The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-11-21
IN PENITENTIAL MOOD.

The last echoes from the organ died
in the ghostly outer darkness of the
church. For the first time Paul
Scharfs glance lifted from the key
board. He started, for the chancel
lights made an aureole around Betty
Carew's blond head. But her gay
voice-petulant, charming, wholly
human-dispelled the odor of sane
tity.
''I have come to join the choir as
Lenten sacrifce,' she said demurely.
Her laughing eyes were yelled by
modest lashes, but her red mouth still
pouted irresistibly, and the saucy
dimple lurking near it betrayed the
fact that much of earth and its allure
ments yet clung to the fair penitent.
Despite himself Paul Scharf's
glance fingered on the lovely face.
The girls lip curled in half smile of
conscious power. At that a sudden
bitter thought sent an angry flush to
his cheek. She had come to faunt
him with her beauty.
"Your voice will be very accepta-
ble-Miss Carew," he said, low and
steady.
But she had caught the break be-
fore her name. All, he remembered
when it had been not Miss Carew,
but Betty Three weeks was short
for forgetting.
She flashed her glorious smile full
upon him. perhaps Lent's peni-
tences will blot out the sins of other
days." she ventured boldly.
He looked down at her searching
ly. Was there not note of earnest
ness underlying her fippancy?"
But, as he hesitated, Betty, piqued
by his unresponsive mood, turned her
back upon him. Her slight figure
was drawn up to its fullest height as
she walked into the choir room. Pas
sion had swept away penitence.
The others had already gathered.
Their reception was in fattering con-
trast to the one just accorded her.
Jack Dudley was assuring her of his
delight when the young organist took
his seat at the piano.
"To your places, please" he said
courteously. But Betty chose to con-
slider it in the light of a reprimand,
and her blue eyes flashed defiance.
During the intermission, when the
others walked and talked up and
down the long aisles of the church,
Betty and Jack Dudley preferred to
sit in a shadowy corner. The girl
Airted, firted deliberately. But deep
down in her heart there was an ache.
Lenten sacrifices were hard in the
making.
The rehearsals came and went, Bet
ty Carew's sweet, high soprano led
all the rest. And in its varying ca
dences the quick ear of the choir mas
ter could read the mood of the girl,
whether it be frivolous or pentitent.
But there were other signs. When
she was penitent she would have
naught of badinage. Paul Scharf
would play then as if in answer to her
need. And she sat in the remotest
corner of the chancel and listened
with rapt face. But when she was
frivolous she firted, firted outrage
ously, to the scandal of the choir and
the undoing of its masculine men,
bers
1t was on one of these nights that
Scharf decided on a chancel rehear-
sal. But when, after intermission, he
called "Places." Betty was 1oath to
leave her shadowy corner. Lets
not CO." she said beguiling1y, and
Jack Dudley was only too willing to
agree.
"But we must sit on the floor" she
decided. 'Mr. Scharf might see."
"Oh, hang Scharf," began Dud-
ley, but warm hand seized his per-
suasively, and again he yielded.
cts fun to be naughty some
times" said Betty. She was kneel-
ing in the rear aisle, and as the choir
began to wrestle with an anthem she
raised the tip of her inquisitive nose
above the high carved back of the
last pew. But she ducked with a
sharp exclamation.
whats up? asked Jack Dudley
good naturedly. He found Miss Bet
ty delicious partner in crime, espe-
cially when she seized his hand in
that frightened way. He almost wish
ed she would get thorough scare
who knows what she might do?
They're singing without an ac-
compartment" said Betty in an in
tense whisper, and Mr.. Scharf is
walking back to get the effect. He's
coming right this way. Oh, what
shall we do?"
eff he should find u.s." said the
guileful Jack.
ooh, if he should" Betty breath.
ed. She sank down in a frightened
little heap while Jack Dudley took
her hand protectingly.
And it was thus that Paul Schari
found them. If he had expected it
his face only showed an incredulou.
amazement.
Miss Carew p he exclaimed.
At the sound of his voice the girl.
spirit reasserted itself. Here" sh,
answered defantly.
eyes; I see you are there" the
choir master said grimly. "But i
you think it is proper position 1 fai
to agree with you" Here Betty
turned a vivid scarlet and snatchet
her hand away from Jack. "I mus
request that you both take your place
in the chancelp And he turned OF