The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-10-14
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No Mistake After All
By GERALD PRIME
copyright. 1910. BY Associated Literary Press

It was necessary for H. Earlingon
Hopper. who had been made choir
master on account of his musical
ability, to coach Molly privately
whenever an alto solo was TO bs
sung. Hopper believed that he had
discovered great possibilities In Mol.
ly's voice, and after awhile alto
solos were frequent at ST. Jarlath's.
About that time the organist suo
cumbed to the inflrmlties of old age,
and Miss Ware consented to substh
tute temporarily, She did not pro
fess to be mistress of the noble in.
strument, but she agred that II some
one would come to her assistance
sit beside her on the bench at re-
hearsals, pull stops and turn music
she would do her very best. Every
man in the cnoir volunteered In the
same breath, il actually frightened
Molly Abernathy to discover how
little Il disturbed her to have DICK
named as the preferred one.
For more than two years Dick had
walked home with Molly after choir
practice, but the time came when
neither of them felt aggrieved 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 In
going wrong after every effort had
been made to induce 1t 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
quished. Molly was possessed of sud
den whim to start off 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, Il will walk
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'
ton" he laughed as they moved of.
1T wasn't at all necessary, she re-
clared emphatically.
He didn't hear me. I couldn't at
tract his attention"
WAS he singing?" She knew he
wasn't, but she wanted to hear the
answer.
He hadn't begun. He was seated
on the bench, his back toward me, and
Miss Ware was talking earnestly-giv'
ing instruction, probably"
Probably" she said, with an air of
indifference that seemed genuine to
him, lawyer though he was.
After Dick had swung over the baf-
fling two measures or so at least
dozen times and had at last attained
perfection Miss Ware dismissed him
with a parting injunction not to forget
that he was tenor.
And | hope | haven't offended Miss
Abernathy by depriving her of your
company-or you, either" she added,
without locking at him.
mo need to worry on my account" ,"
Dick assured her. "As for Miss Aber.
nathy-"
81 suppose Mr.. Hopper availed him.
self of the opportunity to see her
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.
Not wouldn't" she returned so
promptly and so decidedly that he
wondered at it. 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, this time secure
in the belief that their only mistake
had been to doubt, even for a single
moment, the gentleness of their at
tachment.
This final state of affairs was made
possible by the elopement and mar
riage of H. darlington Hopper and
Helen Ware. They had been lovers
long before coming to Eureka, but the
young womans 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.
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