Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-10
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
Only Little Drusa.

When John Dering died, he left three
daughters to comfort his bereaved
spouse. Arabella. The eldest was tall
and stately, with full. well develop
ed form, large. handsome features,
black eyes and coarse black curls.
She was the ruling spirit in the Der
ing household. Passionate and proud,
she made, as she herself expressed it,
Everybody stand around"
Lavinia. the second daughter, was
tall and heshy, with n plump face,
sleepy blue eyes and light brown hair.
She was the very opposite of Arabella.
The latter was quick in her move
ments, with a lively temperament,
while Lavinia was lazy and languid.
Drusa, or Little Drusa, as she was
| generally called, resembled neither of
her sisters. She was small and slight,
but very graceful. with a complexion
as delicately tinted as the heart of a
shell, exquisitely chiseled features.
great bronze brown eyes, above which
was a broad, white forehead, shaded
| by silken curls, the hollows of whose
ripples seemed dark. while the crests
shone like FURNISHED gold.
One day she was startled by a foot
step, and, hastily looking up, she saw
Carl Ruthven. her sisters music teach
er. He was only thirty-two, hand
some, talented, with a name well
known in all the select music circles
in New York city. He had come into
the country village to spend the sum-
mer and ut the time Of which we
spenk was getting up 4 concert in be-
half OF church which needed repair
! ing.
ArabelIa and LavInia were to take
part in the concert, and he had kindly
undertaken to train them. He was on
his way to the house when, passing
through the woods, Drusa's meIodious
lay fell on his ear.
He had heard many celebrated sing
ers, but never before had he heard
such n voice-rich, deep. clear.
Excuse me. miss" he said, with
courtly bow-'eXcuse me for startling
you; but, really. 1 heard you singing,
and
The sentence was ended with an adj
miring look.
Then he continued:
"Win you pardon my rudeness II I
ask you If you ever took lessons I'm vo-
cal music?"
"Oh. no, sirr' stammered Drusa. II
have only caught up the exercises that
Arabella-that my sisters practice"
Would you permit me to give you
some instruction by way of preparing
you to sing at the church concerto"
Drusa looked frightened.
81? /, sir? Why, IL hardly think
the rest would like It."
"why notT' bluntly.
She looked down and said simply:
I'm only Drusa. you know
"Well. one thing is certain, and that
is that only Drusa' has n wonderful
voice." he said, with a smile. And
she will not do right II she does not
cultivate the beautiful talent the good
God has given her"
The night of the concert came. All
Brookside was going, and consequent
ly the hall was crowded.
Arabella was supposed to be the best
performer and was reserved for the
last Solos and duets were over, and
then Lavinia, arrayed In her blue silk.
came forward.
She was excited and nervous - fall
tered and finally broke down.
Much annoyed at her sisters failure,
ArabeIla determined to do her best
and, gorgeous in her maize silk, came
forward and sang her operate air in
loud. clear voice. Not whit embar-
raised was this young lady. She was
loudly applauded.
I'm so glad that / was last, for l
know 1 did the best" she whispered to
the weeping I.ayinia- did you see
how devoted Mr.. Ruthven looked when
he handed me my bouquet? 1 know
he'll propose tomorrow. Yes, I'm aw-
fully glad that l was the last singer.
I'm sure 1 made an impression, for L
why, my goodnessi Who Is that?" look
ing toward the stage.
For just then Carl Ruthven appeared,
looking proud and happy, leading Dru-
sa.
And standing there, with her little
hands simply folded before her, she
held the great audience spellbound by
the magic Of her matchless voice, which
rang out clear as a silver bell or trilled
like bird soaring to the heavens.
The song ended. With a graceful bow
the singer disappeared behind the cur
tain. Then, with n universal sigh, the
audience recovered itself. and, oh, what
applause!
Again and again she was encored. 1t
was enough to turn the head OF an old |
er person. but Drusa was just as simple |
and childlike as ever.
AS for Mrs. Dering and her two elder |
daughters, they were overcome with |
establishment but were Obliged to ac-
knowledge the superiority of Drusa's |
wondrous voice.-New York News.
When Knowledge Is Valuable.
The faculty of having ones mind |