The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-02

the fact that he was in place of wor-
ship that restrained the colonel from
noisy approval. As it was he said en-
phatically:
you'll do. Miss" he had never
heard her name
"viola,' she replied. rather hesitat-
ingly.
1T fits you beautifully. being the
name of one of the organ stops he
said gallantly. "Viola-''
GAMBIA she said. quite family
this time.
Most remarkable! The name of
still another stop. You are certainly
daughter of the noble instrument, =
he said.
At this she laughed a little and he
took refuge in the safe subject of
terms. She expressed herself as more
than satisfied with the salary he Of
fered her, and they separated, with the
understanding that she was to play the
prelude and postlude at the Sunday
morning service, leaving the accom-
paniments to the colonel, who had re-
hearsed them with the choir.
The members of the congregation
of ST. Judith's were not at that time,
in the habit of hearing the prelude.
Those who did hear it On the first
day Of the new assistant organist's
1ncumbency were so outSpoken in
their appreciation of it that on the
following Sunday the church was well
filled when the little woman took her
place on the bench and the colonel
seated himself beside her, prepared
to turn the music and manipulate the
necessary combinations.
Besides the fact that Miss Gambia
was an excellent organist, the femi-
nine contingent made two other dis
coveries-she was remarkably pretty
and the colonel was deeply interested
in her. Before the end of the first
rtJIo rte 7tcfo NJ h CT mt
were the most widely discussed per-
sons in the parish.
The colonel was a widower of many
years standing. AS was natural, most
Of the women disapproved of Miss
GAMBIA. Some of them were so frank
in their expression of the fact that
it was not possible for either of the
persons most interested to remain in
ignorance of what was being said of
them. It annoyed the col3nel might
lily, but did not seem 20 disturb Miss
GAMBIA in the least. Not only did she
gossip, but actually seemed to court
publicity.
The climax came one night at a
musical affair in the church parlors.
Engaged as accompanist. Viola made
her appearance in a gown that aroused
in rather late, and the assistant did not
attempt to hide her satisfaction that
he had come at all. She was so unmis-
takably glad to see him that even the
delighted colonel was at a loss to ac-
account for her righteousness. He
could not rid himself of the suspicion
that she was playing a part, but it was
delightful, none the less.
Finally, at a moment when they
were the center of observation and nc
one could fail to be an eyewitness
she came up behind him and inn
printed light kiss on his forehead
My dear Miss Gamba!' he pro.
tested, with a countenance that was
apoplectic.
I'm Alec's wife!" she whispered
Introduce me-"
1t was critical moment for the col
onel. 1t was as if every drop of blood
in his body had been Seized with a
sudden determination to gat to the very
top of his head. With a mighty eff
fort he rose TO his feet
| Ladies and gentlemen" he began
rather family. but gathering strength
as he proceeded, '1 take great pleas
lure in presenting my new daughter,
Mrs. Alec Aspen, who has been mas
querading as your assistant organist.' .
I-(Copyrighted 1910 by Associated Lit
erary Press.)