The diamond drill., 1913-11-01

amused In the presence OF his Sis
ter, Estrilla appeared a different man
from the light fencer with words OF
their evenings downstairs. He was
grave; he was formal. IL was puz-
cling. but a little fascinating, this
change.
In FIVE minutes more, Betsy-Barbara
summoned tact TO the aid OF manners
and maiden modesty. She invented an
excuse to shield herself against Span
sh polteness, and left Estrilla bow.
ing grayely at the threshold
The house seemed deserted. II was
too late for venturing forth alone; yet,
somehow, she must exercise the vague
black visions which began to surround
her-she who must keep courage for
two. Also. something which she could
not analyze was stirring disQuiet in
her soul.
"If | only had some work." she said
to herself, and sighed again. SO medi-
tating, she wandered aimlessly down
stairs. The doors OF the parlor were
open; the lights were on; the baby
grand piano stood open, inviting.
"Only merry tunes, though she
warned herself as she sat down. And
she started the liveliest Jig she knew.
Presently, she began to sing In her
pleasant unframed voice, which wob-
bled entrancingly whenever she got
out OF the middle register. But music
is the slave OF moods. And before she
was aware, her voice was following
the strings in old and melancholy love
songs.
Then sy-Barbara dropped her
hands from the keys. and the music
stopped abruptly. She was Just aware
that a fine floating tenor had been
humming the part from the doorway.
Senior Estrilla stood looking down on
her.
my seester has gone TO sleep" he
said. And then, THAT is Scotch song.
is Il not? Please 90 on" Betsy-Bar-
bara smiled nodded, resumed her
keys; and they sang together.
When the song was finished, Estril-
la leaned on the piano and looked
down at Betsy-Barbara. His mood
seemingly had changed; 1t was his
whlm to talk.
They are a little cold on the sur
face, those Scotch love-songs." he
said, "though warm beneath, like a-vol.
cano. Now we who speak Spanish
we can throw our emotions to the sur
face"
Don't you think" responded Betsy
Barbara, that to conceal it-but TO
a.. A..
full way after all?"
The blood OF the MacGregors In Bet
sy-Barbara was calling her to the de-
fense OF her own.
do you happen to know any OF our
Spanish songs7" pursued Estrilla.
"Only Juanita. | think-and La Pa
Iona"
Estrilla looked as though he might
have laughed but for Spanish polite
ness.
Those are Spanish for outside con-
sumption. as when the English call
your cheap-oil-cloth is Il not-'Ameri-
can cloth Let me sing to you-but
Spanish song does not go well with
tho piano"
There's a guitar over in the al
cove" announced Betsy-Barbara.
"Far-seeing maidenl" exclaimed Es-
/ trllla with such a delicious Spanish
roll on the vowels that Betsy-Barbara
laughed little; and he, as though un-
derstanding. laughed with her.
So he tuned the guitar. petsy-Bar-
! bara finding the key for him on the
] piano. And while he tweaked the
/ strings, he made comment on them,
as:
"This--you hear-is the angelstring.
II is for celestial harmonies. One can
not 30 wrong on this string; but Il Is
, 100 fine and high to make all our mu-
sic. This Is the man.string. You can
I 90 verv right or very wrong on this
one" "Thees one" he pronounced ii:
and he drew out the vowels as though
lingering on the thought This is the