The Red Cloud chief., 1906-04-06

though, for the sake of accuracy, il
should be said that Mrs. Tanbcrry was
engaged In conversation, Miss Betty in
giving car, when their attention was
arrested by sounds of Il somewhat NIL
Steal nature from the lawn. which
sounds were Immediately identified as
cmanating from Il flute AMI violin.
Mrs. Tanberry bounded across the
room like Il public building caught by
a cyclone, and, dashing at the candles,
BLOW EN- out, blow 'em OUT" she ex-
claimed, suiting the action to the word
In Il fluster of excitement.
WHY asked Miss Carewe, startled,
as she rose to her feet. The candles
were out before the question.
why" repeated the merry, husky
voice In the darkness. my goodness,
child precious, those vagabonds are
here! TO think of your never having
been screnaded before!"
She drew the girl to the window and
pointed to Il group of dim figures near
the lilac bushes. The dear, delightful
vagabonds!' she chucklcd. 4 knew
they'd come! It's the beautiful Tap
bingham Marsh with his fiddle ana
young jeff Barcaud with his flute and
Gene Madrillon and little Frank Chen
oweth ana thin Will Cummings to sing.
Hark 10 the rascalS!'
1t is perfectly truthful TO say that
the violin and flute executed the pre-
lude, and then the trio sounded full on
the evening air, the more effective
chords ~obligingly drawn out as long as
the breath in the singers could hold
them in order to allow he two fair
auditors complete benefit Of the har-
mony. They sang The Harp That
Once Through Tara's Halls" and fol-
lowed it with Long, Long Ago"
THAT" Mrs. Tanberry whispered be-
tween stifed gusts of almost uncon-
trollable laughter, 'is meant for just
me-"
"Tell me the tales that to me were
SO DEAR" entreated the trio.
II told EN- plenty" gurgled the en-
livening widow, land I expect between
us we can get up some more"
"Now you are come my grief is re-
moved" they sang.
"They mean your father is on his
way to st. Louis" remarked Mrs. Tan
berry.
LET me forget that SO long you have
roved,
Let me believe hat you love az you loved
Long. long ago. long ago."
applaud, applaud" whispered Mrs.
Tanberry, encouraging the Ministries
by a hearty clapping of hands.
Then the candles were relit and the
serenaders invited within. Nelson came
bearing cake and wine, and the house
vas made merry. Presently the romp,
Virginia Bareaud, making her appear
ance on the arm Of Genera! Trumble,
Mrs. Tanberry led them all in a hearty
game of blind mans buff, followed by
as hearty a dancing of Dan Tucker.
After that, a quadrille being proposed,
Mrs. Tanberry suggested that Jeffer-
son should u home and bring Fan
chon for the fourth lady. However,
Virginia explained that she had en-
deavored to persuade both her sister
and Mr.. Gray to accompany h gener-
nj and herself, but that Mr.. Gray had
complained Of indisposition, having suf-
fered greatly from headache on &C.
count of inhaling so much smoke at
the warehouse fire, and, Of course, Fan
chon would not leave him. Miss Ca
rewe permitted herself the slightest
shrug of the shoulders.)
SO they danced the Guadrille with
Jefferson at the piano and Mr.. Marsh
performing in the character OF a lady,
a proceeding most unacceptable to the
general, whom Mrs. Tanberry forced to
be his Rsrtner. And thus the evening
passed gayly away. T~appingham
Marsh spoke the truth, indeed, when
he exclaimed in parting, "Oh, rare Mrs.
T~anberTy!"
But the house had not done with sere-
nades that night. The guests had long
since departed; the windows were still
and dark under the wan old moon,
which had risen lamely, looking unfa-
miliar and not half itself; the air bore
an odor Of lateness, and nothing NOV
ed, when a delicate harmony stole out
of the shadows beyond the misty gar
den. Low but resonant chords sound
ed on the heavier strings Of a guitar,
while above them, upon the lighter
wires, rippled a slender, tlnkling mel,
ody that wooed the slumberer to Il de-
licious half wakefulness as dreamily,
as tenderly as the Groom of rain on the
, roof soothes q child to sleep. Under the
artists cunning touch the instrument
i. was both the accompaniment and the
, song, and Miss Betty, at first taking
i. the music to be a wandering thread In
the fabric of her own bright dreams,
, drifted gradually IN consciousness 10