The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-08-15
A GIRLS RANSOM.
The Terrible Price Jane Prescott
Paid for It.

4h6 40IIlOk0 TUG JULIO GAO6OObg
Paid for It.
No renowned star about to dash il
splendor upon the boards of theater
in large metropolis could have been
waited for with more breathless impa-
thence than was Edith Wayne by the
congregation assembled in the old viii
lage church that bright September
morning. Her black cloth sack fitted
her trim little form to nicely, and the
jaunty hat, curved up behind, with the
tall ribbon loops and feather sprays,
with bits of jet dancing on their tips,
surmounted head of lightish, fluffy
brown hair and fresh face of only
twenty summers and winters.
1t is true she had made the sack herself
and the hat also, with little help from
her sister, when it was decided that she
was to have a church position, and
what does not always follow as a neces-
sary consequences generous salary.
But her dress, as whole, had such an
indescribable air OF style and finish that
only the keen eye of a fashionable
woman would have detected that she
was not straight from the hands of ex-
perts. The young girl had no pre-
vision of what was awaiting her, that
she was walking upon a thin crust,
which might one day crack and make
assure wide enough for her to slip in
out of sight. Pagetown had received
shock, and few things short of an
earthquake could have so shaken up the
little community as the sudden deter
mination of Squire Page, for whose
ancestor the town had been named, to
make change in the choir of the Con-
gregational church.
Matilda Prescott had been the head
soprano in the church for the past IF
teen years, with salary of seventy-five
dollars year, which Squire Page paid
out of his own pocket, as he did all the
expenses connected with the singing.
Something in the nature of an electric
shock passed through her, therefore,
when he called one morning in the sum-
mer, and, asking to speak with her
alone, tried to explain in as few words
as possible his reasons for wishing to
make change in the choir arrange
ments. 1t was awkward business and
he made an awkward job of 1t.
1.-THE fact is, Matilda, the world
moves, you know, and we've all got to
move along with 1t. This young lady
has big voice, / can tell you"
"Who is she?" asked Matilda, family.
"She is Miss Wayne-her folks live
somewhere out west; she's studying at
the conservatory. Her teacher says
her voice is phenomenal, and believe
he's right 1t goes along up the scale,
you know, without any perceptible
break, from low A to E in alt, two
octaves and half, don't you see?
''She's a delicate, sensitive little
body, as shy as partridge, but all full
of music Don't give herself any airs,
but when she stands up to sing she's
all confidence, and isn't afraid of any
body"
'eWhy don't they give her a position
In the city, if she can do so much?"
"Well, they will by and by, but she's
young yet and hasn't had experience in
church music. I've made up my mind
to engage her for a year, and suppose
at the end of that time they'll want her
where they can pay more than we can"
he Olu HOb say bhdb AAC 1tt0 RAOAAASCo w
give her four hundred dollars. That
was secret between the young singer
and himself
AS the tears began to fill the eyes Of
Miss Prescott the squire added: "Well,
you know, Matilda, we've all got to
make room for the young fry, whether
we want to or not. OF course l don't
mean that you are old, but you have
good home and enough to live on be-
sides, and this girl is poor and want
to give her start. She and her sister
are boarding in town, ana she tells me
their father has all he can do to pay
their expenses while they are getting
their musical education"
Having delivered his message the
squire left the house as soon as he
could. His departure was not delayed,
as poor Matilda was SO taken aback
by the news she had heard that she
had no words at hand with which to
make any fitting reply. She lost no
time, however, in going into the kitch-
en-, where her sister was at the wash
tub giving vigorous rubs to the weeks
washing.
Jane Prescott was twenty years the
senior of the two. and they had long
kept house together, in a snug, thrifty
way. Jane was the manager and the
master spirit, and at sixty-three years
of age retained the vigor of body and
mind she had possessed at thirty.
She had assumed the entire charge
of her sister after the death of their
parents, just thirty-one years ago this
summer; and Matilda seemed to her
now almost as much child as when
she used to harness up the old white
mare, and take her to the little red
brick schoolhouse, two miles from their
home.
SISTER" said Matilda, in voice
broken by convulsive sobs, 81 m turned
ont of the singing seats"
"What?" snapped out Jane, in a tone
that went singing through the room
like rifle shot.
Eyes; that's what Squire Page came
for just now. He says the folks want
young voices in churches, and he's got
girl about twenty, who's coming in a
month or So"
Two fierce, red spots appeared on
| Jane Prescott's thin cheeks on hearing
| this concise statement, and her pale,
gray eyes looked out with menaeing
glare, as she took off her glasses and
stood staring at her sister
Don't look like that, Jane, for good
ness sake; it isn't worth it. Of course
| feel badly and shall for some time;
but ! suppose it's all right, after all.
You know ! am getting old, compare
lively speaking"
Getting old, Matilda PRESCOTT
You're young woman yet"
mo, forty-three can't be called young
My voice isn't as strong as 1t was before
the fever. fairly tremble when we have
tune with highG in it, | can't hold
it steadily. You know my voice never
was cultivated, and they say that makes
all the difference In the ability to man
age IT."