The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1909-07-02
Her TRUE MUSIC,
The Surprise That Came After
the Lovers Were Engaged.
BY aETTlNA MAYHEM.

81, JAlhea Hdih - dIuOn Hie. YIN
you direct me to the Woodson resi-
denceY
The parks thick turf had deadened
the sound Of the steps; hence the two
clerical looking gentlemen had OBJ
served at close range for some time
the girl in the swing before either Of
them spoke.
For a minute a sensitive face, franz
ed by a big hat, lifted, and a pair of
glowing black eyes travelled with slow
deliberation from one to the other be-
fore she replied
"The graystone, first turn to the
left"
Then she resumed her book, the
wide hat dropping so that the merest
outlines of chin and neck peeped from
below the edge of the brim.
"A pretty hat and pretty girl" the
Rev. Paul Freyer meditated, land O
picture worth remembering"
Two hours later from tine landing of
the stairs his eyes fell upon the same
hat, entirely at home on the rack in
the Woodson hall. He knew Il In.
stantly. BY no chance could there be
two such hats. 1t was broad and low
crowned, n mass of white peoples
with dark hearts--One of those articles,
in fact, which proclaim with brazen
tongue the personality of the wearer.
Perhaps the graystone, with It's web
of dun green and gay red ereepers
and its more than full quota of hooks,
sunny and conspicuous or unexpected
and shadowy. had something to do
with the Rev. Paurs mood. y { any
rate, before he stirred from the land.
ing the pretty girl in white, with the
glowing black eyes, had responded to
his imagination by assuming the pro-
portions of his ideal-a Portia, a veri-
table Portia
Who was she? The Rev. Paul de.
rived a pleasurable shock from an in.
spired guess. Who else, indeed, but
Ada, stepdaughter to his sister, Mrs.
Sara Woodson? Quite distinctly he re-
called forgotten fact. There had been
at the time OF the marriage mention
made of a child. That, OF course, was
years ago. She was now probably well
grown.
He had been in college then, after.
ward travelling abroad. Returning, he
had Immediately settled into a pas
torate that had taxed his powers to
the uttermost and tired his very soul
Sister and all else outside of duty had
gone from him with an Smperceptible
drift till the day dawned when he was
peremptorily ordered away for rest
He had come protesting, regretting,
and now-what If He laughed softly
and sought his sister.
In the dining room, when he entered,
the pretty girl, prettier than he had
thought, stood with her hand on the
back OF a chair at the foot of the table
my stepdaughter." Mrs. Woodsons
smile was gracious and sweet Ada,
my brother, the Rev. Paul Freyer, and
his assistant, the Rev. Mr.. Condor
Just think. Ada" she laughed gayly,
for the whole Of the summer they
have nothing to do nor thought or
NWAoh Ohh " aAhhnCs LINT AAhL VIC WtEN
preparing for our summer reading
"oh, SaraP' Eager and bright the
clear voice fioated from the foot of the
table. I'VE must-we must first finish
that story Of 'sindbad the Sailor II "a
Maupassant's very best MaupassantT'
she reflected. Perhaps, now. It's Poe.
or maybe" and the big childish eyei
sought those In turn Of each present
mo; have II. It's Halifax. Am
right? Sara. do set me straight"
Mrs. Woodson's hands dropped heavy
on her unfolded napkin, and the Rev
Paul's heart contracted to diminutive
proportions. For him the golden bowl
was broken, the swift born hope OF an
hour trailed in the dust. The-the hat
then, had not been
He sighed, and the sigh was-for the
smallness of the beautiful concrete and
for the greatness OF the beautiful abb
stract.
And Ada babbled joyously on, her
clear voice and soft laugh dominant
features Of the dinner hour. 1.-The
chatter of child" the Rev. Paul de
cided, unconsciously talking down to
her. Afterward she fitted about the
rooms. never still, the quick tattoo of
her high heeled slippers quite as mu-
steal as her rendition of famous CON
certo and disappearing early with a
pleasant good night
"a charming young girl" ventured
Rev. Mr.. Condor. and the Rev Paul
REINFORCED the remark with: "For all
the world like white butterfly. Has
she never gone TO school, Sarar
But II Ada had not womanly graces
and scholarship she possessed an ac-
complishment out of the usual, con-
slant eruption Of small talk. No con-
versation. serious or learned, could re-
sist It. Without a thought she cleft 1t
ut a blow. severing each thread past
hope of redemption.
Thinking cymbals," the Rev. Paul
remarked one day, watching the fly
ing, whirling white figure IN pursuit
OF butterflies in the occasional patches
Of sunshine among the great trees.
TITS n pity SO exquisite q creature
should be $3.50 You ought to send
her to school, Sara"
Mrs Wooison flushed to the little
curls on her forehead Paul. she
said. You do Ada injustice. r. She
stopped, laughing lightly. as Ada fiut-
tered into the room.
ada" she called, "Paul is recalling
his youth by translating some of the
Homeric poems. He's found his stone
wall. Perhaps you can help him over
0bediently Ada bent over the stal.
wart reverend, her white forefnger
tracing the lines, TRANSMITTING slowly,
word by word, with great difficulty,