Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-05
VICTORY
BY BERTHA NJ. CLAY.

II u nave lIoC TIC slightest hlOWleuSe OF
arithmetic. AS for knowledge Of a higher
class, you have none. You are ~dreadfully
deficient You say that you have read Au-
guste Comte, but you do not know the an
swer to the first question in your church cat
echism.. Your education requires beginning
all over again. You have never had any set
tied plan of study, | should imagine"
mo. / learned drawing from Jules La
croix. Talk Of talent, Miss Hastings. You
should nave known him-he Yves the hand
soonest artist | ever saw. There was N
thing so picturesque about him."
Doubtless" was the dry response; but 1
think picturesque is not the word to use in
such a case. Music, | presume, you taught
yourself?'
The girls face brightened-her manner
changed.
yes, | taught myself; poor papa could
not afford to pay for my lessons. Shall l
play TO you, Miss Hastings"
There was a piano In the study, a beauti-
full and valuable instrument, which Sir Os.
valid had ordered for his niece.
~ Shall be much pleased to hear YOU"
said Miss Hastings.
Pauline Darrell rose and went TO the piano.
Her face then was as the face of one inspir-
ed. She sat down and played a few chords,
full, beautiful and harmonious.
~ will sing to YOU" she said. 1--WE often
went TO the o~pera-papa, Jules, Louis, and
myself. used to sing everything / heard.
This is from II Puritani.'"
And she sang one of the most beautiful
solos in the opera.
Her voice WAS magnif, cent, full, ringing,
vibrating with passion-a voice that, like her
face, could hardly be forgotten; but she play
ed and sang entirely after a fashion OF her
own.
Now, Miss Hastings" she said, II will
initiate Adelina Patti"
Face, voice, manner, all changed; she be-
gan one OF the far-famCd p~rima-dOnna's most
admired songs, and Miss Hastings owned to
herself that if she had closed her eyes she
might have believed Madame Patti present"
This Is q Ia Christine Nilsson" cOntin.
ued Pauline; and again the imitation was
brilliant and perfect,
The magnificent voice did not seem to tire,
though she sang song after song and initial
ed in the most marvellous manner some OF
the grandest singers Of the day. Miss Hast
ings left her seat and went up to her.
You have a splendid voice, my dear, and
great musical genius. Now tell me, do you
know a single note Of music?'
Not one was the quick reply.
you know nothing Of the keys, time, or
anything elSe?'
why should | trouble myself when | could
play without learning anything OF the kindp'
but that kind Of playing, Pauline, al
though it is very clever, would not do for
educated people"
rs it not good enough for them?" she ask
ed scrcnciy.
NO; one cannot help admiring ii, but any
educated person hearing you would detect
directly that YOU did not know your notes.
"Would they think much less OF me on
that accounty' she asked, with the same Sc
renity.
Eyes: every one would think it sad to see
SO much talent wasted. You must begin to
study hard; you must learn to play by note,
not by ear, and then all viii be well. You
love music, Pauline?'
How the beautiful face glOwed and the
dark eyes shonc.
~ love it," she said, because | can put my
whole soul into it-therc is room for ones
soul in 1t. You will be shocked, | know, but
that Is why | liked Comte's theories-becauso
they filled my mind, and gave me so much 10
think Of"
Were | in your place | should try to for
get them, Pauline"
You should have seen Sir Oswald's face
when l told him | had read COmte and Oar
win. He positively groaned aloud"
And she laughed as she remembered his
misery.
81 feel very much inclined to groan my
self" said Miss Hastings. You shall have
theories, or facts, higher, more beautiful,
nobler, grander far than any Comte ever
dreamed. And now we must begin to work
I'm real earnest
But Pauline Darrell did not move; herdark
eyes were Swallowed, her beautiful face grew
sullen and determined.
"You are going to spoil my life" she said.
"Hltherto il has been a glorious life-free,
gladstone, and bright; now you are going to
parcel It ont. There will he no more sun
shiny hours; you are going to reduce me to
a kind Of machine, TO cut on all my beautiful
dreams, my lofty thoughts. You want to
make me formal, precise young lady, who
will laugh, speak, and think by rule"
IL want to make you a sensible woman,
my dear Pauline" corrected Miss Hastings,
gravely.
who is the better or the happier for being
so Sensible?' demanded Pauline.
She paused for a few minutes, and then
added suddenly:
Darrell Court and all the wealth of the
Darrells are not worth it, Miss Hastings"
Not worth what, Paullne?'
mot worth the price / must pay"
"NNhat is the price, asked Miss Hastings,
calmly.
my independence, my freedom Of action
and thought, my liberty Of speech"
"DO you seriously value these things more
highly than all that Sir Oswald could leave
you''
~ do--a thousand times more highly" she
replied.
Miss Hastings was silent for some few
minutes, and then said:
I'VE must do our best; suppose we make
compromise? | will give you all the liberty
that | honestly can, In every way, and you
shall give your attention to the studies | pro
pose. | will make your task rs easy as | car
for you. Darrell Court is worth a struggle
~ es," was the half-reluctant reply, lit is
worth n struggle, and ! will make it,"
But there was not much hope in the hear
of the governess when she commenced hel
tas!:.
CHAPTER v.