Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-08-15

Papa would not have TO strurgis SC
hare. lie an think. mamma. that IT,
Gle John VIII really 10 as BE threatens
il | fail - win the p.@t"
Il know that he vii. dee" t%e
mother answered sad. You seo IL
never changes his iliai end IL hates
anything like failure IL promised &c
send you a!rcad to nave your voice
! cultivated on condition that you won
the prize here for vocal music, but he
will not. am sure do so if you fail,
darling"
And shall fail" murmured the
! girl. with fresh burst of sobs.
Matge suddenly started as though
She had just awakened TO the fact that
/ size was listening 10 What was not in
! tended for her ears. and with crimson
cheeks she stole away. But for tn
rest of the day. bright. merry Madse
was very grave and thoughtful.
The exhibition day al Broughton
Academy arrived. and the biz hail was
crowded with the parents and friends
of the pupils. Among them was Mrs
| Parks. in her weil-worn black dress
and bonnet. and beside her shabby
| locking little dried up man. WITH
shrewd. twinIEling eyes. and thin. de-
| te:rs:ned lips.
Al length came the singing trial. and
the two girls. Madge. still smiling anu
perfectly at ease. and Loula, white -
death and trembling like leaf.
assembled the platform.
Madse was TO sing first. and took hei
| place by the grand piano. She looked
SO bright and pretty as she stood there
that q murmur of admiration went
through the audience. The professor
had decided that To give the girls an
equally fair chance they should both
sing the same soag, and the sweet
Scotch one of Annie Laurie" had
been chosen.
The opening bars were played and
Madge began 10 sing. and at once every
one was staring. while the girls looked
at each other in Mortified amazemea'.
What was the matter with the girl?
Never had she sing SO wrstchedly;
she was simply numbering the song. II
was relief 10 every one whs2 the last
notes died away and very faint ap-
plause followed. Madge turned away
from TIE piano with crimson cheeks.
Her eyes filed with bitter tears o.
modification for moment. and her
lips orivercl. but, as she turned AMI
faced the audience she bravely sup
pressed all signs of emotion.
In the meantime Loria had taken her
place at the piano. She felt rather
daZed. but her hear. was beating
quickly. and she had forgotten her
fright in the new hope which was
thrilling her. Madgc mad failed; il
was in her power to win. She listened
to the opening cords without any ner-
vcusness whatever. and the next mo-
ment. her voice rang out clear. sweet,
strong, as no one had ever heard be-
fore
When the last. sweet. lingering noe
died away there was burst OF enthus-
iastic applause. and there could be nc
doubt as TO who had won the prize.
The girls all stared in amaZement as
Loula went down the long hall TO re-
ceiye it. They could hardly recognize
their shy. pale schoolmate In this girl
who. with crimson cheeks and spark
ling eyes. and that cloud of yellow hair.
was almost beautiful. There were only
TWO. however. who could fathom the
oepth of the joy throbbing in the girls
heart:
And, when it was all over. Madge
went up 10 her. and kissed her.
Il am very glad you succeeded" she
said quietly.
The color rushed il a hot tide all
10 her eyes: she pat out one hard tim
idly. TO detain Madge. ana her lips
parted as though she were about to
speak: but Madge turned quickly away
and in few moments had left the
school, When she was in the carriage
watch was 10 bear her away. 10 the
CONSERVATION of her parents. she sud-
denly burst into tears.
Some seven years later singer, of
whom great things were prophesied.
made her Gebu; At a concert in Paris.
She was slender. pa.e-faced girl. with
a mass CT beautifal golden hair. A.
she came on the stage a pretty. brown
eyed young girl evidently American,
bent forward il tho audience with q
sa.otherel exclamation. The next mo-
,.ent she drew long. deep breath as
the rich wonderful tones of the singer
loated through the loom.
There was . breath!ess hush until
the last note died away. and then
taunders OF applause. In answer &c
the enthusiastic e.cores the young
singer came forward 10 sing again. As
she stood for moment irresclu;e she
happened to encounter those brown
eyes fixed so eagerly upon her. \
quick change passed Over her face
her blue eyes grew soft. and filled. for
a moment. with tears. then in voice
tremulous at first, she sang. as no one
had ever heard it sung before. the
sweet song Annie Laurie. ''-Chaper-
one.