Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1904-07-28
BELLE MANDATES
Ccopyright, 1904, by Daily Story Pub.

modest in bearing, straightforward in
manner and frank of countenance and
possessed of a captivating personality,
Philip Hathcourt was well equipped to
win favor in the eyes OF women. But
Leigh Cornell, the one woman to whom
his heart inclined, was still fancy free.
Though they were the best of friends
he shrewdly OWNED that he would be
forcing an issue If he told her of his
love-
Il hear you are going to sing solo
at st. Luke's next Sunday" he said, as
they sat In the box at the theater one
night
Yes; am to sing Angels Ever
Bright and Fair"
II shall come to hear you. BY the
way, we Shall have guest at that time
"a friend of my younger brother. He
is quite music mad, believe"
Who is he?" she asked, carelessly.
An Englishman-though he spent
his boyhood in America. His name is
Reginald Derybshire.''
"Oh!" she cried, her eyes full of in
terest did he 1--we here in this city
years ago, and did he fall heir to a
Yes he replied. ibid you know
him?"
When we were children we sang il a
q vested choir. We were given, the
duets, more because was SO fair and
he so dark than from any blending Of
voices. They thought we made a
tableau, suppose. It was like ro-
nance. his becoming Lord Somebody
and crossing the seas to his estates,
and I! Well, my lines were cast in far
different places
Sunday morning found him in the
Hathcourt pew, his brother and their
guest, Reginald Derbyshire, also pres
emit
Young Derbyshire had gone to Eng
land full of American ideas and with a
stolid determination not to become
English But 1t was only natural that
an impressionable boy should insensi-
bly, and by degrees receive the imprint
of English sentiments. Gradually he
became nodded in the character Of the
country which had been his birthplace,
and at last England claimed MIN for
her own Soon after attaining his ma
jority he again visited his old home
He had an eager interest In everything
pertaining to his old life and hunted
up his former friends with enthusiasm.
He had ever cherished most tender
recollections of the little pansy-eyed
girl who had sung and played with
him. It was of her, In fact, he was
now thinking as he appeared to listen
to the sermon
He had scarcely glanced at the MEM
bers Of the vested choir until now,
when the organ pealed forth at the
close OF the sermon. young girl rose
and faced the congregation. She
looked as tender and pure as an arch
angel in her white robes, with eyes
uplifted to the oaken rafters of the
little chapel.
"one of Raphael's Sistine Cherubs!"
thought Reginald.
At the rising cadence OF the song and
/ the exquisite play of the silvery TIM
Der of her voice his memory awoke.
Leigh" he gasped, as the old, IA
mfiiar air and words rang out How
they took him back to the Sundays OF
his boyhood!
=
his triumphaSst thought.
She finished. There was a momen-
tary silence like that solemn pause
which follows a benediction. Then,
with tremor in his low, gentle voice.
the old pastor offered a heartfelt
prayer. Outside the church Reginald
waited for her When she came he
rushed forward with impetuous and
outstretched hand.
LEIGH" he cried, eagerly
a bright, glorious flush rose TO her
cheeks and happy light shone In her
eyes as she grasped his hand, while
Philip, standing by. felt like kicking
this newcomer to the ends of the earth.
81 knew you as soon as you began
20 sing -our old. song!"- he exclaimed.
She wondered, with sudden divin-
ing, sof the reason that Philip had not
| told him OF her. Reginald accompanied
her to her home and they talked Of
other days--the days when she had
/ sung In The choir and the unhappy
days that had followed, when her
father had died SO suddenly, and to
| support her Invalid mother the little
l.
pleasure boats. At her mothers death,
just before he had come into his pos
sessions, she had been adopted by some
wealthy people.
There have been changes indeed in
| your life since the day taught you
the song you sang to-day" he observed.
mo greater changes than came into
| your life, my lord" she retorted
Early in June they were invited to a
house party at Roselawn, the country
home Of the Hathcourts. One after
noon, as Reginald sat beside Leigh on
/ the piano bench watching the slender
! fingers that glided SO softly over the
keys, ne was struck by new express
| sion in her eyes. The dazzling bright
ness OF her face had given way to a
strange, sweet quiet. Hitherto he had
regarded her as a gay little playmate.
1t occurred to him now that she was
woman.