Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-12-17

U0Sm60J InaI CndTdClSTlISu MISS
Leigh. Beatrice was Of another type;
her fine, high-red, aristocratic face,
with its clear-cut natrician features;
her air of perfect refinement and per-
feet good-breeding; her quiet, stately
dignity were perfect contrast to the
blushing, dimpled, country beauty of
Lady Violante
That dinner was an ordeal to her.
She never forgot it. 1t had been the
merly of Madisan, refused to accept
things?" she said, despairingly. ooh,
anticipation of such trials that caused
her, months ago, to try to fly from the
love that was gaining mastery over
her.
Il have not done we'll" she said to
herself, land | am afraid ah me,
shall never be at home amongst all
this grandeur, | wish-how | wish
Vivian had been a lawyer, like my
father, and we could have lived in a
pretty little house, like Oakside."
There was another ordeal before her,
The ladies withdrew, and she dreaded
the prospect of an hours tetea-tete
with the stately motherin1aw and the
beautiful, naughty lady, whose dark,
bright eyes seemed to read the secrets
of all her little fears.
She tried in her simple way to talk
to them Mrs. Selwyn was not unllnd
she was too ladylike and well-bred
to make the young girl feel the differ.
ence between them; but it was not
quite in human nature to get up all at
once an affection for the one who had
thwarted every plan and wish and hope
of her life.
DO you play much? Are you fond
of music. Lady Violante?" she said,
81 sing" replied the young wife;
"but fear my singing would not please
you, | taught myself something after
the fashion of the birds.
THE birds sing sweetly enough,
commented Miss Leigh, par parenthe-
sis
will you sing for me?' continued
Mrs. Selwyn. Anything you like
Just in your own fashion"
Il sing nothing but cid English bal
lads" she said; Il do not know either
French, German or Italian songs"
Again the two ladies exchanged
looks, as who should say:
mo manners, no accomplishments;
what did he marry her for?'
81 will sing my fathers favorite -
she said and then, in a clear sweet
voice, she began the old ballad, ION
the Banks Of Allan Water
Years afterward they remembered
It. The timid, shrinking girl, with her
sweet, fair face, the satins and dia
monds cleaning in the bright light,
and the sweet, clear voice that falter-
ed over the line:
There corse lay she"
Faltered as though the words were
prophetic of the strange destiny that
awaited her
Miss Leigh made no comment Old
ballads, however full of music and
pathos, did not interest her Mrs. Sci
wyn thanked her.
"A style of singing quite out of date
unfortunately" she said; but very
nice, for all that Do you play much?"
Nothing but the accomplishments to
my own songs" was the timid reply.
And then her face flushed again.
How ignorant, how awkward |
am" she thought. How could |
think OF singing such an oldfashioned
E,S n
to her mind the memory of summer
evenings never to come again, when
She through the cleaning. had sung TO
her father, who thought such music
the most glorious in the world.
Then Lord Vivian, hearing the music,
came in. and Beatrice Leigh awoke to
something like life.
She sat down to the piano, and pres.
emily the room rang with glorious mel.
ody. Her voice was a rich; soft con
tralto. and she sang passionate love
song-sang it too, with such fire, such
passion, such power that she carried
the hearts OF her listeners with her.
Violante's fair face flushed, and her
dark eyes grew bright. She leaned
over the piano drinking in the music
that fell from those proud lips When
ii was ended she drew a deep breath,
as one who has been in trance.
How beautiful she cried. Flow
| envy you Miss Leigh. Oh. II could
sing like that. | would ask for no
other gift.
You would find many others want
ing" replied Bea.r &c, with smile.
Music nowadays is almost as common
among young girls as il is among your
iayorite birds"
Sing for me again. Beatrice. said
Lord Vivian, and again the ricn pas
sionate voice rang out. This time II
was a dreamy German melody. that
fills ones heart with vague, delicious
dreams: no words could interpret
them: wild. beautiful dreams, that
seemed Ike an echo from heaven:
that took those who listened into
another. faiTer, more ideal world.
When she had finished. Violante'sI
sweet eyes we're wet with tears.
II never knew what music was be.
fore she said: Il shall never have