Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-09-07

ing; young man appeared to DO writing,
while several persons loun8ed in COM
Portable seats around the room.
About the piano was q group which
chiefly attracted the attention OF the
spectator in the tree At the instr~ma mt
was gravely seated a young girl OF some
twelve years; Immediately behind her
stood an elderly man, remarkable for his
wonderful physique his head bald, with
a crown of white hair, and bushy, dark
eyebrows.
He played the violin with skill and
dignity. Seated near him was man OF
about fifty, with the most benevolent face
imaginable, who played the bass viol with
great gusto.
Between them stood tho singer. She
was pale brunett., slight and graceful,
and not apparently more than twenty-five
or twenty-six years of age. The some
what severe oval of her face was relieved
by bright pair of black eyes that
seemed to grow larger as she sang One
hand rested gently on the shoulder Of the
girl at the piano, and with this she
seemed to keep time, pressing gently On
the shoulder of the perform 10 stimu-
late her ZEAL And that hand was de-
licious!
The hymn of Palestrina had succeeded
the Prelude of Bach 1t was quarette
to which two new voices lent their aid
One of the new singers was young lady
of about twenty, quietly dressed, an6
divinely beautiful, albeit there WIS ar
indescribable expression of sadness Oh
her face.
The benevolent gentleman laid aside
his bass-viol, stood up, took off his
glasses and his deep, rich voice completed
the full measure Of the melody.
After the quartttte followed few
moments of general conversation, during
which, after embracing the young girl
pianist, who Immediately left the room,
the principal songsress walked TO tho
window.
She leaned out rs il to breathe the fresh
air. and her profile was sharply relieved
against the bright light behind her, in
which the others formed group around
the young man at the table, who seemed
preparing to read what he had written.
The lady leaned from the window,
gently tanning herself as she looked now
at the sky, now at the dark landscape.
Leland imagined he could distinguish
her gentle breathing above the sound o.
her fan and leaning gerly forward for
better view, he cars,d the leaves to
rustic slightly.
She started at the sound, then remained
immovable, and I'll C fixed position of her
head showed that her gaze was fastened
upon the oak in which he was concealed.
He felt the full awkwlrdues5 of his
position, but could not jud whether or
not he was visible to her; but under the
danger of her fixed regard, be pas sed thu
most painful moments of his life.
She turned into the room AMI said, in
calm voice, a few words which brought
three or four of her friends to the win
dow; and among them Leland recognized
the elderly gentleman with the violin.
The moment was trying one. He
coul do nothing but lie still III his leafy
retIeat-sient and immovable as statue.
The conduct of those at the window
went far 10 reassure III, for Their eyes
wandered over the gloom, with evident
uncertainty, convincing him he was but
suspected-not discovered
But they exchanged animated observa-
tions, to which the party most interested
lent on attentive ear.
Suddenly strong vo ce, which he rec
ognized as belonging to him of the violin,
rose over them al in the pleasing order
Loosen the dog!"