The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-06-17
A VOCAL COURTSHIP.

self to smile her usual smile OF dis
missal. "I'm sorry you are COM
pelled to discontinue your lessons /;
your voice is impr owing nicely"
Then, after hearing responsive regrets
and final words of parting, Dolly was
alone in tho room and free to give
vent to her feelings.
"Oh, what shall we do?" she half
sobbed, resting her fair, curly head
against the old piano. "This makes
nine who have stopped and it only
leaves me ten pupils. That will pay
the rent, but then there is food and
the doctor. Why do they all have to
stop Just when need them so badly!"
she cried, losing heart for the first
time in her life, so brave and cheer
full; life devoted solely to her deli
cate younger sister and to ner sisters
sick husband and baby. "But L
mustn't begin crying" she said, dash
ing the tears from her eyes, ''or Jeanie
will know in minute"
"Come in, little sweetheart" she
called, hearing pattcring feet in the
hall and q sound of vigorous thump-
ing. ooh, is it fast! Never mind.
auntie II come and open" And then
she lifted her treasure and answered
ring of the doorbell.
"Here, Jeanie, take him and put
him to Sleep" she cried, rushing into
the kitchen and tossing her sister the
baby. "Tve lost pupil this morning,
bat I guess I've got another" And
tucking up her curly locks she ran
hastily back to her caller.
"Why, Dolly, what unnnmable thing
did you have trying to sing in the
parlor?" exclaimed Jeanie some time
later, looking decidedly injured as
she gdve the baby his blocks and be-
gan to iron his aprons. "Pve heard
OF singing bears, and from the sounds
this might have been one-as far as /
could hear above the baby's scream
ing. But, poor little lamb, he was
frightened. Every time he'd doze off
there'd come an awful roar, and he'd
wake and cry. You can laugh if you
want to, Dolly, but don't think It's
funny"
ooh. but dol" cried Dolly, "and
10 will you in minute. just think
of any one trying to sing with such
an outlandish voice that people stop
in the street and it scares little
babies. 4"
"But, Jeanie, I couldn't help it.
He said he'd noticed my sign out, and
as he wished to study he thought he
would stop and inquire. Aud then he
said if this hour was free he would
like to take lesson. I told him this
hour was free-implying every other
hour from morning till night was
taken-and sat down to the piano. /
told him first wanted to try his
voice, and to sing with rs full tone as
he could-but l was not prepared for
that below. don't wonder the baby
was frightened. I guess I looked
scared, too, for he blushed and begged
my pardon"
lot 1ooa he lA1Iy ILL., aal, al
Jeanie, her tone trihe milder, and
entirely forgetting her aprons.
'Why, he's a middle-aged man."
said Dolly; "I should think about 40.
And-yes, he's downright homely--
and still he isn't, either; he has such
kind looking eyes. But his voice is
like fog horn What do you sup
pose, Jeanie, is his object in taking
lessons?"
''Maybe whenever he's sung he's
been arrested for it, and he thinks
your sign will protect him." sal id
Jssnie, bringing down her iron. "But
anyway it's pupil, and anyone is well
coma. can stuff Johns ears with
cotton and take the baby out walking
whenever it's time for his lesson"
"Well. that's the worst of it--or the
best, according as we view it," said
\ Dolly. playing peek-s-boo with the
baby, '.for he wants three lessons a
week. But that means an increase OF
money. and"
"And that means good deal, said
1esnis. III only to ease poor Johns
mind. Maybe the tides turned with
~ besr.' sad insssad ef Losing pu-