she cried. 81 have made no conquests.
l have only a few dear friends. And
there is nothing more interesting than
music to me. You know, Hope to make
my fortune by my voice, and to do so
,,o,3nh fnr ,,o,pn,o o,I fha rr;,1c 3,
''And who are the friends you are fond
est of" Mrs. Morgan asked, hoping to
discover a pretty secret by strategy.
"Herr Schelling is the most intimate"
said Eugene.
The family friend your mother speaks
off, asked her aunt.
Eyes. Oh, how good he was when poor
dear papa died" said Eugene. Like a
brother to us all. And never has he
missed coming to us for a day. Oh, my
dear aunt, you have no idea what friend
ship is with the German people. And it
lasts for life. 1t means something that
nc other nation comprehends."
81 believe the me hug each other; or
is it the French who do that?' asked Mrs.
Morgan, with a toss of her delicate little
head. Your uncle said it made him
quite sick to see them do it abroad"
Eugene said no more just then, but
she opened her desk ard took forth a
which she handed to her
aunt. THAT is Herr Schelling," she
said softly.
"Oh," said Mrs. Morgan, "that is the
friend, eh? Well, he is hand
some. Heis like Goethe, isn't he, or what
is his name? But he wears his hair
very long"
1T is the custom in professional cir
cles in Germany said Eugene. sit is
beautiful hair, Herr Seedlings"
"All geniuses used to wear long hair
once" said Mrs. Morgan, land big col
lars, but they've left that off. You
couldn't tell them from other persons at
receptions and teas nowadays"
Eugene took the photograph from her
aunt's hand and placed it on the mantel-
piece.
"You dear, good friend" she said.
Just now. no doubt, you are sitting be-
side ann and comforting her, hold
ing her hand. He always kisses
mammals hand when he leaves us. 1t is
so beautiful to see him."
"Gracious! Eliza is not going to
marry again, is she: Herr Schelllng is
going to become your stepfather"
cried Mrs Morgan.
.Aunt Helen!' sighed Eugene re-
proachfully. mamma! What an idea!
She is a widow, indeed. Besides, Herr
Schelling is too young. Mamma is fifty.
Oh, no., it is friendship that he feels for
her, as for all of u.s."
German friendship" said Mrs. Nor
gan sarcastically.
Exactly" replied Eugene honestly.
If the girl had any pretty secrets she
kept them to herself. This devoted fam
lily friend was the only man she talked
about.
Shortly she bought a beautiful frame
for his photograph, and he wrote her
long letters, fourteen sheets in length,
of them, principally, as it seemed
to her aunt, about Wagner's music.
In fact Mrs. Morgan soon discovered
to her surprise hat music occupied Eu-
whole soul, and that she asked
nothing better than to practice all day
upon the piano that her uncle had
placed in her own room, disregarding
the invitations to afternoon teas and re-
and evening parties, and even
more delightful social affairs which
poured in upon her.
'.You are such a success" said Mrs.
Morgan, land you don't seem to appre-
ciate your advantages"
'.Oh, all these people have been very
Eugene would answer. But
after all you only seem to go to be asked
if you have been to other places, and If
the hostess is not charming, by a num-
Der of people, one after the other. do
not meet any one who really has some
thing to say. Oh, auntie! if you could
only hear Herr Schelling talk"
About Wagner" asked Mrs. Morgan,
a fat voice.