Middletown transcript., 1896-04-04

tuC CAtio LAuciCs uOJ udu OuCh PAoAA
sed some Gala and Bermuda lilies
snowy-belled hyacinths, begonia sowI
thick with waxen stars. some rubhe
plants. and palms with spiny petiole
and fan shaped leaves.
The decorations required no furthe
thought; but the soprano Of the choi
was sick with diphtheria, and ther'
was nobody to sing her part in Dudley
Bucks exquisite adaptation of GAS Il
Began to Dawn" or the additional so.
10 which the minister desired to have
rendered.
II hate to give it up" said Laurs
Brill, in troubled voice.
''I'm sorry, too. "said MissVan Meter
gloomily, "but I don't see what else We
can do, unless"
They were walking down the princi-
pal street of the village together, and
as she broke off from speaking, she
nodded her head significantly in the
direction of handsome house stand.
ing back from the street on gentle
rise of ground, beautified ty magnif1-
cent old trees and growing shrubs.
Mr.. Warrington, the proprietor, was
the great man of the village. He was
a mill-owner, a Squire, director in a
bank, and pillar in the church.
Everybody liked Mr.. Warrington, who,
in village vernacular, never seemed to
feel his keeping" His wife was an in.
valid. His sons we're grown, educated
and settled in the city. His daughter,
who had great musical ability, had
been.sent abroad 10 cultivate it, and
had returned from Europe only few
weeks since. During the last few years
the villagers had seen but little of
Davis Warrington. but glowing ac-
counts of her success and proficiency
as singer had come back to Bloom
field, in which all of them felt pecu-
liar interest, as if she was a ''serene
highness" belonging especially to them.
Some said she would become an opera
singer, like Patti or Nilsson, while
others contended that 1.-THE Squire
would never allow it; she would sing
in some great church In York or Shec-
awgo, maybe"
AS Miss Van Meter nodded toward
the gray-stone house, the entrance to
whose grounds they were approaching,
Miss Brill seemed to shrink, as if fright
ened at the audacity Of the thought.
"You wouldn't dare ask her, would
you?" asked she.
~ don't know. l shouldn't exactly
like to, though don't see Why she
shouldn't be willing"
People like her, with so much train
ing, don't like to make their culture
too cheap"
"Pll tell you what, Laura, we ought
to call there, anyhow. Mrs. Warning
toms had another spell Of nervous pros
tration, and we can inquire about her
and welcome Miss Warrington home.
We needn't ask out right, but we'll
bring it in abou no soprano in round
about way, and we can tell pretty we'll
what she thinks about it.''
Miss Brill agreed, and they went up
the wide stone steps in the side-hill and
ra ng the Warrington door-bell.
They were ushered into a pleasant
sitting-room where Mrs. Warrington
lay on the sofa, and Doris in Partisan
house-dress such as they had never seen
before, sat running her fingers gentely
over the keys of the piano.
When the two young ladies' names
were mentioned she remembered them
well. There was something very swim
ming in her manner as she entered into
conversation with them, and she GER
tainly was beautiful. When the plan
of the Easter service was mentioned by
Mrs. Warrington, who had heard of it
from her husband, the young girls felt
relieved and entered upon the history
of their trials as committee Of two
quite freely. Mrs. Warrington's SYM
pathies for the sick soprano were in.
stantly aroused, as one invalid's u.s.
ually are for another. She asked Miss
Brill all kinds of questions about heI
symptoms, and recommended a gargle
of gunpowder and vinegar.
"It must he very troublesome to be
on committee and not succeed" said
Doris, looking at Miss Van Meter out
a pair of brown eyes. "Are you sure, %
she asked, ''that there are plants enough
promisedp Mother has some beautiful
brakes we might LET you have.n
Miss Van Meter was sure, and as
soon as Mrs. Warrington came to 8
pause in her conversation with Mis- !
Brill they arose and made their adieux
with heavy hearts. 1t was now a mat.
ter Of certainty that the extra music
must be given up.
"Did you offer to sing for themp''
asked Doris mother, when they were
gone. II felt SO sorry for poor Miss
Flynn that didn't notice."
ZIP" The brown eyes were wide
with astonishInent. ''Of course not
Do you think The country pumpkins
would appreciate my singin,P'
"They would admire it, am certain.
If could sing as you can. Doris,
know I should like to sing to Christ
on East.-r, with the beautiful voice
his Father gave"
d oris did not answer. She was a
little startled with this view of the
case. She expected, few months
hence. at the beginning of the year. to