The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-08-09

| ty, with notf ng TO spoil the freshness Of
! the air and nothing to threaten the free
dom of the moment.
| rs 1t not good to liver" he cried. Eyes,
indeed 1t is, II We know how to enjoy"
They had come upon some haymakers,
| and the little girl hastened up to help
, them. There she was in the midst of them,
laughing and talking to the women and
helping them to pile up the hay on the
shoulders of broad backed man, who
then conveyed his burden to a pear shaped
stack. Oswald Everard watched his COM
panion for a moment, and then, quite for
getting his dignity as an amateur tenor
singer, he, too, lent his aid and did not
leave off until his companion sank ex.
hausted on the ground.
"Oh," she laughed, what delightful
work for a very short time! Come along;
let us go into that brown chalet yonder
and ask for some milk. l am simply parch-
ed with thirst. Thank you, but prefer
/ to carry my own flowers.
"What an independent little lady you
are," he said
1t is quite necessary in our profession,
| l can assure you,' she said, with tone of
mischief in her voice 'That reminds me
that my profession is evidently not looked
upon with any favor by the visitors of the
hotel. am heartbrokcn to think that
have not won the esteem Of that lady in
the billycock hat. What will she say to
/ you for coming out with me? And what
will she say of me for allowing you to
conner / wonder whether she will say,
! How unfemininer l wish l could hear
hcrp'
II don't suppose you care" he said.
"You seem to be wild little Bird
! II don't care what a person of that de-
scription says, Replied his companion.
what on earth made you contradict
the major mt dinner last nightp' he asked.
Il was not at the table, but some one told
me of the incident and 1 felt very sorry
} about it. What could you know of Miss
Thyra Flowerdews"
| well, considering that she is in my
profession, of course / knew something
about her," said the little girl.
! "Confound it allr' he said rather rude
! ly Surely there Is some difference be-
tween the bellows blower and the organ
/ ist."
Absolutely none" she answered.
merely "a variation of the original theme. "
As she spoke she knocked at the door of
the chalet and asked the old dame to give
them some milk. They sat in the stube
! and the little girl looked about and ad-
mired the spinning wheel, and the quaint
chairs, and the queer old jugs and the
( pictures on the wall.
'Ah, but you shall see the other room" I"
the old peasant woman said, and she led
them into Il small apartment which was
! evidently intended for study. 1t bore
evidences of unusual taste and care, and
one could see that some loving hand had
been trying to make it a real sanctum OF
refinement. There was even small piano
A carved bookrack was fastened to the
wall.
The old dame did not speak at first. She
gave her guests time to recover from the
astonishnIent which she felt they must be
experiencing. Then she pointed proudly
to the piano.
II bought that for my daughters, +" she
I said, with strange mixture Of sadness
/ and triumph. Il wanted to keep them at
! home with NE, and / saved and saved and
got enough money to buy the piano. They
had always wanted to have one, and 1
thought they would then stay with me.
! They liked music and books, and knew
/ they would be glad TO havea room of their
! own, where they might read and play and
study, and SO gave them this corner"
swell, mother" asked the little girl,
land where are they this afternoon?"
''Ah, she answered sadly, they did not
| care to stay. But it was natural enough,
! and was foolish to gricve. Besides they
| come to see me''-
And then they play to youS" asked the
| girl gently.
''They say the piano is out of tune"
the old dame said. 81 don't know. Per-
haps you can tell"
The little girl sat down to the piano and
struck few chords.
Yes, she said, lit is badly out of tune.
| Give me the tuning hammer am sorry"
she added, smiling at Oswald Everard,
but l cannot neglect my duty. Don't
wait for me-
| Il will wait for you," he said sullenly,
| and he went into the balcony and smoked
| his pipe and tried to possess his soul in pa
thence.
When she had faithfully done her work,
she played a few simple melodies, such
| as she knew the old woman would love
| and understand, and she turned away
when she saw that the listeners eyes were
| moist.
''Play once again, " the old woman whis-
pered. II am dreaming Of beautiful
things"
So the little tuner touched the keys again
| with all the tenderness of an angel.
"Tell your daughters" " she said as she
rose to say goodby, that the plano is now
In good tune. Then they will play to you
the next time they come"
Il shall always remember you, made
moiselle, F" tho old woman said, and almost
unconsciously she took the childish face
| and kissed 1t.
Oswald Everard was waiting for his
companion in the bayfield,, and when she
apolOgiZed to him for this little profession
| al intcrmezzo, as she called it, he recover
ed from his sulkiness and readjusted his
nerves, which the noise of the tuning had
somewhat disturbed.
1T was very good of you to tune the
/ old DANES piano." he said, looking at her
with renewed interest.
"Some one had to do it, of course" she
answered brightly, land I am glad the
chance fell to me. What comfort it is
to think that the next time those daugh
ters come to see her they will play to her
and make her very happy-poor old dear"
You puzzle me greatly" he said. II
70, ,f th h;,,l-