Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1892-12-16

and to let merit win tine test.
The candidate who played last was
the one that best met his ideas of what
was required, Entering the organ loft
by side door he saw rather fragila-
looking young woman perched upon the
bench. - fIiif u -
"Parden me," he began, with good
deal of astonishment, in his voice And
manner. "Are you the person who has
just been playing the Bach fugae SO
wellan -,
She turned : with i's. startled look. 81
was trying il" she admitted, "but am
afraid made sorry work of it,. -
"By no means,," disSeqted the, Colonel
j E@pspsls. ssFtw6s w&lSdpne- 81 uite as
siSwell as l could have done it myself. We
arc very fortunate to have found you,
Miss-what may call you?"
IL She folored and, Seemed to hesitate
4 HGsmha-Viola Gambass she replied at
last. -
Then she turned away. and began to
finger the stops nervously.
After that they talked a little abput
her engagement, and then the Colo onel
took his leave. t; ,...,,.-.,,..
Miss GAMBIA from the first was great
success. She managed the great in
tstrument in manner that was little
short of mastery. She also made a de.
cided Impression upon the members of
the quartette. The Colonel, who was
early on the ground, was not long in dis
covering that his new assistant was as
pFetty 40 shqwRs c}evers The teponNxas so
dksacts ID Nher sharraisg individuality
that he took throaty note in the mid
die of his solo, The. soprano confided
to the alto her intention of going
straight home after service ard repro
ducing the newcomers bonnet lille
the impression was fresh. The alto in
| return called attention. to the heavenly
fit of Miss Gamba's gown.
Now that he might, the Colonel did mot
at opce leave the:eity. 4 The weather be
came very warm indeed, but he fingered.
He came regularly to all the rehesrs pals
and services, blt never. once showed any
disposition to 3resumai his place at the
organ. He seemed content to sit quietly
in the organ loft. s's
About midsummer the services Were
discontinued and the great oaken dd dors
of st. Nero's were to be closed. Before.
that time the Colonel had admitted to
himself that Miss, GAMBIA was the nj ost
interesting of women. He more than
once, fonndl himself regretting that he
must conduct himself toward her in the
paternal fashion betitting his years, aud
he often sighed deeply. He realized all
| Of npoo tbat hic i,,tarart in, noclr uaar xt,o
| reyiyipgg, I, i, g, pyssrte clipax ps ks e&sc9n-
'fditioh Whs !. feached bn th6 eve 81 theI
last Sunday before the close of the son
at st. Ner0,s. 1t happe1ed,s as be was
,SutS hh&ths eye Nca,ig ghe a. glimpse of
the band Of Grape which he had worn
for SO many searssin unsuspecting and
unvaryihg repetition. He held the hate
full thing at arms length, and gazed, at it
ewikhs horror. Then he called "a waiter
and bade him take the hat away.
"Where shall take it, sir9" the as
tenished man asked. -, '-i' :.
| "sAnywhere-takei it anywhere-to
halter, and have him remove that band
inssantly:i SDo Sot, think 1 csp go about
bokihgaifke a hatchmentaf demanded
the Colonel, Indignantly.
In due time the man appeared with
the. offending tile, now shorn of its
ghastliness. The Colonel, properly re-.
habiitated and reju3enated, went I'd a
florists and secured the most satisfactory
boutonnierc that money could demand.
| Then he hurried away to the organ lpft
Of st. Nero's, where the last rehearsal of
| the season had just been concluded.
;3si;IAe quartet had departed and Miss
GAMBIA was alone with the great organ.
AS the Colonel entered she was still play
ing SOME softly reminiscent thing. The
loft was brilliantly lighted. The Colonel
at that moment made up his mind that
ST. -Geciia was an overrated cteatute,
and that she suffered greatly by comphr-
isoa with the glowing picture before his
eyes. n
She saw hinlsinsthe glass aud at onca
stopped playing and turned to greet him.
He came up and stood beside Her.
"Shall you Eemain in town during the
summcrl" he asked, rather abrliptly.
"Really-I hardly know have no
plans at present,' see stammered.
"Pardon me-" he said. ,.'[ thought
perhaps you might be golhg to 70 our
| friends" ~
"No," she replied, with a slight choke
in her voice. "MS friends are very far
away. am practically friendless."
"Oh, you must not say that, my dear
Miss Gamba-you really must not"
She SMILED sorrowfuly and shook her
head. sss
"Really, Miss Gambia, cannot permit
you to say that you have no friends,D
he, went ,on, 'reproachfully. .'"I should
do myself 4 base injustice if did not
beg you to recall those words"
She pulled down the organ lid with a
gentle touch and then begin tooput on a
glove.
Gam l not your friendg Has not that
Tact occurred to you-ever2' he con-
tinued, rather eagerly.
''Of course it has-often, she replied
frankly, giving him the ungloved hand.
''I am so much interested in You. ]
wish could tell you how Interested l
am in you, dear Miss GAMBIA" he said,
still retaining possession of the hand.
s'You have been mos. kind-and con
siderate, che said, looking him full in
the. face. 'T an deeply grateful to
you"
~ want to bel wish you would let
mc"-he stammered. getting red in the