Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-03-03
The Swamp Secret
CHAPTER Il.-tContinucd.)


shut I believe he'll bear watching"
As Mamie tiptocd TO a seat among the
sirls--for In those days the two sexes
never sat together In any kind OF meet
ing-thc singing teacher smiled and gave
her a gentecl bow. This act gave Mamie
a certain distinction among the other |
girls, and pleased her SO much that she |
became radiant all In moment. Dick |
saw the effect 1t had on her, and shut |
his teeth hard together. In some way he |
felt that there was to be trouble between |
him and the singing teacher. Other young |
men saw the bow and the smile which |
the stranger bestowed on Mamie and
the look with which she responded, and
nudged one another. with a sly look ct
Dick. All of which, Of course, had
tendency to make him feel as serene as
q May morning.
The whole settlemcnt-meaning by that
everybody living within two or three
miles Of the school housc-had turned out
on this momentous occasion. The ages
of the audience ranged from three months
to seventy years.
II presume that all who are likely to
take part In the singing school, II organ
lied, are here" the young man said, as
he rose and made a graceful. easy little
bow to his audience, and walked out In
front Of the rude desk. Instantly deep
silence reigned. The noisy whispers of
the women were broken of In the mid
die Of the sentence. and the men ceased
their louder but less pcrvading talk. The
young men turned their eyes from the
girls to the speaker. and the young girls
forgot oil about the existence Of the
young men, for the time.
"My name Is Maxfcld Wayne" he said,
as he became sure Of the attention of his
audience. II have been spending the
summer, SO far, In this State, partly for
pleasure, partly for profit" Here lit
tie smile was noticed to curl the corners
of his mouth. None of his audience un.
dcrstood what there was In the words he
had lust spoken or the thoughts they
suggested that prompted the smile, but
remembered In later days. and, viewed In
the light Of after events, they knew what
he was thinking of when this remark was
made. II have come here partly out Of
curiosity to see life In the backwoods,
partly because / thought I could pick up
a living here for little while as well
as elsewhere" Again that peculiar smile,
as II, to him, the words hnd a hidden
meaning. II would like to employ the
time spend among you In some proRta.
bic way. I have taught singing school,
and thought perhaps you might like to
have school here for few weeks. l
shall be glad to hear from anyone on the
subject"
"Dcocon Snv,lcr.' called ont somc ono
In the audience.
Instantly calls for the deacon rcsound.
cd from all parts Of the house.
toocbcr NJ Tho nrimitivc tvnc clown
East" wa. considered standard author.
itv on musical matters. Hc rose md
sn,d In n whcezv voice TINT WINS somc.
thing lilo Tho tono NJ nm ns,hmotic NO.
cor,lion that no Ind clad tho sInoin'
orr nm. evcr sincc he'd bccn In Rrovns.
kontrv nm bo fcit frcc IN snv tbny Tho
Rrownsvillo Young nconlc Ind ma good
voices M you'd bc mt IN find In INV
nlncc 81 its size. but. like other faLiltics
OF tho human helm. thcy needed cuitiyat.
IN, For hi, nnrt hc wn. mot onIv in
favor Of school. though he didn't know
as II would of much benefit to him. but.
the Lord willin', he'd do what he could
in a means o. clorifyin' God. an our
tolons hadn't ought 10 40 loft To rust an
corrupt."
Then with n flourish of his rcd bandan.
nm and a blast on his Roman nose like
the sound OF war trumpet, he sat down,
conscious that his remarks had preserved
his reputation as n very ready and forci.
bic off.hand sneaker ON all public occa.
sions,
-: motion that n couplc a. Young men
20 'round an SEQ how mnny mir wilIin'
10 talc holt nm do suthin' NM how much
they'll give lords s'portin' n school. y
soid tho dcacon's neirhbor. nfter a LITTLE
consultation with him.
This supgcstion seemed n moot with
unonimons favor. and two vounv mar
woro "nno,ntcd IN canvas. tho nmi,onca
for subscribcrs to n singing school rund
m. resnit was that n smfiiciont omomn,
,y"s n,edved 10 mako tho schoo, n car
,oi~,v
"I ~ ~ ho understood. tbou - on,o,rc
nj AZ, wovne. "thnt tho form will h.c,r
to.morrow .vcninv nj seven o'cIock mn
That thar. will hc n session ovcrv o,ho,
ovon,nc SUNDAY ercen,od' IN, Tho con,
,,,o.,"'' 80 Tho torm
N.rn,a ,,nyerod with n vroun n, ,,-,.
nesr tho d"sE where the singing teoch:,
stooA failing with some of the vomns
man cost,rg s,deIonv glnnces NJ MIN m,
hmt h" WINS too busiIy engaged. and an,
had IN he satisfied with a smile and ,
nod. Dick came nm and asked her n sh.
wns reodv 10 no home. and She took nj,
arm and thew left the school house.
She WINS not inclined TO talk abou,