The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-25
BEHIND THE CHOIR CURTAIN
Ny Verginia Blair.

Copyrighted, 1907, by P. c. Eastment'
 There had been an immense amount of irreverence in the choir before the new Soprano came. The Tenor and the Contralto and the Bass and the old Soprano had flirted from the opening anthem to the benediction, and as they were hidden from the congregation by a green baiZe curtain there had been no scandal, although certain members of the session had complained or weird sounds that had seemed to echo from the organ loft and die in the steeple.
 With the advent of the new So- prano, however, came a different state of affairs. Both the Tenor and the Bass fell in love with her at sight, and the Contralto. being forty and fat and fair, submitted comfortably to the new singers conquest and smiled on her In way unprecedented in choir history, where the green-eyed monster Is sup posed to rage rampant.
 The new Soprano was not irreverent and hence it came about that romance was succeeded by religion, and the Ten or and the Bass paid strict attention to the responses and to the sermon, and bent their heads during prayers; although so earnest were the Soprano s meditations that the Bass was con- strained now and then to glance at her and after intercepting the Tenor's ar dent observation would again seem wrapped in his devotions.
 At the time of the opening prayer the sun came through the rose window. A white dove spread his wings against the stained glass background, and as the Soprano stood up for her solo he seemed to hover over her head, and her shining hair made golden halo.
 "Oh, she's to good to be true, the Bass told the Tenor as they went home together one Sunday in May
 She is perfect" the Tenor declar- ed, fervently; i've are a lot of sinners and she has come among us like little saint to make us ashamed or our selves"
 If was discovered after three weeks that the Bass had given up smoking. In five weeks the Tenor signed the pledge, and in six the Contralto stop ped bleaching her hair and came 10 choir practice with her head tied up in a veil to hide the inevitable discrep- ancies as to color.
 she's a dear little thing" she confid- ed the Bass. "She IS poor ana taAeS care of her mother.
 hTll take care of them both." the Bass declared. ardently, If she will let me-" The Tenor having made the same statement the Contralto carried the news to the Soprano.
 'They are both in love with you my dear" she whispered one sunday morning when the green curtain hau been drawn and the congresatlon nau settled down comfortably to hear the sermon.
 "Pd rather not talk about such things l., church if vou don't mind" the So prano said, gently. and the Contralto agreed hastily and gave her earnest attention to the preacher.
 'Rut tell me one thing" the Tenor said to the Contralto confidentally, at choir practice, ''how are we going to to ask her? Her mother walks nome with her after all the services, and she hasn't asked us to call, and she won't talk about secular things in church, and there you are!'
 "Is love a secular thing?" the Con- tralto questioned. sentimentally.
 She .ays 1t .s,' the Tenor stated, but l think it is divine"
 Things came to something of clim- ax when the Sopranos mother was taken sick.
 Now is your chance" said the Con tralto. all in flutter. as she leaned toward the Tenor.
 But the Bass was already begging the privilege.
 T had hoped you might let me-" the Tenor said, as he smiled over two chairs to get to her.
 why not both of you?" said the So- prano, its on your way home. and you will he company for each other the rest of the way
 "Oh, the aggravation of her" groan- ed the Tenor. as he went to get his hat and the Bass said things to himself in a dark corner.
 The Soprano invited them in, and they found her mother sitting up in big chair, and they had tea and muffins served by the angelic hands of of the Soprano who seemed more desirable than ever in this setting of domesticity.
 We might as well meet 1t like mon. the Bass told the Tenor as they went home afterwards We both love her and if we are ever going to get chance to ask her one of us will have to stay away next Sunday night, and the other one can take her home" Well" the Tenor agreed, hut how