Evening journal., 1892-11-08


ing from the school girl chrysalis. VINO
sang in pretty little voice nprcttv litiie
waltz song that delighted everybody
There was no question: aoout the encore
this time aud.nexl they were informed
that Miss Berry would favor them with
a recitation
Iins was she whom Gray had dubbed
the antique young lady She had rovc1
permitted herself to outgrow the coy
bashful manner Of extreme youth She
was sweetly coy now She could not re-
cite before 50 many-she never could.
The audience in her vicinity did their
duty like men and protested that they
could not excuse her; she must give
them just one little recitation. And
thus persuaded, she assumed a tragically
lean and hungry look and somewhat dis
jointedly by reason of sundry lapses Of
recollection, gave them "Locksley Hall.
"And Mrs. Jones will now favor us
with a ballad" the beaming manager
announced, unctuously rubbing his
hands.
The lady referred TO leaned farther
back in her chair, slowly unfurling her
fan. while she said with a languid scorn
that called hot flush to the cheek of the
little maid who had lately sung, IL never
sing ballads, Mr.. White"
''But, really" protested the discomft-
ed man, fairly upset by this rebuff, 81
thought you said you would sing some
thing"
"Run right along, dear. We are all 50
fond of ballads, chimed in an old lady,
who, being somewhat deaf, had missed
the drift Of the talk and imagined her
self called to encourage bashful timidity.
'Mrs Jones was educated wholly in
the Italian school," her husband ex-
planned, proudly glancing around the
company.
''Well, then, Mrs. Jones, would you
sing something in Italian" begged the
manager resignedly.
'Just give them a bit Of opera, dear
est" urged the fond husband. The lady
rose condescendingly. "That is her forte
opera, he continued, in a loud whis-
per to his nearest neighbor. would
you believe it at a private concert lately
she sang sixteen pages Of Norma without
her notes
"Is it possibleY" calculated the other
apprehensively eying the lady, who wai
vigorously screwing up the piano stool
Sixteen pagesl Mighty Scottr NUT
tered Gray II think am going t
have the nosebleed."
"Often when get her to sing for me
in hotel parlors she is taken for a pro
fessional singer, went on the complaoen
confidence
~ suppose her style Of d-ess"- mur
INJURED the embarrassed confdante, feel
ing called to say something, but oppor
tunely stopping there. Mrs. Jones styl
Of dress was regarded by feminine judge
as daringly loud and theatrical
"Yes; you would suppose her style ant
manner-so quiet and retiring-wouli
contradict such ideas There is nothing
professional about her appearance, but /
is her voice, with blissful complacency
II think her voice will astonish you"
There could be- no question but tina
everybody was astonished at the voice
and, incidentally, before they had don
with it, at their own powers Of endurance
bravo, bravo, my dearW cried tn
happy partner Of the voice, when at las
the performance came to an end, an
people mad leave TO breathe again.
"But what was the song all about:
sharply demanded the old lady Of he
neighbor
"Why, we don't exactly know, 70
know" uncomfortably responded tn
youth addressed. at was Italian, yo
know"
"UmT contemptuously retorted tn
aged cynic, in a loud whisper, disaI
pointed about the ballad 81 reckon it
just as well we don't know. When folk
sing in q foreign tongue it generally look
to me like a pretty sure sign that it
some nasty stuff they wouldn't daresp
out if anybody could understand it.
Mrs. Jones would respond TO no encore
1T is too much for her in this altitude,
said her husband decidedly, while every
body blessed him for the saving solict
tude And then the gentleman Of tn
violin, who dearly loved the sound Of hi
own voice, cams forward and said tina
his friends had insisted upon his givin
them a recitation He had been take
wholly by surprise. Had he known
time, he would have been glad TO prepaI
something especially for the occasion
: Under the circumstances. however,
had simply been forced 70 draw upon IA
memory; and he trusted to the l.indnel
Of his friends to remember that any littl
faults which might mar his efforts shoul
be charged against him, rather than
his selection. which, in his estimation
was 30 less good because it was old. Il
then plunged fnto "Caulines Defiance
with a vigor that SO scared n little chill
that she had to be summarily hustle
away 90 bed
lC0ntinued Tomorrowl