The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-02-20
Miss Katharine.
The Romance of Pretty Little Philadel-
phia Music Teacher.

The Romance of Pretty Little Philadel
phia Music Teacher.
Philadelphia Times.
It was one of the many little beehives oil
houses for which the Quaker City is Justly
famous that Katharine Kingsley called home
and home it certainly was, with all the
wealth of meaning that the old word sug.
gess cinging 10 it. How could it be other.
wise possessing such queen as Katharine
TO scatter the warmth of her genial presence
as the dancing sunbeams brighten the old
earth with such CHEEKY nature constantly
doing little deeds OF kindness. refreshing as
dewdrops falling on the thirsty flowers?
Not that Katharine was wonderful girl
nor was she a marvelously beautiful one
either. She was simply natural" and that
was why everybody liked her and why every
one who desired sympathy in time of trouble
or congratnlation on any streak of good luck
always went straight to Katharine Kingsley
You had but to look into her sweet face,
with its open, white brow and steady blue eyes
to decide at once that here was genuine
heart's-ease or violet, whose principal duty is
to keep blooming and to shed forth its quiet
fragrance over other lives.
She was only demure little music mistress,
never dreaming that any great event could
ever cast its influence over her path in life
and that on this very day the first notes OF
her romance should be composed was an idea
which never entered the thoughts of the lit
tie head carried so daintily.
So, all unconsciously, the little figure in
brown, looking like some good-sized robin,
trips cheerily along towards its destination,
and-fate.
May Wilder's lesson heightened out into
one of two hours, for beforehand Miss Kath-
arine must be told the joyful intelligence that
wonderful Uncle Max had at last returned
from Europe and was going to make them a
long visit, and wouldn't that be nice?
And just think, Uncle Max, is fond of
music just like you, Miss Kathariner
And after the lesson wouldn't Miss Kath-
arine play her favorite song,
Let us wander in the sunlight
To the land of flowers and song.
So Miss Katharine played on and was soon
lost in the beautiful land ofmelody, while The
notes fell from her finger tips like little
stream, now dancing gayly in merry cascades
over steep and rocky bed, here murmuring
low a sadder and sweeter plant "among
haunts of coot and hern," then sparkling out
amid the fern and ending with perfect
torrent of jubiant harmony, Katharine de-
clared, "Quite sufficient for you to-day, my
blossomp'
With merry laugh she wheeled around on
the stool only to find that she had had
another auditor who must be Uncle Max, for
May Blossom dragged him triumphantly for
ward, crying gleefully,
81 knew it all the time, Miss Katharine,
only Uncle Max shook his finger at me and
l wouldn't tell"
The three were soon chatting away with
the ease of old acquaintance.
That evening as the little figure in brown
cDpd hOmoUard ito nation opau,ad GRO bird
like than ever, and the pleasant recollection
of tall figure with grave, earnest face, and
the friendly glance of Uncle Max's warm
brown eyes, fingered in Katharines mind
After that Uncle Max developed wonder
full interest in his niece's musical education.
Hardly lesson passed by without his meet
ing (by chance, ofcourse) the little music
mistress. And Katharine began to look for.
ward to May Blossoms days when after the
lesson "Miss Katharine" would play "Let Us
Wander" and Uncle Max would Away drop
in to hear it then would sit quietly listen.
ing to the beautiful harmonies born from the
pure soul of the little music mistress
There was never such beautiful spring
time as this to Katharine. The sun seemed
to shine more brightly in the clear blue sky
above, and the carol of the birds rang out
bithely from the budding tree tops. Is it
wonder that to her the earth wore its gayest
and most festive dress
What did she care if, amid all the bright,
happy days, this one happens to be "cold and
dark and drearyT Into her life no rain
drops fall"
So, despite the sullen clouds overhead and
the mud beneath, the little figure, almost hid
by gossamer and umbrella, trips cheerily
along to May Blossom, for her heart is sing
ing the gayest measures.
But May Wilder's lesson was shorter than
usual, for Miss Katharine must be told the
dreadful news
"Uncle Max is going away What will
we ever do without Uncle Max? l Just think
it's too mean, don't you, Miss Katharine ?"
asks the doleful little voice.
Afterwards May Blossom wondered why
her teacher was so quiet and pale and when
she pleaded for "Let Us Wander" why Miss
Katharine said:
No, dear not to-day"
"Ah the day is dark and cold and dreary."
Uncle Max going away! To see no more
the dark, handsome face, with its grave, earn
est eyes, in which the warm light has lately
grown so tender! To live through the weary
days to come without the sunshine of his
presence She knows now why the spring
time seemed so joyous, now when the rain
drops into her life are falling, while the notes
in the romance sound grieved and broken.
The little figure has forgotten its merry
movement, the steps grow slower and the
umbrella sinks lower, when
Good afternoon, Katharine !" and Uncle
Max is close beside her. The brown eyes are
gazing persistently under that umbrella, and
when the little face is slowly raised to return
his greeting he sees two bright, unlucky tears,
which have been gathering in the sweet eyes,
roll down the flushed cheeks like rain drops
on the crimson heart of wild rose. And
when at last the blue eyes meet the brown
pair, in which all the tender love light of the
brave heart of Uncle Max shines undisguised,
why after that-but Katharine could never
tell just how it was nobody ever can j.; try il
and see,) but it happened that her hand
was closely gathered in big, warm grasp,
and under that umbrella two figures walked
very close together, never needing that
Behind the clouds is the sun now shining.
8 w