The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1904-06-16
WITHOUT An inrRopucrios,

vlsit TO 4 music ball, ana be biushcd A. ne
sAt down al the back of the circle, and
bIushed "a he WATCHED the Sisters Tipiop
dance about the stage, and blushed A. be
heard some people near him comment on
his clerical appearance.
He was curate In country paiiih and
thoroughly good young man. A week
ago he had had bitter disappointment.
por sometime be had been timidly coari!ng
the daughter of bis vicar. Her attitude
had seemed TO him encouraging, and at last
be hsd formally proposed. Then came the
disappointment. She refused, With many
polite apologies, aud an inlimaiion that she
already had an understanding with SOL
dler I. usla who had wooed her boldly last
before his departure for service Ia lndia.
| Ike most men In similar circumstances,
NJ. Holmes thought change OF scene
would be beneficial. Accordingly, having
obtained leave Of absence, he Travelled to
L,ndor, and qlartered himself on an aunt
OF his, an elderly fp,nster residing 1T Ful-
ham. lie was her favori,e nephew, and
she received him gl,dly and did her best
| TO cheer him when she learned what had
happened. But neither her expressions OF
sympathy nor the picture galleries and
tea DAT ties to which che took him had any
a ct. Iadeod, bis melancholy increased,
rather than diminished, and this visit to a
music hall was desperate attempt to find
relief.
When the Sisters Tiptop hsd flashed
| their dance a gsntleman with an Italian
name aud shoreditch accent did some con-
turing trivks. Afterward q low comedian
ehsnt,d about drinks, mothers-ir.law and
dodgers. Then two more low comedians
pulled each Others noses, Jumped on each
others stomachs and generally behaved
ia very elegant and witty manner. But
Mr., Holmes wa chcd them all. But alas
they did not amuse him. He felt as wretch
ed and weary Of living as ever.
He was thinking Of leaving the hall when
the curtain went up for the next part OF
the performance. This was not on the pro-
RIamme, and was announced BY card at
the side OF the stage IS au "extra turn
The orchestra began to play and young
ard pretty li.l hesitaiingly advanced
toward the footlights. Mr.. Holmes heard
some one say, Him, novice! She won't
be worth much. Sill, in spite OF this pro-
phecy, he leaned forward eagerly. He
had noticed that the girl resembled the
daughter Of Lis viea-, and had at once be-
come interested In her.
She sang simple ballad, and sang II
well, althoug' she was evidently very ner-
vous. But l'ie was not success. The
people were b Jred They liked sentmen-
tai song sometimes, but he had to be OF
the golden-.yrup kind, with catchy four
note refrain. This one did not satisfy
their requirements, and consequently they
yawned aud talked while she was singing
II. and we're relieved when she reached the
end. A few good-natured spplauded. The
msjnitv, however, hssed.
i AT the sound she staggered back as II
struck, and then, covering her face with
her hands, retreated into the wings. AS
sbe disappeared Mr.. Holmes Jumped up,
plared at persistent hisser and jumped
toward the door. He was iuriously irdig-
nant,
4 Poor little girl, he muttered. You're a
set Of brutes to treat her SO.
Two or three h. ard the remark, and seem
cd inclined to resent 1t; but he strode on
without needing them. A moment later
he stood on the pavement outside the hall
taking In deep breaths Of fresh air
:. The stage door was in a side street. Az
ter brief search he discovered 1t, and
paced up and down, keeping an eye on IT,
Half an hour passed without results
Should he wait any longer9 Had he not
!, better get on car and 20 home to FalhamI
: He asked himself these questions, and was
, reluctantly making up his mind to depart,
when at last the girl appeared, As she
stepped out OF the door he CHANGED to draw
level with 1t, and they collided lightly. lie
raised bis hat.
u viii you let me wax a few yards with
! sou he said as she turned away. want
I'd to speak to you. was In the hall when
: you sang. You did sIlendidly. The pee
pie who bissed ought to be ashamed Oh
!, themselves. 1t was grossly unfair.
She looked at his sealchinglv, and then
satisfied with the inspection, replied;
Perhaps it was. At any rate, II Is lind
} Of you to say so. Where were you iitting
Could you see me plainly Dill ! seem
very much upset at the timer
I'm afraid you did.
Yea, suppose Imust have been, know
bad good cry directly got On the
stage. Sill, I'm oil light now. by the
/ way, I hope you didn't coma out OF the
. bail on purpose to speak to mef OF courte
I'm grateful II you did but--but--
I understand, be broke In, and III leave
,ou at once. Goodbyel Believe me,
/ though. / didn't speak for the sake Of
becoming better acquainted with you, but
!. simply becsuec thought II would cheer
/, you up to know that at least one Of the
audience appreciated your song.
Again she looked at him searchlpslg AID
was satil fed.
do believe you, lhe said. Ant-and--
well, you needn't 70 unless you wish to.
Do your
She smiled bewitcLipgly ~ abe asked
the question. His eyes dropped, bu, be
snswered.
No. no, | certalnly don't. ! shall b.
delighted to continue with you ~ long Al
J ycu'll let ne,
For some minutes they walked on, ihs
choosing the way and chsttlng merrily
Rev. Matthew Holmes found that be wa
ss happy In her company a. ever be htt
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