Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-08-21

answered:
''In the chorus of the Black Dwarf
Company, sir"
Mr.. Fotheryngham Folliott shut up his
music portfolio with snap.
''Spalardi must have been dreaming"
said he. "We are very particular at st.
Ermengarde's. 1 hardly think, Miss
Blake. that you will suit"
Signor Spalardi was in a rage.
Ibid not tell you," snarled he, "not
to let the fool know where you had
sung2"
81 could not tell him a falsehood,
signor," murmured Bessie.
When she was packing her little trunk
to come home, in the dreary hall bed
room, couple of hours later, the maid
of-all- work came up to her.
"Theresa young man waiting to see
you in the parlor," said she.
ats a mistaken sighed Bessie.
"No, it isn't, SAID Mary Ann. g Miss
Blake he asked for, as plain as print.
And here's his card-'Mr. John Jud-
son."
Bessie turned as pi2k as a sweetbrier
blossom.
IL thought he had forgotten mel"
she murmured.
But she washed her hands and brushed
back the tendrils of her soft, bright hair,
and went down into the vaultlikc back
parlor of the boarding house.
There by the window stood tall, sun
Drowned young Apollo, impatiently
drumming his fingers on the sill.
Bessie went up to him and offered him
her hand, with sad little smile.
"Bessie," he said, with rather con-
strained air, "what is this hear?"
"It's 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 it9" said Judson, tenderly re-
garding her. "Look here, Bessie.
won't have your life blighted in this sort
of way. I've loved you this long time,
and you know it, though I've never
spoken to tell you so. Give yourself to
me, Bessie. Be my wife now, or when
ever you please, and I'll uphold you
through everything!"
Bessie's eyes glowed like stars.
''May really keep on with the BLACK
Dwarf Company2" she cried. "Oh,
John, lam learning so much of music
that I never dreamed before!"
eyes, you may, my girl, if-if you'll
give NE one kiss to seal our betrothal!"
And Bessie kissed him with kiss that
came from her heart.
But when this new arrangement be-
came known to the MELVILLE community,
the tongue OF gossip was all agog.
Isaiah Blake openly declared that he
would disown his daughter, and old Mrs.
Judson drew in her breath with holy
horror.
"John," said she, eff this girl you've
set on marryln' don't leave the stage, I
shall leave this housed"
"Sorry to lose you, MOTHER" said
John, cheerfully; "but Bessie has my
entire approval in what she is DOING
And Mrs. Retts, coming up from
Wellsville on a shopping expedition,
kindly gave Bessie Blake resume of all
the neighborhood news.
"John's playin' lone hand Bessie"
said she. "Your father won't speak to
him, and old Mrs. Judson she's pacI1in'
up to 60 to her folks up in Vermont.
But John, he says, Its all right, says
he. Bessie is dom exactly what
wish.
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 she
laid it down.
"Good-by, sweet notes!" she whis-
pered. emusic is divine, but there's
something better and nobler still-the
love of true hearth
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 off
| the ladder.
''Bessiew he gasped, in amazement.
':I've come back to Wellsville, john"
! she said. ''I've given up my music for
good and all, except to sing to your lit
tie parlor organ of an evening now and
! then. I've come back, John, to be your
wife"
but your career, Bessie2"
''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 pruning
shears.
'Welcome, my home angel" he said,
standing there in the yellow March sun
shine like young athelete. "Welcome
to your homew
Old Mrs. Judson consented to remain
ar the farmhouse after all