The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-11-06

should like TO come immensely"
Lefty was dumb with astonish-
ment.
A music pupil? Mr.. Gibson? What
an incredible ideal And yet she was
not in the least displeased at the pros
pect
They had reached her modest little
gate, and she looked up with timorous
smile.
"Why, certainly, Mr.. Gibson, if you
wish, she murmured.
81 certainly do wish, he responded
emphatically, and he looked highly
delighted.
And when he turned away from the
door, five minutes after, the date and
hour of his first lesson had been ar
ranged, and he had forced upon his
teacher his first terms tuition.
Lefty gave her mother light sketch
of that first term at its close. She
had gradually recovered from her
amazement at the requirement of her
latest pupil, and had given herself to
his instruction with oil her usual in
terest and energy.
Hes very bright, really, mamma"
she declared. "Of course it seemed
funny to have to teach him the very
rudiments. Why, he had to begin
with the staff, and learn the names of
the lines and spaces, just as my young
est scholars do. 1t was all could
do to keep from laughing. the first
lesson. But he learns so easily. He
really has good technique, and I can see
he's going to have lots of feeling for mu-
sic. He's got along really we'll. / know
he must practice awfully hard. He can
play a little piece viii both hands al
ready, and he says he'll play it at the
rehearsal Thursday afternoon. told
him he needn't if he didn't want to.
You know all my class is going to
play, and I'm afraid they'll laugi, it's
so funny to see him playing it. But
he says he'd just as lief as not. OF
course I'll explain be hasn't taken
lessons long"
Mr.. Gibson came next day for his
lesson; he took two week. He
played his scales through carefully,
and then executed his ''piece" with
laborous pains, but with great sue.
cess.
Lefty was delighted.
'If you do as we'll as that at the re-
hearsal |" she said, with pretty en-
thusiasm which glued her pupils eyes
to her face. "Miss Taylor has Of
fered their parlor. you know, and I'm
so glad, because if all the parents and
friends come there'il hardly be room
enough here"
"Miss Taylor?" Mr.. Gibson re-
peated, somewhat blankly,it struck his
teacher.
But he went on talking of some-
thing else, and talked on till the
striking of the clock made him Jump
up.
He had fallen into the habit of stay
ing after his lesson was over to talk
SO that after twenty lessons it was not
strange that they felt tolerably we'll
acquainted. And Lefty had confided
to herself more than once that Mr..
Gibson was "uncommonly" entertain
ing and nice.
The rehearsal passed off with all
possible smoothness; but Mr.. Gibson
was not there. Lefty had received a
note from him at the last minute,
stating his unavoidable detention.
A bunch of flowers had accompanied
it, and white rose shone in Letty's
soft hair at the rehearsal.
Little Genevieve came and played
successfully. Mrs. Gibson came with
her, and she smiled blandly on Lefty,
and complimented her on Genevieve's
progress. She did not mention her
son, and Lefty went home vaguely
wondering.
She gave Geneviove lesson next
day. She didn't understand why it
was but the imposing hall, with its
stately furnishings, and the charming
ly appointed music room, somehow
depressed her.
She had another rose from Mr.. Glib
sons bouqet in buttonhole of her
jacket, and she looked down at it
rather drearily. She had come to
know him SO well, and all this gran
deur seemed TO thrust her so hopeless
| ly far away from him! Not that she