The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-03-06
ONLY LITTLE DRUSA

When John Derlng died. he left three daughters to comfort his bereaved spouse. Arabella. The eldest was tall and stately. with a full, well develop cd form, large, handsome features black eyes and coarse black curls.
 She was the ruling spirit In the Der mg household. Passionate and proud. she made. as she herself expressed it, everybody stand around"
 Lavnia. the second daughter, was .all and fcshy. with plump face. sleepy blue eyes and light brown hair. She was the very opposite of Arabela. The latter was quick In her move ments. with a lively temperament, while Lavlnla 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 dellcately tinted as the heart of a shell. exqulsitely chlseled features, great bronze brown eyes, above which was a broad. white forehead, shaded by sllken curls. the hollows of whose nipples seemed dark. while the crests shone like furnished gold.
 One day she was startled by foot step. and. hastily looking up, she saw Ia CT. He was only thirty-two. hand some. talented. with name well known In all the select music circles In New York city. He had come Into the country village to spend the sum mcr and at the time of which we speak was getting up a concert In be- half of a church which needed repair ing.
 Arabella and Lavlnia were Co 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 melodious lay fell on his ear.
 He had heard many celebrated sing CTS. but never before had he heard such a volce-rich. deep. clear.
 Excuse me. mlss.' he said. with courtly bow-"excuse me for startling you: but. really. heard you singing and
 The sentence was ended with an ad' hiring look.
 Then he continued:
 "Wnl you pardon my rudeness If ask you if you ever took lessons In vo- cal musicT
 "Oh. no. slrr' stammered Drusa. "l have only caugh, up the exercises that Arabella-that my sisters practice.'
 Would you permit me 10 give you some instruction by way of preparing you to sing at the church concert"
 Drusa looked frightened.
 T? I. sir Why, I-l hardly think the rest would like It"
 "Why notT bluntly.
 She looked down and said simply:
 "Im only Drusa. you know"
 "Well. one thing Is certain. and that Is that only Drusa' has wonderful voice." he said. with smile. And she will not do right If she does not cultivate the beautiful talent the good God has given her
 The night of the concert came. All Brookslde 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 - fal- tered and finally broke down. .l
 Much annoyed at her sisters failure, Arabella determined to do her best and. gorgeous In her maize silk, came forward and sang her operatic air In loud. clear voice. Not whit embar- rassed was this young lady. She was loudly applaudcd.
 I'm so glad that I was last. for l know did the best" she whispered to the weeping Lavinia. "Did you see how devoted MT. Ruthven looked when be handed me my bouquet? know hen propose tomorrow. Yes, I'm aw- fully glad that was the last singer I'm sure made an impression. for T. why. my goodness! Who Is thatT' 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 slmply folded before her, she held the great audience spellbound by the magic of her matchless voice. which rang out clear as silver bell or trilled like a bird soaring to the heavens.
 The song ended. With a graceful bow the singer disappeared behind the cur. tain. Then. with a universal sigh, the audience recovered itself, and. oh. what applause! e&
 Again and again she was encored. IL was enough to turn the head of an old PIT person. but Drusa was just as simple and chlldllke as ever.
 As for Mrs. Dering and her two elder daughters, they were overcome with astonlshment, but were obliged to ac- knowledge the superiority of Drusa's Eoudrous voce.-New York News.