The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-07-28
AN UNINvITED GUEST

Lam DerGlnl, the famous lJtllan teacner.
Among the people whom Howard Stan
ton met at Lambertini's was Mr.. Paxson, a
well to do merchant with whom he had
had some professional business short time
before. Mr.. Paxson does not recognize
young Stanton now, and this is how it came
about.
At the meeting just mentioned Mr.. Pax
son greeted the lawyer warmly and said:
I'm SO glad, Mr.. Stanton, to know that
you are going to keep on cultivating your
voice, I've heard it is very fine, and
envy you. Two of my children, the girls,
are coming here By the way, we are going
to have some good music and refreshments
afterward at my house tomorrow night
Here is my private address. Can | count
on your coming"
Howard had heard of the oldest daugh
ter's beauty, and he knew of the fathers
wealth; so, not being entirely unworldly.
he said YES, with pleasure. "
The next night when the young lawyer
was ready to go he found that it was rain
ing like cats and dogs" whatever that
common figure of speech may mean, and to
add to his annoyance he could not find Mr..
Parsons card, so he concluded that he had
left it at the Office. He remembered, how
ever, that the house was on Green street not
far from the entrance to Paramount park.
and he had no loubt but he could find it.
He made his way out on a street car and
was looking about where he thought the
house ought to be when the sound of mu
sic came to his ears, and he saw that a neigh
boring house was lit up.
"Ah," he said aloud, this is the place
I'm in luck"
As he went up the steps he concluded
that the singing was not all it should be
There was need of a tenor voice, and he
felt elated at the thought that he was just
the man to fill the deficiency in the bill
He rang the bell, and neatly dressed
colored man opened the door
Mrs. Paxson?" said Howard from the
outside
Eyes, sab Walk right in, sab" said the
servant
The colored man took Towards coat,
overshoes and umbrella, and as he did so
he whispered;
bad night, sab If you Just step back
to de dinin room, you'll find wine and crack
ers."
Howard did step back, took a glass of
sherry and a cracker, and having warmed
himself by an open fire he went to the
drawing room.
His name was announced, and pleasant
faced, matronly lady met him at the door,
and in response to his salutation said some
thing he could not understand.
AS Howard advanced jolly looking man
who had been conducting pounced on him
and called out, "What part do you take~
"Tenor," was the reply.
Capital That's just what we want"
and in an instant the last visitor had Joined
the group about the piano. Howard want
ed to pay his respects to Mr. Paxson, but
he comforted himself with the knowledge
that he could do so later on.
Howard Stanton sang well at all times
but never so well as tonight. He saw that
half score of beautiful girls were watch
ing him, and, to use his own words, he ''let
himself out"
Having exhausted the programme ar
ranged for the evening, Howard sang a
song written and composed by himself, and
the eyes of the pretty girls beamed on him
more sweetly than ever.
After this the lady who had met him
brought up the prettiest of all the girls and
introduced her as her daughter. Howard
could not catch the name, but as it ended
in 'son" he knew it was all right.
He escorted this young lady to supper
He was in such seventh heaven of delight
that he wholly forgot to hunt up Mr.. Pax
son, his host.
Miss Kate, though still in her teens, had
the easy grace of one accustomed TO society,
and she soon showed that she had taste
as well as love for music.
Taking it for granted that the younh
man knew all about what she called 'our
own musical set" Miss Kate ratified on in
q way that would have been charming had
it not begun to dawn slowly and painfully
on Towards mind that he had Numbered
into the wrong house. If he had any doubts
on this point, they were set at rest when
the young lady said:
Mamma is a recognized leader of music
in this part of the city. Strange that she
did not mention you to me when she was
making out her list. But, recall, great
many were proposed and rejected. BY the
way, did you hear that there is a lady on
this street who, jealous of mammals sue
cess, has started a musical circle Of her
own?"
NO" said Howard, suppressing a cold
shiver. 81 was not aware of that fact May
ask the name of this audacious person."
Mrs. Paxson, wife of the rich wool mer
chant. Her daughters ID were school
mates, and they are very nice, bright girls
Ever meet themS"
~ must confess never have"
Agnes, the elder, is engaged to a man
twice her age Don't think she loves him;
but, then, he's rich and that counts for
much. Oh, forgot to ask you how you
liked my fathers conducting this evening.
"Excellently," stammered Howard, an
he was now sure he had put his foot in it.
HE does very we'll, but being a doctor
with large practice he cannot Of course
give as much time to practice as he wants
But now that you have called you Will
learn to like him better" And so the
pretty girl ratified on.
Howard tried to explain his position to
Mrs Tyson, but he found her surrounded
by friends about to take their leave. Then
he sought out DR.. Tyson, and drawing him
out of the hearing of others he told of his
mistake.
The doctor laughed heartily, shook the
young mans hand and said:
"Oh, know of you very well. am glad
you made the mistake Mr.. Stanton, and as
we have these meetings every Wednesday
night we'll be delighted if you become one
of u.s."
Howard Stanton readily agreed to this
and thereafter was a steady visitor at DR.
Tyson's.
Howard wrote an excuse to Mr.. Paxson,
and he might have been forgiven had he