Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-07-10
HER TRUE MUSIC.
The Surprise That Came After
the Lovers Were Engaged.
BY eETTINA MAYHEM.

est. James park? Pardon me- Can
you direct me TO the woodson resi-.
dence?"
The parks thick turf had deadened
the sound Of the steps; hence the two
clerical looking gentlemen had OBJ
served nc close range for some time
the girl In the swing before either OF
them spoke.
For a minute a sensitive face. fran
ed by big hat, lifted, aud pair Of
glowing black eyes travelled with slow
elaboration 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 n pretty girl" the
Rev. Paul Freyer meditated. "and u
picture worth remembering.
Two hours later from the landing Of
the stairs his eyes fell upon the same
hat. entirely at home on the rack IN
the Woodson hall. He knew It In.
stantly BY no chance could there be
two such hats. II was broad and low
crowned. mass OF white poppies
with dark hearts-one of those articles,
In fact. which proclaim with brazen
tongue the personality of the wearer
Perhaps the graystone. with its web
Of dull green and gay red creepers
and its more than full quota Of hooks.
sunny and conspicuous or unexpected
and shadowy. had something to do
with the Rev. Paul's mood. At 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 verl.
table Portia
Who was she? The Rev. Paul de
rived n pleasurable shock from an In.
spired guess. Who else, indeed, but
Ada. stepdaughter to his sister. Mrs
Sara Woodsonl Quite distinctly he re-
called forgotten fact. There had been
at the time Of the marriage mention
made OF 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 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 imperceptible
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 chair ut the foot of the table.
My stepdaughter." Mrs. Woodson's
smile was gracious and sweet. Ada,
my brother, the Rev. Paul fTreyer. 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 a thought or
wish but to amuse. That list we were
preparing for our summer reading
"Oh, Sara" Eager and bright the
clear voice ioated from the foot of the
table. I'VE must-we must first finish
that story Of 'Sindbad the Sailor 1t Is
Maupassant's very best. Maupassant?"
she reflected. perhaps, now. It's Poe.
or maybe" and the big childish eyes
sought those In turn OF each present
mo; | have L.. 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 I'm 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 alb
stract.
And Ada babbled joyously on, her
clear voice and soft laugh dominan;
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 a white butterfly. Has
she never gone to school. Sara"
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 1t. Without thought she cleft II
at blow. severing each thread past
hope of redemption.
thinking cymbals," the Rev. Paul