Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1904-08-19

IL III lnut WAY.
One afternoon a day or two
later a bright-faced girl in a
brown suit and hat rang the bell
of Miss Theodosia's small house.
Miss Theodosia opened it. Her
gray hair was brushed smoothly
back and she wore a white apron.
Miss Theodosia Latimer, / be-
lieye,p said the young girl "You
sent for me. Pm Millicent Thorne,
the new music teacher
"Yes," replied Miss Theodosia,
come in, please"
She ushered her into the little
room where the piano stood. The
Young music teachers eyes bright
ened when she saw it. "What a
beautiful piano" she cried.
Yes" answered Miss Theodo.
sia, flushing little. "it is" She
looked at the bright, speaking
face a trife wistfully. "Do you
like Crown Point?" she added.
gently.
Millicent Thorne smiled. so
much,7 she replied. eve quite Il
list of pupils, too. That always
encourages one. Have You any
young people forme, Miss Theodo
sia?"
Miss Theodosia flushed. T
have a pupil for YOU" she an
swercd. gravely, myself"
The Young music teachers eyes
widened with surprise. Miss
Theodosia saw the look, half of
astonishment, half of dismay.
Don't discourage me-" she
cried. IF YOU only knew how my
heart is set on it. I'm old, know,
but all my life Pve wanted to play.
| always had the longing to i'm
proyisc wonderful things on the
piano. Now Pve given up all that.
but | thought. with your help, if /
studied hard / might learn a few
simple songs. hymns. and the like,
YOU know. 1t seems to me if |
could only play Rock of Ages and
Majestic Sweetness Sits En-
throned I'd be the happiest WON
an i'm the world. I've wanted to
learn always but there was no
chance. If circumstances had
been different, might have been
different. but ! had no choice.
There was my duty and | did it.
Perhaps in Heaven these poor
stiff fingers of mine will become
straight and slender and supple,
and I can play there-and under
stand. / long to do little here yet;
don't say it is too late"
The young girl bent over and
took the little, work-hardened
hand in both her firm, white,
strong ones. There were tears in
her eyes. Unconsciously Miss
TheodoSia had laid bare her soul,
that sensitive, beautiful spirit
that for - years had been stihed
and rcprcssed in her frail body.
"No," cried Millicent Thorne,
earnestly. Eve won't say it is too
late. We can do our best, and we
can manage the hymns, anyway"
SO the lessons began, lessons
that to Miss TheOdosia were a
marvel and a-delight, unlockinga as
they did to her the door of hidden
mysteries and countless joys.
Mrs. Deacon Hunt met Mrs. So
phronia Hughes at prayer meet
ing one night. well, SOphrOnia,"
she began, "you were right and !
was wrong. ! was over to TheO-
dosia's last evening and do you
know she's actually learning to
play and she's as happy over it as
if she had discovered a gold mine.
| looked at her as she sat there
last night with the lamplight shin
ing on her gray hair, and | said to
myself: I'm glad TheOdosia lived
to get that piano and to enjoy it.
Why, it is almost a religion to her.
As you said, YOU and | have our
children and their interests, but
she has that piano"
And it was true. Into Miss
Theodosia's gray life the cheer
and warmth cf banished hope
had come ut last The little brown
house seemed no longer dark and
silent. The kitchen waited in vain
=. M