The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-12
stare after him surprised at the abruptness
of his departure.
CHAPTER VI.
HUGH EASTWOOD SPEAKS.

=
daughters, shOpkeepers and their families,
and a sprinkling of the gentry Of the dis
/ trict to leaven the mass and give a tone Of
distinction to the gathering.
The excuse for the assembly was the con-
gregational tea party held each year in con-
necriOn With the Thorrell Moor Sunday
school. Half an hour ago the feasters had
quenched their vigorous Rppstites with
may slices OF currant and seed bread,
countless sandwiches Of ham, beef, aud
tongue, and oceans Of weak tea. Then they
had ad jourued while the room was being
prepared for the entertainment which
formed conspicuous feature of the eVen-
inR's doinEs.
The vicar of the parish, the Rev. Matthew
Madison, had just delivered his annual ad-
dress. lie was big, rOsy-faced, farmer
looking fellow, with genial manners and a
large heart, and was well beloved Of his
congregation more on account Of his kindly
nature than because of his preaching, which
was broad and charitable rather than mar
row and dogmauc.
There was q buzz of expectation as the
cleric resumed his seat, for the entertain
ment wss to begin forthwith. A small stage
had been constructed at the higher end Of
the room, and Immediately in front Of the
plntform were arranged a number of chairs
which were set apart for the gentry and the
performers.
Conspicuous among the former were Lady
] CdIlslduu dUu QtE ma 9usOfQe daughter,
COrdelia, whom the vicar had induced to
grace his function" with their presence.
Besides the Carslands were the wives and
daughters OF several small local landowners,
solicitors, doctors, who counted 1t an honor
% rub shoulders, shake hands, aud exchange
small talk with person Of tile
| Among the performers was Salome Bar
bingham, neatly dressed in a habit OF some
dark gray stuff which fitted her like a
glove aud became her wonderfully well
She was down in the programme for a couple
of songs, and the fact that this was to be
her first appearance in public accounted for
the restrained excitement she was then
laborlng under.
Among the audience were many of Sa
lome's friends and acquaintances, and con-
spCuOus among them were Nell CrOmptOu,
Nan BlsckledRe, Hugh Eastwood ana
may other young miners and miner lasses
from Marsh Green. The dancing which
was to be allowed after the entertainment
concluded probably accounted for the pres
ence of many of them there
| Only in two particulars did the SHOW"
differ from the usual Sunday school enter
tainment. The neatly-attir5d youngsters
recited their lines and chanted their songs
in the old spiritless monotone, so familiar
to freQuenters OF such festivities, to the
great delight of the chlldrens parents, who
applauded the youthful artists in a yocieer-
GUS fashion.
A hush of expectation fell upon the au-
dience as Miss Cordelia Carsland left her
mothers side and mounted the little plat
form. The young lady was very selt-pos-
sessed, and she took her seat before the
piano in stately manner which did credit
to her mothers training, and spoke woil
for the strength of her own nerves.
She ran her slender fingers lightly over
the white keys, and then her voice rose in a
thin sweet volume as she sang asweet senti-
mental drawing room ditty III great vogue
at that time. Cordelia acquitted herself
well. Her notes were accurately rendered,
and II her style was mechanical to degree,
the majority OF those who listened were too
uncritical to take notice OF it.
Every one clapped hands and the grown
up people told one another that Miss Cars
land was a beautiful singer. II the younger
FOLKS did not think very much of her lady
ships daughter they were afraid of saying
SO, and in the matter of beStowing their
, plaudits they wisely followed the example
set them by their elders. Not to have APP
plauded the cold and handsome child of
their master would have appeared rank
heresy to most of the respectable pitmen
and their wives.
A minute later Salome was facing the
audience, looking flushed and sgitated, hut
wonderfully beautiful. The accompanist
had come back to his stool and was playing
the introductory music. The frightened
girl bit her lip as if annoyed at herself, and
her dark starry eyes swept over the little
sea of faces in a rapid glance and afterward
were lifted to the whitewRshed roof.
Then che caught at a note and began to
sing The first few lines of THE Gipsy's
Warming" was intoned huskily, almost
brokenly, aud the aspect which spells fail
ure was beginning TO freeze itself on each
face. But with an evident effort Salome
pulled herself together and soon the low
shabby-looking room was literally flooded
with rich, warm, softly swelling stream
of vocal music. Her voice was a pure
soprano of great compass; she sang dramat-
ically, passionately, feelingly, as if she had
projected her very soul into the character
of the betrayed GYPSY maidens parent, and
a wave OF spontaneous applause which
swept over even the aristocratic chairs in
front rang out.
every nice indeed" said Lady Carsland,
, and those about her echoed her praise, only
, voicing it in warmer words. The miners
and their women folk were clapping still
and shouting "Encore Encore!n but the
singer was already back in her seat and had
evidently no intention Of answering her
"recall.n
"Who Is the girl" Lady Carsland asked
rather warmly, as the vicar approached III
order to ask Salome to oblige again.
zone of your own pit brow girls, your
. | lAQysllp,' ne replied. 'lsn'b sue dplenQlQf
"a pit brow girl, Mr.. Mallisona Surely
you must be Mistaken
90 not at all. She lives somewhere in
) Marsh Green, and they call her Barring
! yes, Miss Birmingham, l believe. HASN'T
, she got wonderful voice-considering she
, can have had no training-and l think her
perfectly lovely, don't your
! ''She is very pretty, must admit" Lady
Carsland admitted, "Such a girl will be
subject to many temptations l daressy.
; You must look after her."
"Of course, your ladyship. But l am
} told that she is a very worthy young
: woman, with ideas above her class. wish
you would let me introduce you to her-ii
> you will pardon my presuming so much
upon your good nature"
: Lady Csrsland graoiously assented, and
Salome was made known TO her ladyship
and her ladyshlp's daughter. Their conde-
- scension was Of a sufficiently marked char.
acter to irritate the overwrOught girl, and.
despite icy batteries Of the Csrslands and
> the importantly OF the kind cleric, she de-
clined to be persuaded to sing again just
then, alleging that she felt too nervous &c
face the audience again.
! Salome stole back TO her seat as quickly
as she could do without apparent discours