Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-02-14
ALICE LEsLIE's. FORTUNE.

cody the music teacher, nd Mabel
! AinsIr, in 7, ply to an inquiry irom her
/ COMP MON, as they heard a umd double
/ knotg sc tie .rJnt door.
''1hr mus teacher! Are you taking les
sons, VI IS A lslieg' he asked
/ Yes, size replied, and ,Als Is my hour
If you have nothing special to do, howev-
| err, you may stay here and look over the
pictures, and read till | return. general
/ ly get tired and wind up my lessons in
about half an hour
II love music so well that | would glad
/ ly stay, even 10 hear you practice, y he re-
piled
Very we'll; 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 interferei, and his
| regard had now reached critical point st
which the scale must soon be turned. He
| listened eagerly for the sound of her voice,
| for music formed so important AN element
in his existence, that he wished the woman
whom lie might choose should possess a
/ fine voice Mabel's however, disappoint-
ed him. 1t 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 Cow IDS delicious
"Fruhingslied. Spring song); and as
the singer went on, it SCENE to Sydney
! that he could see the fragrant green and
| tender yiolets 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-
seriousness, 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-
peatet ii 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 conju ed 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 God crea-
lures.
"She is Miss Alice Leslie, said Mabel,
coldly. "She is good teacher, | think
which is very fortunate for her in her re-
duced circumstances.
rs her music all her liyelihood?' asked
! Sydney.
Yes! she is an orphan, and has a little
| brother and sister dependent on her Her
| father was a dIssipated man, and made a
complete wreck of his property; but, for
! ntniv RI Il nf
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 be could not avoid
seeing that the topic vas unwelcome and
so dropped it,
Some weeks after this conversation
Mabel gave musical soiree
Il don wish to have Miss Leslie here
at ALL said she to her mother; but no
one else plays my accompaniment so well.
But remember, mamma, do not wish her
asked to sing.
When the guests we're all assembled,
there was one who looked strange among
the gay company young woman dressed
NTH 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.
Ths first song Mabel sang was Schuber
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 a lady
st nding near begged Alice to sing,
adding that one who accompanied the
singing Of others so beautifully must sure
" sing well herself This request being
seconded by a large circle, Mabel and her
mother were forced to lei Alice comply.
Never had MaUel' beauty shown with
a 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 mus &c teacher might
have made on him.
But fate defes all human calculations
Not long atterward Mabel went 20 a con
cert with d party of friends. Sydney bein,l
Of the number. Who should enter and
and take the seat in front of them but
Alice and a lady friend, who had brought
her thiJher knowing her passionate love
for music
Alice was sufficiently near for Sydney TO
readily enter into conversation with her
and gradually hetr4nsiened his attentions
almost entirely 10 her, as the concert went
on and he found that no one in his purity
could enter into it with the keen delight
and subtle appreciation that Alice showed.
Her beautiful eyes kind'ed her cheeks
gl0wed her breath came quick and hort
There was a greater beauty in her face,
for 4 time then in Ma5ei's. She and
Sydney enjoyed with kindred raptlre
Beethoven immortal seventh symphony.
filed with such unearhly mysterious
beauty that il sounded like angels talking
together They entered with keenest en-
jos mpnt into each note q Mendelss0hn
wonderful Caprcc0lo Brilliant, into tie
heavenly sweet hreuizer Sonata. and all
the selections from the grand masters.