Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-08-03
LADY MAJENDIE
CHAPTER XIV.


way to the room in which the concert
was to be held, about half-past eight.
They had to cross part of the garden,
for the large room OF the Kurhaus was
the place chosen for the evenings
amusement.
Lady Armine took Ditas arm, and
began asking her kindly about Mamie,
whom she had thought to be looking
rather frail during the last two days.
Jack and Mildred walked together,
and the schOolroom party followed.
The room was half full; the courier
had secured two rows of seats, rather
in the background, where the music
would be best heard.
There were several children present,
and in one of the foremost chairs sat
Dicks little foe, Mademoiselle Her.
mine.
Dick saw her at once, but his atten-
ton was taken up by a fat little King
Charles, that lay by its mistress, pant
ing automatically.
at is acivil little dog Milly," he said,
in loud whisper, ''but it does not
speak English: komm HER" he added,
msinuatingly; but as it only curled up
its face, and showed its cleaning white
teeth, he desistod.
cit wants to listen to the music. Oh!
look Nary he cried ''there is the
Banshee in a low gown, with bare arms;
is she going to sing"
There was a general hush of expecta-
ton, for the Banshee was a feminine
pianoforte player, a professional from
the concert rooms OF Vienna.
Her long sonata bored Dick almost
beyond endurance. It was little
Inf u
German tenor sang plaintive chansOn
minor ID, when to every ones horror
Mademoiselle Hermino's voice was
raised in Il piercing shrek on the f
fiat, and the discord made every we'll
tuned German ear vibrate with agony.
The child was carried off by her par
ents, one on each side, kissing and ad
dressing her as Ma cherie mon ange,"
"mais qu'as tu?"
Jack bent down to Dick and said Sc
verely, What did you do?'
81 only just held up this" answered
Dick, looking unnaturally Innocent; and
he showed his mothers long bonnet
pin concealed in his hands. 1t was of
course contiscated: and Il pale German
girl, a beginner from the Vienna Con-
scrvatolre. sang Brahms lovely
'Wiegenlied' quite charmingly, and
was very much applauded.
Dita al the time sat listening as if
she was in a dream. The music seemed
to soothe and lull the sort of aching
feeling the constant excitement of the
day had produced A few whispered
words from Lady Armine had told her
that Mildred's fate was now in her own
hands-that permission had been given
to Jack to try and win her.
The thought came flashing across
her. did they know that, if she had so
wiilcd it, she might have been Jacks
wife now? and she was half amused.
Would it have been happy fate? Her
heart answered 'no," as distinctly as If
she could see Edward Norton's dark
earnest eyes actually present, and the
constantly varying expression she knew
SO well. When she thought Of the
mornings letter, she felt she had
gained much; she might love him now,
she might tell herself that no one
would ever be to her what he had been;
she might treasure the knowledge now,
locked up and kept as possession for
life. 1t seemed little strange to her
to see how quickly Jack had been
cured: but she felt that Mildred might
be well cortent, for he was strong and
good and brave, and possessed a manly
humility and resignation to the newt
able. Yes. Mildred would be very
happy.
Memberships duet from the "Lie-
der ohne Worte" began--that lovely
speaking and answering of two sad
airs of which so many interpretations
have been made. 1t was beautifully
played by the Banshee-so beautifully
that the audience encored it, and
broke the spell.
oh, is ii to be all over again?" said
Dick, piteously. Jack charitably sup
piled him with Il piece of string. The
last chords were still sounding, when
there was Il little commotion in the
crowd gathered round the door, and
Perdita saw the face of Mrs. Lovers
maid looking anNiously in, very pale
and disturbed. She jumped up and
touched Andrew.
Daddy, there is Summers: she looks
as if she wanted us. | am afraid that
mother is not so well.'
shall | come with you dear?" said
Lady Armine.
'Oh. no thanks; it is very likely
nothing worse than usual. Please come
when the concert is OVER and they
went hastily away.
What is it, Summers?" asked Per-
dita as they reached the Bellevue: for
the maid had run on without waiting,
and met them at the door of Mrs.
Lovels room.
Mrs. Lowell is in a very bad faint,
miss" she answered. Il sent and
asked DR.. Schafaus to come in, and
ran to fetch you"
They went in Mamie was in a
death-like fainting fit, and nothing
seemed to revive her.
The doctor shook his head gravely
when Perdita looked at him. 1T Is
the beginning OF the end" he said to