Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-09-17
No, Il.

In the chorus of the Black Dwarf
Company, sr!'
Mr.. Fotheryngham Folllot shut up
his music portfolio with snap.
'Spalardi must have been dreaming,
said he. I'VE are very particular at st.
Ermengarde's. hardly think, Mlss
Blake, that you will suit
Signor Spaardi was in rage.
Did l not tell you,' snar.ed he, mot
to let the fool know where you had
sung?
i could not tell him f.lsehood, Sig
nor,'' murmered Bessie.
When she was packing her little
trunk to come home, in the dreary hall
bed room, a couple of hours later, the
maid of.al!-work came UP to her.
There's Il young man waiting to see
you in the parlor, said she.
It's mistake + sighed Bessie.
No, 1t isn't said Mary Ann. Miss
Blake he asked for, as plain as print.
And here's his card-"Mr. John Jud-
SON.
II thought he had forgotten NE +
she murmured.
But she washed her hands and
brushed back the tendrils of her soft,
bright hair, and went down into. the
yaultlike back parlor Of the boarding
house.
There by the window stood tall,
sun Drowned young Apollo, impatiently
drumming his fingers or the sill.
Bessie went up to him and offered
her hand, with a sad little smile.
Bessie he said, with rather a coz
strained air, what Is this hear?'
Its quite true, John, said she.
Father does not approve Of my singing
on the stage, and
and it breaks your heart to give it
up, don't it said Judson, tenderly
regarding her Look here, Bessie.
won't haye your life blightel in this
sort of way. I've loyed you this long
time, and you know 1t, though I've new
cr spoken to tell you so. Give your.
self to me, Bessie. Be nv wife ow, nor
whenever you please, and I'll uphold
yon through evcrytAins:'
Bessie's eyes gIowed like stars.
May | really keep on with the Black
Dwarf Company?' she cried. oh,
John, am learning so much Of music
that never dreamed before
yes, you may, my glrl. if-if you'll
give the one kiss to seal our betrothal 7
And Bessie kissed him with a kiss
that came from her heart.
But when this new arrangement be-
came known to the Wellvlll community
the tongue Of gossip was all agog.
Isaiah Blake opanly declared that he
would disown his daughter, and old Mrs.
Judson drew in her breath with holy
horror.
john said she. If this girl you've
set on marryin' don leave the stage,
shall leave this house.
Sorry to lose you, mother, said
John, cheerfully but Bessie has my
entire approval in what she is doing
And Mrs. Belts, coming up from
Wellsville on a shopping expedition.
kindly gayc Bessie Blake a resume Of
all the neighborhood news.
Johns playin' lone hand, Bessie
SAID she. Your father won't speak to
him. and old Mrs. JudSon she's packn'
up to go to her folks up in Vermont.
But John, he says, ats all right says
he. Bessie is doin exactly what l
wlsh."'
Bessie had a roll of music in her
hand, which she was about to practice
for her first real solo as the Queen OF
the Nereids.''
She looked at it a second, then laid
it down.
'Goodby, sweet notes.. she whis-
pcrcd. Music is divine, but there's
something better and nobler still-the
love of true heart 7
John Judson was pruning the big
cherry tree in front of the old red farm
house the next day, when a woman
opened the gate and called out sweet
Good morning He nearly fell Oft
the ladder.
Bessie he gasped, in amazement.
I've come back to Wellsvllle, Jobn,'
she SAID. I've given up my .husc Tor
good and all, except to sing to your lit:
tie parlor organ of an evening now and
then. Eve come back, John, to be your
wife.
But your career, Bessie?
It's career enough to make you hap
py, John she answered.
By this time he had descended from
the ladder and thrown aside his prun-