The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-31

"Try II and see, she answered "But
surely you spoke Of singing Are you not
nervous when you singr'
Sometimes, he replied rather stiffly.
"But that Is slightly different" He was
very proud of his singing and made great
fuss abos;t - Your profession, as re-
marked bcfoSe, Is an unavoidable nuisance.
When think what have suffered from
tho gentlemen Of your profession, / only
wonder that have any brains left But
am uncourteous."
mo, no." she said "Let me hear
about your sufferings.
whenever I have specially wanted to
be quiet" ne said, and then no glanced at
her childish little face, and he hesitated
ut seems so rude Of me, " he added He
was the soul Of courtesy, although he was
an amateur tenor singer.
please tell me, +" the little girl said In
her winning way.
We'll, he said, gathering himself to-
gether, lit Is the one subject on which
can be eloquent. Ever since l can remem-
ber, have been worried and tortured by
those rascals. have tried in every way To
escape from them, but there Is cruel fate
working against me. Yes, believe that
all the tuners In the universe are inleague
against me and have marked me out for
their special prey.
"All the whati" asked tho little girl,
with a jerk In her voice.
"All the tuners, Of course, " he replied
rather snappisbly. II know that we can
not do without them. But good heavens
they have no tact, no consideration, no
mercy Whenever I've wanted 10 write or
read quietly, that fatal knock has come TO
the door, and I've known by instinct that
oil oh ~.
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 occasion
j was just proposing to girl in her IA
thcr's library, when the tuner struck up
In the drawing room. i left off suddenly
and fled from tho house But there Is nc
escape from these flcnds. / believe they
ere swarming about in the air like SO many
bacteria. And how in the name OF good
ness 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 been
filled up at the most inconvenient time.
Don't"-
He stopped suddenly, for the little girl
was convulsed with laughter. She laugh
ed 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"
1T may be funny to you," no said,
laughing in spite of himself, 'but 1t is not
funny to me-"
''Of course IL isn't" she replied, max
ing a desperate effort to be serious We'll
tell me something more about these tun-
.ers."
Not another word, - he said gcllantly
II Gm ashamed of myself as IL Is. Come
to The end Of the garden, and let me show
you the fine view down the valley'
She had conquered her fit of merriment,
but her face wore settled look of mis-
chief, and she was evidently the posscssor
OF some secret joke. She seemed in capital
health and spirits and had SO much TO say
that was bright and interesting that Os-
wald Everard found himself becoming rec
onciled to the whole race of tuners. He was
amazed to learn that she had walked oil the
way from H., and quite alone too.
"Oh, don't think anything of that"
she said. II had splendid time, and I
caught four rare butterflies. would not
have missed those for anything. AS for
the going about by myself, that is n sec
ond nature. Besides do not belong TO
any one. That has ~ advantages, end /
suppose its disadvantages, but at present I
have only discovered the advantages. The
disadvantages will discover themselves.
Il believe you are what the novels call
an advanced young woman" he said.
Perhaps you give lectures on woman's
suffrage or something of that sort"
II have very often mounted the plat
nt.. n
so happy as when addressing an immense
audience. A most unfcminine thing 10 do,
isn't itf What would the lady yonder in
the horsccloth dress and billycock hat sayS
Don't you think you ought TO go and help
her TO drive away the goats She looks so
frightened. She interests me deeply. /
wonder whether she has written ali essay
on the feminine in woman. should like
TO read it; IL would do me so much good. "
"You arc at least a true woman, he
said, laughing, for l see you can be spite
full. The tuning has not driven that
away"
"Ah, had forgotten about tho tun.
ing" she answered brightly, ''but now
you remind me / have been seized by a |
great idea"
"woh't you tell it to mo'" he asked.
No" she answered; Il keep my great |
ideas for myself and work them out in Sc
crct. And this one is particularly anus
ing. What fun shall havol'
But why keep the fun to YOURSELF" he |
said. "We all want TO be amused here |
We all want to be stirred up. A little fun |
would be a charity"
Very we'll, since You wish it, You shall |
be stirred up" she answered, "but you |
must give mo time to work out my great |
idea. 1 do not hurry about things, not |
even about my professional duties, for j |
have n strong feeling that IL is vulgar 20 |
be always anlassing riches. AS have nei- |
ther husband nor a brother To support |
have chosen less wealth and more leisure |
10 enjoy all the loveliness of life So, you |
see, ] take my time about everything And |
tomorrow / shall catch butterflies mt my |
leisure and lie among the dear old pines |
and work at my great idea"
Il shall catch butterflies" said her com
panion. "And I, too, shall lie among the |
dear old pines"
".Just as Won p1paee ~ eho said and at