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


services at the disposal Of all who
could pay the price-thirty-five cents
an bour; and she graciously accepted
the name of her new pupil, entering
"Penelope Martini on her books for
Saturday mornings at ten o'clock
Then Hester went home to tell her
young daughter Of the bliss in store
for her.
Strange to say, she had cherished
the secret of the old stone jar all these
yeals, and had never told Penelope of
her high destiny. She pictured now
the child's joy, unconsciously putting
her own nine year old, music-hungry
self in Penelope's place.
"Penelope," she called gently.
There was a scurrying of light feet
down the urcarpeted back stairs, and
Penelope, breathless, rosy, and smiling
appeared in the doorway.
"Y es, mother"
"Come with me, child" said Hester,
her voice sternly solemn in her effort
to keep from shouting her glad tldings
before the time.
The woman led the way through
the kitchen and dining room and threw
open the parlor door, motioning bel
daughter into the sombre room. The
rose-color faded from Penelope'f
cheeks.
"Wby, mother! wbat-what is it
Have been-naughty?" she faltered
Mrs. Martins tense muscles relaxed
and she laughed hysterically.
"No, dearie, no! II have some
thing to tell you," she answered, draw
ing the child to her and smoothing
back the disordered hair. "Wha,
would you rather have-more than
anything else in the world?' she ask
ed, then, unable to keep her secret
longer, she burst out, give got it
Penelope!-ob, I've got it!''
The little girl broke from the res
training arms and danced wildly
around the room.
"Mothel! Really? As big as me!
And will it talk-say papa and man
ma you know?'
"What!"
Something in Testers dismayed
face brought the prancing feet to a
sudden stop.
"It-it's a doll, isn't it?' the child
sta mmered.
Hester's hands grew cold.
GA DOLL" she gasped.
Penelope nodded light gone
from her eyes.
For a moment the woman was ST.
lent; then she threw back her head
with little shake and laughed forced
ly.
"a dolI!-why, child, it's as much
nicer than doll as-as you can i'm
agine. It's piano, dear a pi a no!''
she repeated impressively, all the old
enthusiasm coming back at the mere
mention OF the magic word.
"Ohr' murmured Penelope, with
some show of interest.
"And you're to learn to play on
iti'
"Oh!' said Penelope again, but with
less interest.
ITO play on it! just think, dear,
how fine that will bel" The woman's
voice was growing wistful.
"Take lessons? Like Minnie, you
mean?"
eyes, dear"
"But-she has to practice an
"Of course interrupted Hester, eag-
erly. "That's the best part of it
the practice"
"Mamie don't think so,' observed
Penelope obviously.
"Then Mamie can't know" rejoined
Hester with decision, bravely CON-
batting the chill that was creeping
her. "Come, dear, help mother to
clear a space, so we may be ready
when the piano comes," she finished
crossing the room and IN wing a chair
to one side.
But when the piano finally arrived
Penelope was as enthusiastic as even
her mother could wish her to be, and
danced about it with proud joy. 1t
was after the child had left the house,
however, that Hester came with rever-
ent step into the darkened room and
feasted her eyes to her hearts con-
tent on the reality of her dreams.
Halffearfully she extended her hand
aud softly pressed the tip of her fourtl,
finger to one of the ivory keys; then
with her thumb she touched another
q little below The resultino disso.