Middletown transcript., 1894-07-21
scores a success. Nowadays, however

no one could amaSS nugn fortune Ou
of it,
mo one indeedv' replied Oswald
Everard, laughing. "What on eartl
made you take to it?"
TT took to me-" she said, simply
"It wrapped me around with enthusi-
asm. l could think of noting else. ]
vowed that would rise to the top OF
my profession. worked day and night.
But it means incessant toll for years if
one wants to make any headHay."
"Good Gracious!'' 1 thought it was
merely a matter of few MONTHS" lie
said, smiling at the little girl.
ga few months!" she repeated scorn
fully. "You are speaking the language
of an amateur. No; one has to work
faithfully year after year; to grasp the
possibilities and pass on to greater pos.
sibilities. You imagine what it must
feel like to touch the notes, and know
that you are keeping the listeners spell
bound; that you are taking them into IL
fairyland Of sound, where petty person
alitY is lost in vague longing and re-
gret."
81 confess l had not thought of it in
that way" he said, humbly, II have
only regarded it as necessary every
day evil, and to be quite honest with
you, fail to see now how it can inspire
enthusiasm. I wish L could see," he
added, looking up at the engaging little
figure before him.
"Never mind" she said, laughing at
his distress; II forgive you; and, after
all, you are not the only person who
looks upon it as necessary evil. My
poor old guardian abominated it. He
made many sacrifices to come and listen
to me. He knew liked to see his kind
old face, and that the presence of a real
friend inspired ne with confidence"
81 should not have thought it was
nervous work." he said.
"Try it and see, she answered. "But
surely you spoke of singing. Are you
not nervous when you sing2"
Sometimes" he replied, rather
stiffiy. "But that is slightly different.
(He was very proud Of his singing. and
made a greas flss about it.. "Your
profession, as 1 remarked before, is an
unavoidable nuisance. When l think
What l have suffered from the gentle
men of your profession only wonder
that | have any brains left left. But |
am uncourteous.'
mo, no." she said. ''Let me hear
about your sufferings.''
"Whenever have specially wanted
to be quiet" he said, then he glanced
at her childish face, and he hesitated.
SIT seems so rude of me-" he added.
He was the soul of courtesy, although
he was an amateur tenor singer.
"PIease tell me,' the little girl said.
in her winning way.
WELL" he said, gathering himself
together, ''it is the one subject on
which | can be eloquent. Ever since !
Can remember have been worried and
tort tuied by those rascals. have tried
in every way to escape from them, lut
there is a cruel fate working against
me. Yes; believe that all the tuners
in the universe are in league against
me, and have marked me out for their
special prey"
"All the whatp" asked the little girl,
with jerk in her voice.
"All the tuners, of cousre," he re-
piled, rather snappishly. II know that
we cannot do without them; but good
beavensl they have no tact, no con-
sideration, no mercy. Whenever I've
wanted to read or write quietly that
fatal knock has come at the door, and
I've known by instinct that all chance
of peace was over. Whenever I've |
been giving luncheon party the tuner
has arrived, with his abominable black |
bag and his abominable card, which |
has to be signed at once. On one &C.
casion was just proposing to girl in |
her fathers library, when the tuner
struck up in the drawing room. | left off |
suddenly and fled from the house. Blu.
there is no escape from these fends. l
believe they are swarming about in the
air like so many bacteria. And how,
in the Dame of goodness you should
deliberately choose to be one Of them,
and should be so enthusiastic over your
work, puzzles me beyond all words.
Don't say that you carry black bag,
and present cards which have to be
filled up at the most inconvenient time;
don't"
He stopped suddenly, for the little
girl was convulsed with laughter. She
laughed until the tears rolled down her
cheeks; and then she dried her eyes and
laughed again.
Excuse me-" she said; 81 can't help /
myself; it's so funny"
ut may be funny to you, he said,
laughing in spite of himself; "but it's
not funny to me-"
"Of course it isn't" she replied,
making desperate effort to be serious.
"Well, tell me something more about
these tuners.''
ssNot another word," he said, gal
lantly. ST am ashamed Of myself as it
is. Come to the end of the garden and
let me show you the view down into
the valley"
She had conquered her fit of merri-
ment. but her face wore settled look
of mischief, and she was evidently the
possessor of some secret joke. She
Sc ,med in capital health and spirits,
and had so much to say that was bright
That ncuald Evnrord |