The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-02-14

The child was charmed with her sing
ing. One day he said to his father,
"Ah, If thou only knewest how my
mother sings when thou art gone to
PARISH But Aubinet received the in
nocent remark with so stern face
that the child shrank from him in
terror.
The little wife redoubled her exer-
tions to make her home attractive,
and tried to sing less and to dream
less of music.
Thus the years passed away until
Lucille was thirty, and the boy became
old enough to enter the Lyceum.
With their slender income, the extra
expenses Of his education became a
heavy burden. A year passed on and
they had used UP all their little saw
ings. They determined to lease their
pretty little villa, and to take small
er house.
A suitable tenant was soon found,
who seemed to be rich, and who
wished to pass the summer in the
country. He hired not only the villa
but the furniture also. Aubinet and
his wife rented three small rooms in
the village, near the railroad station.
Thus the daily trips Of the boy and
his father to Paris were rendered
easier.
Notwithstanding all these sacrifices,
however, they could scarcely make
both ends meet. The school bills, the
car fares and lunches, the clothing
all the little extras which come with
a life away from home-theSe were
more than the Woodworking father
could provide, although he worked at
all sorts of extra jobs in order to
do it.
"What can doT' thought the poor
mother in distress, "to assist my hus-
band in this extremity"
She thought of the housework. the
sewing, all the innumerable little du-
ties which she accomplished unaided.
There seemed to be nothing else with
in her power.
One day it became necessary to
visit the villa to attend to some re-
pairs which their tenant bad suggest
ed His engagements did not permit
him to go himself, and he requested
his wife to ascertain precisely what
was wanted.
She had never met this gentleman,
and the thought Of visiting the old
home under its new conditions was
very painful to her. Still, with her
accustomed submissiveness, she ac-
ceded to her husbands wish.
Ths tenant, richly clothed and
wearing a cap set jauntily upon the
side Of his head, met her at the door
He walked with her over the house
enumerating with teasing precision
the repairs which he wished made
In the dining-room, he threw his hat
upon the table, while she signed the
papers which were necessary. Then
she passed the pen to him, and as she
leaned upon the table while he wrote
she mechanically read his name aloud
IN. Frochard." She had nevel
heard her husband speak their ten
ants name.
"No. nor he exclaimed brusquely
''My name is Brochard. Have 20,
not heard of me? Do you not know
that I am the direetor. Of the French
opera"
She excused herself with some EN-
barrassment, saying that she seldom
went to Paris or read the papers,
she was only plain country woman
The pathetic smile on her sad bu
pretty face as she said this interested
the gentleman. He conceived sud
den sympathy for her. She felt hi
kindliness, but rose at once and mad
her way toward the vestibule. He,
business was finished, and she knew
that it was time for her to go home
AS she passed the open door of ths
parlor. however, she percedvsd, in th'
very a1cove where she had dreamed
years ago of placing one. a piano. Al
her self-reSIaint vanished at tn,
sight
"a piano" she exclaimed. "Hov
does it happen that ysu have I
lpiano?'
NJ. Brochard was amused at tn,
naivete of her words and replied gay
ly, "It Is indispensable for the train
ing of my artists. Are you q musi
oian%
"Not" ,she replied mournfully. &c
used to play when I went to school
but I cannot call myself q musician
now, though still adore music
"Oh, in that ease" he began polite
ly, 81 should be most happy TO hav,
you come up with yeur husband
some evening"
She did not hear the formal word
which he was saying. As she gazet
upon the piano, a wild, an Irresistible
desire surged up within her Impellet
by an unnatural courage, she burs
forth with "Oh, sir, I beg your par
don; but would you. give me permis
sion to try your piano, just to Sc;
that nave not forgotten what uset
to know"
Amused and interested, he assentet
promptly, and placed a chair for he
1T the instrument. She hesitated
moment, then ran her fingers over th'
Keys and played. At the end Of :
few measures, she stopped with /,
burst Of girlish laughter, SO ravishet
with what she had done that her fac
fairly shone Brochard was astonishet
to see her grow young and joyous 81
suddenly, and the expression on hi
face warned her that she should go
But now that he had detected her pas
sion for music, he took her place a
the piano, and quietly began playins
with touch SO delicate that sht
stood behind him entranced and for
%etful that she had started to g
home