The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-09-24

less interest
ITO play on it! Just think, dear. how
fine that will BET The woman 5 voice
was growing wistlul.
Take lessons? Like Mamie, You
mean?
'Yes, dear
"But-she has to practice an
..Of course, interrupted Hester, Gag
erly. That the best part of 1.-THE
practice.
Mamie don't think so, observed
Penelope obviously.
Then Mamie cant know, rejoined
Hester with decision, bravely combating
the chill that was creeping over her.
Come, dear, help mother to clear a space,
so we may be ready when the piano comes,
she finished, crossing the room and NOV
Ing a chair to one side.
But when the piano finally arrived Pen
elope was rs enthusiastic as even her
mother could wish her to be, and danced
about it with proud joy 1t was after the
child had left the house, however, that
Hester came with reverent step into the
10 kened room and feasted her eyes to her
heart content on the reality of her
dreams.
Half -learfully she extended her hand
and softly pressed the tip Of her tom h
finger to one of the ivory keys; then With
her thumb she touched another little
below. The resulting dissonance gave her
4 vague unrest, and she gently slipped her
thu'ub along until the harmony of a major
sixth fl'ed her eyes with quick tears.
oh. if | only could she whispered,
aud pressed the chord again, rapturously
listening to the vibrations as they died
away in the quiet, room. Then she tip
tned cut and closed the door behind her
During the entire hour of that first
SATURDAY morning lesson Mrs Martin hov-
cred near the parlor door, her hands and
feet refusing to perform their accustomed
duties The low murmur of the teacher ;
voice aud an occasional series of notes were
To Hester the mysterious rites before a
sacred shriue. and she listened in reverent
awe When Miss Gale had left the house,
Mrs Martin hurried To Penelope side.
How did it 20? What did she say?
l'Iay me what she taught You, she ged
excite lly.
Penelope tossed eousequentic' head
and gave her mother a scornful glance.
Pooh mother, the first lesson s.a't
much We got to practise
.,Of course, Acknowledged Hester in
Cancellation. but how?-what?
"That-and that-and from there to
there. said Penelope, indicating With a
pink fore6nger certain portions Of the page
before her
Oh brcathed Hester, REGARDING the
notes with eager eyes Then, mildly,
.'Play-that one
With all the importance Of absolute
Gel ainty Penelope struck c.
'.And that one
Prnelope's : second finger hit f.
And that-and tbat-and that, '
swiftly demanded Hester
prnclope cheeks grew pink, but her
fnerrs did not falter. Hester drew a long
breath
..Oh how quick you ve lee ned en-!
she exclaimed
Her daughter hesiiated a tempted mo
ment.
"Wdl-I-I learned the notes in
school. she lin. " ACKNOWLEDGED, look ~
sideways at her mother
Eut even this admission did not sen
for II S,er the halo Of glory about Pene-
lope head. She drew another long breath.
but what e'~e did Miss Gale say?
Te" me everything very single thing,
she reiterated huherily,
That was not only Penelope first les
son. but Hes.er's The ch "a, flushed and
important with her sudden promotion from
pupil to teacher. scrupulOusly repeated each
point in the lesson, and the woman, hum
lie and earnestly attentive, listened with
bated breath Then Penelope, still airily
consequential, practised for q most an hour,
Monday. when the children were at
school, Hester stole into the parlor and
timidly seated herself at the piano.
II think am almost sure could do
1t. she whispered, studying with eager
EYES the open book on the music rack.
"i-Im going to try, anyhow she Tin
ished re,olutely.
Aud Hester did try, not only then, but
on Tuesday "Wednesday, and thus unt;l
Saturday that Saturday which brought
with it 4 second lesson.
The weeks passed swiftly after that.
Hester tasks seemed lighter and her bur
dens less grieyouS since there was now that
ever present refuge-the piano. 1t was
marvellous what a multitude Of headaches
and heartaches five minutes of scales, even,
could bapish; and when actual presence at
the piano was impossible, there were yet
memory and anticipation left her.
For two of these weeks Penelope prac-
ticed her allotted hour with patience boln
of the novelty of the experience. The
third week the ..hour' dwindled percep.
tibly, and the fourth week it was scarcely
thirty minutes long.
Come, dearie, don't forget your prac-
tiee. Hester sometimes cautioned anX
iously
,Oh dear SUI mel Penelope would
sigh. and Hester would watch her " tn
puzzled eyes as she diseorsolately pulled
out the piano stool.
Penelope she finally threatened one
day. Il shall certainly stop your lessons
you don't half appreciate them. But
she was shocked and frightened at the re-
lief that so quickly showed in her young
daughter eyes. Hester never made that
threat again, for if Penelope lessons
stopped
As the weeks heightened into months,
bits of harmony and snatches OF melody
became more and more frequent in Pene-
lope lessons, and the exercises were
supplemented by occasional pieces -
simple, vet boasting name Bnt when
Penelope played .'Down by the Mil, one
heard only the notes-accurate, rhythmic,
an excellenI imitation; when Hester played
it, one might catch the whir of the wheel,
the swish of the foaming brook, and almost
the spicy smell of the sawdust, SO vividly
was the scene brought to mind
Many time, now, the old childhood
dreams came back to Hester, and her fin