The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1905-06-21


moments hesitation she seated herself
and sang 1.-THE Last Rose OF Summer"
She had sung 1t many, many times be-
fore, and every trill and exquisite quiv-
en- OF Its pathos was as familiar to her
as he music of the brook where she
had played In childhood. She sang as
b never had before, and to an u
dience that listened entranced. When
the last sweet note had passed her red
lips, SHE arose quickly and returned to
her seat, Two little tears stole out OF
Mrs. Nason's eyes, to be quickly brush
ed away with a priceless bit OF lace.
Sweet Alice, the motherless little coun-
try girl, had from that moment enter
ed the heart of Mrs. Mason. When the
applause had subsidized, 1t was Frank
that next pleaded.
Won't you sing one for me now,
Miss Pager" he asked. ~ bought the
song 1 wanted today" And, going to
the piano, he unrolled and spread upon
the music rack-"Ben Bolt"
"But 1 only consented to sing once
for Blanch," Alice replied, land there
are others here who I am sure can do
much better"
Come, please" he said coaxingly,
Just this II for me-" And once more
Alice touched the keys.
Back to a simply furnished parlor
in S%andgate, with It's lamp on the
piano and open fire burning brightly
as 1t had one year ago, went two Of
that company in thought, and maybe
Others there, whose youth had be2n
among country scenes, were carried
back to them by the singers voice and
saw n hgway schoolhouse "and n shad-
ed nook by n running brook" In fancy,
or perhaps q little white stone In some
grass grown corner, where, Obscure
and alone" lay a boyhood's sweet
hearth All the pathos of our lost youth
trilled in the voice of Alice Page as she
sang that old, old song. Not one In
that little audience but vas enthralled
by the winsome witchery of her voice
and for The moment was young again
In thought and feeling. When the
guests had departed Mrs. Mason turned
to Alice and, taking her face in her
hands, exclaimed, IL want to kiss the
lips that have brought tears to my
eyes tonight"
The last evening of her visit she de-
cided to spend with her brother, and
when she came to bid adieu to her
hostess that much dreaded naughty
mother had resolved herself into a
charming lady.
ut Is odd, Bertie," she said to her
brother that evening when they were
alone together, chow different people
seem when one comes to know them.
From one or two things which you have
said and IN admission that Frank
made a year G 1 felt I should be sure
to hate his mother, and now 1 think
she IS perfectly lovely"
$50 she is to those she likes" an.
swered Albert. "You carried her heart
by storm last evening as we'll as the
sest of the company. I never heard
you sing so we'll"
Ell am glad I didn't break down, my.
way" she replied, for when touched
the piano my heart seemed in my
mouth
Fol an hour they discussed the Ma
sons, while Albert noticed his sister
avoided any mention of Frank, and
then he said: well, sis, which of the
places we have looked at do you think
I best engage, and when will you be
ready to mover"
Alice pursed her lips and looked at
the shipwrcck scene near her MS If It
contained n revelation.
II am not SO sure,'' she answered
finally, that we should make tho
change at present. If / were certain
your beautiful waif OF the sea would
adhere to her filiaI resolution, 1t would
be different. If you secure this legacy
for her that you told me about and she
donates 1t to those old people, asyou say
she intends to, the next thing Will be
an invitation to my dear brothers we'd
ding. That is one reason why L hest
tate to make this change. Another Is
that L do not think 1t would be good
for Aunt Susan. She says she is will
ing, but when she has left all the as
s~ociations of her life behind she will
just sit and grieve her poor old heart
away In silence"
my dear sister, have you consid-
cred Frank in your calculations"
Alice's blue eyes assumed an ex-
preston like unto n pansy II her
face the piacidity Of n mill pond as
she answered, II had quite forgotten
his e~xistenceIn