The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1904-11-18

deer behind her.
During the entire hour of that first
Saturday morning lesson Mrs. Martin
lowered near the parlor door, hel
hands and feet refusing to perform
their accustomed duties. The low
murmur of the teachers voice and an
occasional series of notes were to Hes.
ter the mysterious rites before a
sacred shrine, and she listened in rev.
erent awe. When Miss Gale had left
the house, Mrs. Martin hurried to
Penelope's side.
"How did it &C? What did she say!
Play me what she taught you," she
urged excitedly.
Penelope tossed a consequential
head and gave her mother a scornful
glance.
"PoOh, mother, the first lesson ain t
much. I've got to practice"
"Of course" acknowledged Hester
in conciliation; "but how?-what?''
"That-and that-and from there
to there" said Penelope, indicating
with pink fore6nger certain portions
of the page before her.
OLr' breathed Hester, regarding
the notes with eager eyes. Then, tim
idly, "Play that one"
With all the Importance of absolute
certainty Penelope struck c.
"And that onc.''
Penelope's second finger hit I.
"And that-and that-and that,
swiftly demanded Fl. ster.
Penelope's cheeks grew pink, but
her fingers did not alter. Hester
drew long breath.
ooh, how quick you've learned emil
she exclaimed.
Her daughter hesitated a tempted
moment.
"Well, II learned the notes in
school," she finally acknowledged
looking sideways at her mother.
But even this admission did not les
sen for Hester the halo of glory about
Penelope's head. She drew another
long breath.
"But what else did Miss Gale say?
Tell me everything-every single
thing" she reiterated hungrily.
That was not only Penelope's first
lesson, but Hester's. The child, flush
ed and important with her sudden
promotion from pupil to teacher ,scrup-
ulously repeated each point in the les
son and the woman, humble and ear
nestly attentive, listened with bated
breath. Then Penelope, still airily
consequential, practised for almost an
hour.
Monday, when the children we're at
school, Hester stole into the parlor
and timidly seated herself at the pi-
ano.
II think-I am almost sure | could
do it," she whispered, studying with
eager eyes the open book'on the music
rack. "I-I'm going to try, anyhow
she finished resolutely.
And Hester did try, not only then,
but on Tuesday, Wednesday, and thus
until Saturday-that Saturday which
brought with it second lesson.
The weeks passed swiftly after that.
Hester's tasks seemed lighter and her
burdens less grievous since there was
now that cver-present refuge-the
piano. 1t was marvellous what mul
titude of headaches and heartaches
FIVE minutes Of scales, even, could ban
ish; aud when actual presence at the
piano was impossible. there were yet
memory and anticipation left her.
For two of these weeks Penelope
practiced her allotted hour with a pa
thence born of the novelty of the ex-
perience. The third week the "hour''
dwindled perceptibly, and the fourth
week it was scarcely thirty minutes
long.
"Come, dearie, don't forget your
practice" Hester sometimes cautioned
anxiously.
"Oh dear SUI MEL Penelope would
sigh, and Hester would watch her
with puzzled eyes as she disconsolate-
ly pulled out the piano stool.
"Penelope," she finally threatened
once, 81 shall certainly stop your les
sons-you don't half appreciate then" "
But she was shocked and frightened
at the relief that so quickly showed
in her young daughters eyes. Hester
never made that threat again, for if
Penelope's lessons stopped
As the weeks heightened into
months, bits of harmony and snatches
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