The San Francisco call., 1904-02-07

I'd heard nothing but Miss Betty Ca
body l saw, since the minute my stage
came in. You set 'em all mad at your
ball, and 1 knew we'd make a glorious
house-full, you and Il Some of the
vagabonds will turn up this very even
ing. you'll see If they don't. Ha, hal
The way they follow mei'
Mrs Tanberry was Irresistible; she
filed the whole place otherwise than by
the mere material voIuminousness of
her; bubbling over with froth of nom
sense which flew through the house,
driven by her energy. like sea-foam on
a spring gale, and the day, so discord-
antly begun for Miss Betty, grew musi-
cal with her own laughter answering
the husky staccato of the vivacious
newcomer. Nelson waited upon them
at table, radiant. his smile like the
keyboard of a surreptitious double
shuttle and followed by the cachinna-
ting echoes of the vain Mamie's recep-
tion of the visitors sallies, which Nell
son hastily retailed in passing.
Nor was Mrs Tanberry's prediction al
lowed to go untitled regarding the ad-
vent of those persons whom she had
designated as vagabonds. 1t may have
been out of difference to Mr.. Carewe's
sense Of decorum Cor from a cautious
regard of what he was liable to do
when he considered that sense out
raged) that the gallants Of Rouen had
placed themselves under the severe re-
straint of allowing three days to
elapse after their introduction to Miss
Carewe before they paid their re-
spects at the house.; but be that as 1t
may, the dictator was now safely un-
der way down the Rouen River, and
Mrs. Tanberry reigned in his stead.
Thus, at about 8 o'clock that evening,
the two ladies sat in the library en-
gagged in nversation-though, for the
sake Of accuracy, 1t should be said that
Mrs. Tanberry was engaged in conver-
sation, Miss Betty in giving ear-when
their attention was arrested by sounds
of a somewhat musical nature from the
lawn, which sounds were Immediately
identified as emanating from a flute
and violin.
Mrs Tanberry bounded across the
room like a cyclone, and, dashing at
the candles, BLOW 'em out, blow 'em
OUT" she exclaimed, suiting the action
to the word in a fiuster of excitement.
"Why?" asked Miss Carewe, startled,
as she rose to her feet. The candles
were out before the question.
"Whyi" repeated the merry, husky
voice in the darkness. MY goodness,
child precious, those vagabonds are
here! To think of your never having
been serenaded before"
She drew the girl to the window and
pointed to a group of dim figures near
the lilac bushes. THE dear, delightful
vagabondsi" she chuckled. 'I knew
they'd come It's the beautiful Tap
bingham Marsh with his fiddle, and
young Jeff Bareaud with his flute, and
Gene Madrillon and little Frank Chen
oweth with thin Will Cummings to
sing. Hark to the rascals!"
1t is perfectly truthful to say that
the violin and flute executed the prel-
ude, and then the trio sounded full on
the evening air, the more effective
chords obligingly drawn out as long as
the breath in the singers could hold
them in order to allow the two fair
auditors complete benefit of the har-
mony They sang 1.-The Harp That
Once Thro' Tara's Halls" and followed
II with Long, Long Ago.
That" Mrs. Tanberry whispered. be-
tween stifled gusts of almost uncon-
tro1lable laughter, 'is meant for just
me-"
Tell me the tales that to me were so
dear" entreated the trio.
'I told 'em plenty!" gurgled the en-
livening widow. And 1 expect be-
tween us we can get up some more"
Now you are come my grief is re-
moved" they sang.
"They mean your father is on his
way to ST. Louis" remarked Mrs. Tan
berry
Let me forget that SO long you have
roVed.
Let me believe that you love as you
loved,
Long, long ago, long ago.
applaud, applaud" whispered Mrs.
Tanbery, encouraging the minstrels by
a hearty clapping of hands.
Hereupon dissension arose among the
quintet, evidently a dispute in regard
to their next selection; one of the gen.
tlemen appearing more than merely
to suggest solo by himself, while the
others too frankly expressed adverse
opinions upon the value of the offering.
The argument became heated and in
suite of many a Ssh" and mot so
loud!" the Unsurpassed voice of the
intending soloist, Mr.. Chenoweth, could
be heard vehemently to exclaim: II
will! learned it especially for this oc-
casion. 1 will sing it!''
His determination, patiently, was not
to be baked without physical encoun-
ter, consequently he was permitted to
advance some PAGES from the lilac
bushes, where he delivered himself, in
an earnest and plaintive tenor, of the
following morbid instructions. to which
the violin played an obligato in tremolo,
30 execrable, ond so excruciatingly dis
cordant, that Mr.. Chenoweth's subse-
quent charge that II was done with q
deliberate evil intention could never be
successfully opposed:
Go! Forget mel Why should Sorrow
Ger that brow a shadow fling?
Go! Forget me, and, tomorrow,
Brightly smile and sweetly singl
Smilei tho may not be near thee;
Smile! tho 1 may never see thee;
May thy soul with pleasure shine