Middletown transcript., 1904-01-16
rem. Have YOU found them out vet?

rem. Have you found them out yet?
Yes, Mrs. Standard, the girl acknow-
ledged, laughing-I found one mite swing
ing on the gate and larger sister trying
to push her, SO went to their assistance.
have a great weakness for small child
remand for animals, she explained to
Godfrey.
hope you have made friends with my
dogs, he said.
Yes-or rather they have made friends
with me. They generally accompany me
on my walks.
Poor old fellows-it is dull for them
when there is no shooting! hear that
Nugent is at the hall, mother. We must
ask him to dinner, and l must see if he
will come fishing with me.
Custance hastily put down her wine
glass and held her breath. Somehow it
had not occurred to her that this might
happen, but of course Godfrey Standard
would know his neighbors. What could
she do? II Thorn Nugent became vis-
itor at the house she would once more be
open to his persecution, and if, as it
seemed, he was already friend OF God
frey's, the Standards would receive her
story coldly. She was afraid to speak
and sat there in silence until the end OF
dinner.
Godfrey did not remain behind when
Mrs. Standard and Custance left the din
ing-room. He asked if he could smoke
his cigar on the balcony of the drawing
room, and he stood at the open window,
talking to his mother, whose chair was
placed on the inside At the old lady's
request, Custance went to the piano. She
felt afraid Of interrupting their converse
ton, but at the first full tones of her
voice they stopped as if by mutual con-
sent and listened until the last notes died
away. 1t was only ballad she sang, but
the tender voice sank deep into Godfrey's
heart and fingered long in his memory.
AS Custance finished the last verse, she
became aware that Mr.. Standard had
crossed the room and was standing by the
piano.
1t is too long! the girl declared, with an
unsteady little laugh. She wondered
what had brought the tears into her eyes
and if Goefrey saw them. The fact was
that she had thrown her whole soul into
her song and affected even herself.
1t is not note too long! he demurred,
and to her surprise his voice sounded
rather uncertain too. l would not have
missed single word. Won't you sing
again, Miss Madison?
Iwould rather play for you, if you will
sing.
Yes-do, Godfrey, and give Custance
rest, said his mother.
So he sang, and the girl played for him.
He had a good baritone voice and sug-
gested that they should try some duets.
At the time itAseemed quite natural to
Custance to find.her voice blending with
that of one OF the richest and most influ-
ential men of the day in a passionate
declaration that
"Oh, love, hear thy dear voice signing,
As shall hear it when Pm diving p
But afterwards she wondered at her
own quiet acceptance of the position.
He is SO simple in his manner that l
am in danger of forgetting that he is my
employer, she thought, with an uneasy
remembrance of Godfrey's voice as he
stood close beside her, singing
"Dear love of mine, look up above thee,
And looking, tell me if love thee!
Close on my heart feel thee living,
As | shall feel thee when Pm d. ingp'
I will be more distant and reserved to-
morrow, Custance determined.
AS Standard shook hands with her that
night, he said
You hare given my mother and me
great deal of pleasure, Miss Madison.
Music is weakness of ours.
An amiable one, she said, as she drew
away her hand.
He fingered minute
liked your first song, lie informed her
almost abruptly. What is it called?
"All | Ask"
liked it very much, he replied quiet
ly. Some day, perhaps, you will sing it
to me again.
TO BE CoNrINUEDl
-@W%