Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-03-26
; oven teachinp school AZ Cockletown

Martindale has been tampering with
her. She's going TO play us false. AT
least that's what mamma and think. T"
"Lilianl"
Betsey Bloom had suddenly straight
ened herself up and seized her cousins
arm.
"Yes?"
"Why couldn't sing at your
mothers evening""
"You, Betsey?"
eyes. wouldn't charge a cent.
I'd only be too glad of the chance. l
don't mean that / could sing Italian
bravuras and that sort of thing; but
[ know all the good old-fashioned
songs; and why wouldn't that please
people Just for a change? l could
dress up old woman style, you know,
and it would be little different from
the common. And I'd sing white
Cockade,' and Banks of Allan Water,
and Bonnie Doom and Cruel Bar
bara Allen" Grandmother Bloom
taught me lots O. them old-fashioned
songs"
Lilian's eyes sparkled. She sprang
10 her feet.
''Betsey," said she, "its good
ideal Vol try it. l don't believe
but that it would please mammals
friends more than tho Sivardi herself.
But don't tell mamma. You shall do
your practicing when she is out and
We'll make it genuine surprise"
"Pd ruther the artist-fellow
shouldn't come," stipulated Betsey,
rather awkwardly. ale always
looks at me SO sort O. queer and
amused, as if l wasn't more'n than
half civilized
"Do mean you Mr.. Lowrie? He's the
best natured man in the world"
''All the same he makes me as nerv-
Gus cat"
"Well, perhaps be won't come. And
now, Bctsey, l must hurry back to
mammals guests. But l really think
that idea of yours is a capital one.
Wen think it oyer, Betsey."
Mrs. Kyber was very low spirited
about her evening reception.
"Irs so difficult" said she, "to
make such an affair different from
everybody else's. l do like my recep-
tions to be characteristic. And Sivardi
would have been such a card to play !!
1t was perfectly disgraceful of her to
throw me over at the eleventh hour in
that sort of way; and especially after
the invitations had gone out with
Musical in the corners"
"Wcll, mamma, it shall be must
cal p treasured Lillian. "M?. Lowrie
will give you an air on the violin, and
I'll play some of my old harp solos"
"That's all nonsensew
"Mamma, do you mean to say that
we're not mnsical?" laughed merry
Lillian.
The evening came; the guests as
sembIed.
Mrs. Martindale's special friend was
there, dispatched by that lady herself,
to bring back personal and authentic
account of Mrs. Kyber's discontinue
and defeat.
Jack Lowrie, the artist, was there
with his violin.
eff the field daisy gets frightened
at the eleventh hour" rema. ked he,
"Pll be ready to face the emergency.
But she won't be frightened. The
field daisy is too plucky for that"
"Jack," cried Lillian, "why do you
call her the field daisy?"
"Because she's so pretty"
"Betsey Bloom! Pretty?"
"Yes. Don't you think SOP"
'I-never did think So" said Lii
ian, slowly. "She has fresh COM
plexion and bright, pleasant eyes.
Well, yes, perhaps she is pretty. But,
Jack, you mustn't look at her too
critically, or you will embarrass her"
81! Critically! Why, Lii, look
at her because she is SO like a wild,
woodland flower"
els that the reason" said Lillian,
laughing.
why on earth have you got up the
little stage and the silk drop-curtain? Pr
asked Mrs. Kyber, with rather a be-
wildered air.
"Jack thought"
"Jack Lowrie is too fantastic for
anything" said Mrs. Kyber, laughing.
"However, suppose l must indulge
him, since his violin is to be our sole
refuge tonight. And there is such g
crowd!"
But when the silken curtain slid
noiselessly aside, showing an old.
fashioned parsonage with a poke bon
net, black visite and an immense
green-cotton umbrella bullying out on
every side, with background of tall
red hollyhocks and farmhouse door,
sketched by Jack Lowrie's facilc
hand, Mrs. Kyber was the most
amazed of any one in the room.
With the long, quivering thrills OF
jacks violin, the poke bonneted hero.
inc burst out into the sweet, wild
accents of "Cruel Barbara Allen. y
Next came "Old Rosin the Bow
"Banks and Braes of Bonnie Doom
and Mary of Argyle" and each in it,
turn elected more enthusiastic ap.
plause.
Old people surreptiiiously wiped
their eyes; young ones listened will
deep interest. Everybody whispered
"Who is it?" And when at last Bet.