The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-06-29

ing their best--the sheen and glitter
Of silks and satins, laces and jewels
the pleasant, musical. ripping laughter,
and low hum and murmur of voices.
But fairyland cannot last forever: and
so presently they go back to the drawing
room. where Ernest bas promised to give
his little speciality entertainment, to the
great and expectant JOY Of the guests.
There is to be no more dancing, SO O
screen has been placed. between the two
rooms, and the lounges and couches
brought in, and the wax candles lighted,
and everything made to look very invit-
ing. They troop back to the drawing
room Ia the widest spirits; and presently
they are comfortably arranged, and
ready for anything In the way Of amuse-
ment or fun. The old Colonel offers to
sing them a hunting song, and Maud
plays him an accompaniment: and they
beat time with their feet and hands as
the old man trolls out, In hearty voice,
a song of praise, having for its burden,
"A southerly wind and a cloudy sky"
There is great applause at the close Of
the song; and then a pretty Irish melody
from Maud, sung SO feelingly that every
heart is touched.
Then follows Ernest's imitation Of va
rious birds, and the learning OF the Ger
man flute on a walking stick. At its
conclusion he gazes round upon the party
and his eyes rest on Maggie, who, all
aglow with delight and enjoyment, is
~clapping her hands aud looking eagerly
ut him with such q delicious, happy face,
that he takes her expression for an APP
proyal Of the loud encore that has greet
ed the finish Of his Performance.
Maggie next sits down to the piano,
and for a moment there Is a great hush
Of excitement, then a grand, lovely voice
Is floating through the room, sobbing out
the touching story, in exquisite music,
Home they brought her warrior dead"
Ernest is listening entraar led, and Is
carried back to the days Of ch;valry, and
sees the scene, as 1t were, being enacted
before him now.
She stops presently, with an unuttera-
BILE vibrato of sorrow in her voice; and
every one rises and crowds round her,
and begs for one more-only one. And
presently Maud comes over to Ernest,
as the fingers u lightly over the keys,
and he holds up his hand as she is about
to speak to him, and says. Hush, Maud,
ask her to sing again."
why, ] thought you did not care for
music, Ernest. You never go to the
opera, you know"
rs this music?" asks the young man,
hoarsely. II can feel music like this;
/ never heard anything like this before.
/! this DE music, | love it dearly. Hush!
she is beginning to singr" And he turns
from his sister, and does not raise his
head till the plaintive ballad is finished.
They are crowding round her again
the Colonel as eager as any; Mrs. Chol-
mondely proudly bending over; Maud
whispering congratulations; and men and
women alike petting her and paying her
homage.
And here she sits, with her marvellous
talent-that has been developed greatly
since the days of poor Georges love.
and the little Fulham home-in this mag
nifcent apartment, thinking of nothing
in the wide world but herself and her
happiness and content.
And in q prison cell a man who calls
himself her husband is kneeling by his
pallet on the cold stones, and, with his
face raised to heaven, and tears stream
ing from his eyes. is thanking God, in
broken accents. that he is one day nearer
to his poor, loving darling, his pretty
Maggie.
And so the pulse of life, striking alike
through latticed palace and prison walls,
beats slowly, solemnly on.
Ito be continued.)