Maryland independent., 1910-10-07

mdSter on account OF his musical
ability, TO coach Molly privately
whenever an alto solo was to be
sung. Hopper believed that he had
discovered great possibilities in Moi
ly's voice, and after awhile alto
solos were frequent at St. Jarlath's.
About that time the organist sue.
cumbed to the infrmities Of old age
and Miss Ware consented to substi.
tute temporarily. She did not pro
fess to be mistress Of the noble I'M
strument. but she agred that II some
one would come to her assistance
sit beside her on the bench at re-
hearsals. pail stops and turn music
she would do her very best. Every
man in the choir volunteered in the
same breath. II actually frightened
Molly Abernathy to discover how
little it disturbed her to have Dick
named as the preferred one
For more than two years Dick hao
walked home with Molly after choir
practice. but the time came when
neither of them felt aggrieyed over
the willingness Of the other to aban
don the habit. The interruption
came about so naturally Miss Ware
was responsible for the deed One
evening after an unusual tug at
refractory anthem. which persisted III
going wrong after every effort had
been made to induce It to do other
wise. the organist requested the tenor
to remain for few minutes after re
hearsal in order to perfect himself in
his part
Instead of waiting until Dick should
prove himself either the victor or van
pushed, Molly was possessed Of sud
den whim to start of alone, only to be
! Intercepted at the door Of the parish
houseby the choirmaster who had re
turned in search of a paper he had
mislaid.
"If you will give me one minute,
Miss Alternately" he said. 81 win wall
home with you-provided, of course.
you will permit me"
Without pausing to receive her con.
sent. he disappeared into the building
reappearing in rather less than the
specified time with the recovered pa
per
Il notified Hathaway OF my inten
tion," he laughed as they moved OF.
1T wasn't ct all necessary" she re
clared emphatically.
He didn't hear me. couldn't at
tract his attention"
Was he singing?" She knew he
wasn't. but she wanted to hear ths
answer.
He hadn't begun. He was seated
on the bench, his back toward me, and
Miss Ware was talking earnestly-giy
ing instruction, probably"
Probably" she said. with an afr Of
indifference that seemed genuine tc
him, lawyer though he was.
After Dick had swung over the baf
fling two measures or so at least a
dozen times and had at last attained
perfection Miss Ware dismissed him
with parting injunction not to forget
that he was tenor.
And hope haven't offended Miss
Abernathy by depriying her Of your
company-or you, either" she added
without looking at him.
mo need to worry on my account
Dick assured her. AS for Miss Aber
nathy--''
Il suppose Mr.. Hopper availed him
self of the opportunity to see hei
home safely. He seems to be greatly
taken with-with her voice" she said
Wouldn't it be jolly If those two"
Dick began and then hesitated.
Mott wouldn't" she returned so
promptly and SO decidedly that he
wondered at II. Before he could ask
| her why not she had bidden him a
hasty goodnight and passed within.
Next evening when Dick put in his
customary appearance at the Aber-
nathy house he was told by the maid
! who admitted him that Molly had
gone over to the rectory. He was
both ashamed and relieved-humili-
! ated by his treachery toward the girl
who had promised him what he asked
and relieved to find that the dreaded
confession might still be postponed.
1t SO happened that Dick was spared
the pain of that confession. An affair
that came TO a elimination on the
very next night-an episode that
stirred the social fabric Of Eureka to
Its oundation-brought Dick and
Molly together again. thil time secure
in the belief that their only mistake
had been to doubt, even for a single
moment. the gentieness of their at
tachment.
This final state of affairs was made
possible by the elopement and mar
rlage of H. Darlington Hopper and
Helen Ware They had been lovers
long before coming to Eureka. but the
young woman's friends had not taken
kindly to the man of her choice, She,
however, knew her own mind and was
convinced that she was making no
mistake.