Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1904-04-14

blond, untidy looking fellow who so ad-
mired her at first sight But Herman
was a handsome fellow despite the
careless manner in which he dressed,
and the new stenographer often glanced
at him approvingly when she knew he
was looking the other way.
Mr.. Drummond, the senior partner in
the firm, introduced Herman to the
new stenographer. He knew Herman's
reputation for shyness and only by
great effort kept down a smile when he
saw the big German blush conspicuous
ly upon meeting the frank glance Of
the young girl. The introduction over,
Herman Qromptly turned to his books,
more ae9r the purpose Of letting the
blusA die away than for any other rea-
son. As he pored over the books he re-
fecred with delight that the girls name,
Helen Dumont, was name that emf
nently suited her
1t was not until business hours were
over, his dinner eaten and the violin
and himself in close companionship on
the little balcony that he decided he
was at last in love. Then he took the
violin into his confidence, cuddling 1t
up to his chin and playing very softly
little love song of the Rhine country.
1t was a light thing, ripping and sun
shiny, and it seemed to express his feel
ings. He wondered If Helen was mu-
steal She must be, her face was so
sensitive, he decided.
AS he played he heard a window
raised in the house next door and re-
fected uneasily that some one would
probably shout across to him to keep
his fiddle playing for the daytime.
However, no protest came, and he
changed the air he was playing to
Schuberts serenade. Scarcely had he
taken up the measure OF this than he
heard a voice accompanying him. No
words were sung; it was a sort of hum
ming, but in a voice of so pure a so
prano quality that he was thrilled
through and through. Then he played
enc of Sauers peasant love songs, and
the voice still accompanied him, this
time singing the words very softly.
But other windows in his own house
were raised to protest at the music
! From the window where the singer sal
a silvery laugh floated out. The win
! dow closed. and the voice accompanied
| his music no more that night.
! Next day at the office he stole many
furtiye glances at Miss Dumont and
| tried to decide whether he was in love
/ with her or with the voice he had
heard the night before. Already he
/ was beginning to think of IL as The
/ Voice mentally capitaliZing the words
/ Before the day was over he decided
/ that he was in love with Helen Du
mont The graceful turn Of her heac
/ and the purity Of expression in her biz
/ brown eyes seemed to him worth al
the voices in the world But I'm the
evening The Voice again accompanied
his violin playing, and for an hour h'
was near to forgetting Miss Dumont.
This went on all through the spring
! and Herman began To lose flesh unde
the strain of trying to decide whether
4 lie was in love with a beautiful CIR
or beautiful voice. Time and agair
he wrestled unavailingly with the shy
ness which prevented him from get
ting better acquainted with Helen Du
mont He often met her on his way
! home IN the evening and knew tina
! she lived somewhere close, but h,
could never quite get his courage vi
to the point of asking permission t