Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-03-22

Continued.

the way across the hall.
How anxiously and eagerly their
appearance has been looked for, no
words can describe Everybody knows
how dreary is the interval between
dinner and the entrance of the gentle
men, even when the ladies who await
them are intimate friends and inclined
to be amiable with one another; but
in this case there is no question of
friendship, and Lady Letchford's eff
forts at amiability are so forced and
unnatural that they fail utterly to draw
Carrie out of shyness, and do no
more toward mel, ing May into warmth
than would a wet blanket.
As for the beauty she makes no eff
fort, but disposing herself gracefully
In a comfortable chair, gazes sleepily
at the fire, and limits herself to con
tributions to the conversation to
languidly murmured monosyllables.
Lady Letchford starts all sorts of
topics, but May knows nothing about
art needle-work, and cares Iess-frank-
ly admits that peerage, and takes not
the slightest interest in the Newlands'
soup-ketchen or the Crawford Ladies'
Sewing Club.
Just before the door opens. and the
welcome sound of mems footsteps is
heard, sllence-broken only by re-
mark that at is getting cold" or that
not nearly so much tea is drank as
used to be"-reigns profound.
Sir Heron strides or stalks in-he
has Ions legs, and his gait is to match
and looking around upon them, says,
with a smile that is somewhat ironi-
cal:
Wei, are you ali enjoying your
selves?"
Every much" says Rose Vavasour.
IF were not afraid of being con
sidered rude, l should say you were
nalf asleep. Miss Dalton, will you give
US little music
May looks up and smiles reluctantly
but in doing so she intercepts a
glance which Miss Vavasour intends
for Lady Letchford, and which says,
plainly: she cannot even play" and
May instead of refusing, arises and
walks to the piano,
Sir Heron follows to open it, but
Vane Vavasour is standing close by
and forestalls him, and it is he who
gets Mays murmured: Thanks"
rs the stool high enough? You
would like more lights? l can get
them directly And Notwithstanding
May reminds him that she hasn't any
music, he brings a couple of candles.
May strokes few notes softly, then
pauses. Rose Vavasour looks around
with that air of patronizing curiosity
with which one woman insults another
On such occasions.
She. the professional beauty, is a
skilled musician, to whom Handel and
Mizart are as familiar as household
words. Mays knowledge of music is,
alas. of the most ordinary kind but
though she, cannot play classical
music, she has that which many an &C
complished musician would give all
their knowledge to possess-a fresh,
sweet young voice, which in the days
of genteel poverty and Woodbine Villa
has warbled hOmely ballads for the
amusement of her father and Carrie,
and which in later times has been the
delight of a group of schoolgirls who
could be kept quiet by no other
means.
Shall | sing something's" she says,
looking around at them.
I'm afraid l only know a few bal
Sing the Minstrel Boy says Car
lie. timidly.
May looks around at her with a
smile, then pays the prelude softly
and commences.
At the first notes, so round and
clear, and above all SO free, Rose Vava-
sour colors and drops her eyes.
Sir Heron turns, almost abruptly
from Mr.. Dalton, who is holding forth
on politics. and Lady Letchford
raises her eyes and peers through the
dimnoss with suppressed curiosity.
Clear and sweet the fresh young
voice sends forth that most touching
of Moore's ballads-and what praise
that is,-and presently Lady Letchford
is looking at the fire with dimmed
eyes: Rose Vavasour is pale with
mortifcati n, and Carrie-who always
makes point of crying at the Min
strel Boy'-has two great tears run
ming down her cheeks.
With a long, soft mournfulness, the
last note floats through the air, and
then fades in silence.
Yane Vayasour is the first to speak.
Miss Dalton" he says, you have
very nearly wronged me past forgive
ness"
Indeed" says May, "how?"
you have nearly made me cry"
he says, gravely. I've heard the
Minstrel Bay oh, hundred times
but never in that way. Where did you
learn to sing it like that
May strikes a note with her finger.
Il don't know. Do you like it?
used to sing it 10 the girls of the
school where l used to teach" she
says. so distinctly that every word can
he heard by the others. Lady Letch-
ford shudders. Rose Vavasour lool-S
up with a smile; but upon no one do
the simple words tell so clearly as up
en- Mr.. Dalton. He starts, turns a
fiery red, and blows his nose loudly on
the silk handkerchief Sir Heron
alone-perhaps because the informa-
ton is no surprise to him-appears IN
moved