The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-08
A MASTERPIECE.

tuo hpoNh6Ty I5ICy DtutOAs u s"A oakNs
young man with a singularly handsome
face. ran his fingers lightly through bis
4 fair, curly hair. and nodded with decisive
emphasis at his brother Bsrtram, seated on
i opposite side of this fireplace. ~ a'~t q
wv $50 wo are to have another council OF
war; observed their sister Lao, looking up
from the pile of exercises--literary gems
from her primary class-whioh she had
= been correcting. afs ..=J r5"
II thought you and BERTHE had ended and
3 were smoking the pipe Of peaco?"
I'VE aye waiting for you opinion on
the 'vexed question" said Percy, with a
smile.
"Well." she answered, I'm sorry to say !
don't approve. Writing an opera nay be
very delightful, but. suppose you don't sue
coed In disposinR OF it,"
"Nonsenser' exclaimed Percy. I'VE won't
have any difficulty in ~disposing of it,"
And Bertram said: Good American
opera is in constant demand"
II believe they will succeed. Lee" re-
marked their mother.
She was tall INC slender. with still sunny
hair. People used to rave over its beauty
in the old days before the war. whom she
was beautiful Miss Shelby, heiress of her
fathers broad acres.
Percy was tall and fair, like her. Bsr-
tram was like his. father. with dark hair
and eyes and clear olive complexion.
.'You blessed mammal laughed Lee.
"You would believe in Percy and Bert If
they undertook to build q railroad to the
moon. / have faith in being practical.
The opera may not succeed. II will cost
three or four months work to prepare II.
and you will throw up good positions that
you cannot regain"
I'VE won's need them II tho opera sue
eeeds." interposed Bertram.
mo" she admits, but you will need
them sadly If 1t doesn't. We are In no
condition for experiments. Even if the
opera is faultless you may not dispose Of
only q venture, and I'd rather take the
slow gains and surer."
You are q little oroaker. - laughed Percy,
patting the brown head. you must re-
member, Nothing venture. nothing havs.'"
She smiled. but there was a touch Of sad
ness on the sweet face.
"Ah, we'll. You are Older n much wiser
md are men," she said. $50 I will subside.''
And after her brother had gone down
stairs she turned to her mother with;
At again. II the experiment. is to BE- trisd
they must be encouraged. But II makes
me heartsiok, mamma 1t means more
debt and entanRlement, and We have boon
fighting that SO long n ! I'm go tired
She said the last 80 softly shat her mother
did not hear.
Mrs. Benton looked at the young figure
a little dreamily, rerhaps. or she would
have noticed the tired look In the gray eyes
and that the sweet face was thinner Of late.
We'll hope for the best. dsarie." she
said cheerfully. "The boys are talented
md VARY vnuCh in 0QrpAak Norn~k khS~L
they will fail"
1t was the old story OF a homo suddenly
be, eft. an estate heavily involved, md the
widow. all unused to hardship, having to
take up the burden OF bread winning. A
weary foul years to look back on. and thsy
were still in debt.
Mrs. Benton and Lee ssoured positions rs
teachers in the institute. and the two sons,
after some difficulty, secured places that
PROMISED we'll. Two months passed away.
Over half the opera was finished. And
day by day the weariness cropt over Lee,
elowly but surely sapping her strength.
II don't know what Is the matter with
me-" she said to herself, half frightened,
one day. She did not now that she was
working herself to death. But ct last che
went to their old physician. She went
home after the visit and sat down by the
window in her room, staring out but Soc
ing nothing. Such a still. white, pathetic
face. with u curious look in it, too. Pres
emily she unlocked q drawer and took out
a photograph. 1t was the face of a young
man-bright, handsome. in the glory of his
young. manhood-a Thousand niles away
from her now. but three years ago he had
clasped her hand and said: Good bye, my
darling. and God bless you. Wait for mi
and l will surely come" ttsgE Fftt
As she looked the tears gathered and
presently she buried her. face in her hands
and wept passionately, " gtt
II shall never be strong again, and II ]
do not rest the doctor said ! would diel Oh,
il the boys would only help nat II thsy
would only take nv place for a little willis
md let me rest. But what oan We dor ]
can't ask them to Civ up their opera n
can't stop work-we are SO in debt. Mamms
I'm not 30 sick. Would you care very
much" she asked the handsome, smiling
face, IF WEI to slip away out of this hard
old hfep All. mel! 1t seems to ME some
times that ID the best of all-'the s.esp that
knows no waking!" .f
They rehearsed the opera that evening.
IT'S a masterpiece. mothet," laughed Der
tam. Just listenp' and he played one of
the principal airs. 1t was exquisite, tender
sweet. eloquent with harmony that stirred
ono's soul, and Lee. lying on the lounge in
the sitting room and looking into the bright
little parlor and Mt the handsome, hopeful
young musicians, checked tho quiet tenra
the beautiful music had brought, and said
~wistfully: Critics can't End fault with
that. Perhaps it will succeed" While
Mrs. Benton said: Il am proud of Won.
Bertram. There is no favor in that. | am
confident of suocess."
And 60 Mt last the ore,a WAS finished and
the young mon left for New York with their
treasured work.
After that a weeks suspense; then a letter
from Percy telling that they had failed
utterly, and would try to find work in New
York. II
Both mother and sister knew what bitter.
ness lay under the brief words, Three
months went, by. The hot weather and
constant work had told on Lee and her
mother begged her to rest. But the Girl
was obstinate. You need rest ~ much ns
do" she said, IAN the truth il We can't
afford to rest
But one evening she came homo earlier.
She had tainted ut school and on rseoysr-
ing felt too wenk to contin ne her work,
The postman had lsft n letter. IL vns
from a girl friend and she opened il Lat
lessly. In closing. her friend said: "Do
you remember Mr.. Shsldonp You ought,
for he was always singing your praisss.
Well. he is to marry. kottie MorriA It's
going to be all elegant"
Further than that Lee did not read. A
great wave of darkness swept over her, and
when shc ronsed ut last her mother was be-
vide her.
Then followed n long, hard illness. In
which Lee, tossing to and fro in delirium.
tore her mothers heart az she lived over
the weary months OF tho last year. In the
midst of this came a letter from Percy con.
paining the good news that they had dis