Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1915-05-20

| .Thank you. Miss Cady." quaveret
wet, for she was very near 4
tears Presently she arose and wen
into the dim parlor. She had learnet
to play by ear and she had sweet
unframed voice. There we're st
many old songs that she knew b,
heart, and as the melodies threaded
out FROM her fingers she sang softly
to their Accompaniment
Annie Laurie Bonnie doom,
Tosti's "Goodby," Loves Old Sweet
song"=-apd as she sang the words Of
this last favorite love song OF several
generations Violet became aware thai
other voices were added to her own.
Somehow, the dim room had mys
teriously become populated with
shadowy forms. There was the reedy
treble of Miss Twitchell, the deer
bass of Doctor Coleman, the throaty
alto of Mrs. Jones, and the rich bari
tone of Homer Dale Miss Crotty, the
milliner, hummed like a bee, and the
Bennets, husband and wife, sang all
off the key in no particular voices at
all. "s~''- ssi.-sss.aes 10 a..kHe-'~<---
But they all enjoyed It and Violet
said never a word, but when the
song was finished her fingers drifted
into the melody of Silver Threads
Among the Cold" and something in
the old song brought tears to many
eyes and It ended in quavering sob
quickly stifed by Miss Twitchell.
Then they were silent while Violet
sang 1.-The Rosary" At tho end of the
first few bars Mr.. Dale's baritone
took up the song and together they
sang it through to the end.
Violet was trembling with happi-
ness when the piano was closed at
last and she went out to the portt
with her fellow boacders.
How animatedly they all talked;
Doctor Coleman, reminded of his boy
hood, told witty stories; Miss Twitch-
ell confided half-forgottep love affair
that had to do with church choir In
which she had once sang; Mrs. Jones
had been reminded of a lost little
one, and ever after that the listeners
treated the middle-aged widow with
tender Difference; Miss Crotty told Of
how she had always wanted to study
music, but there had been no money
and many mouths to feed and
millinery paid better wages.
Homer Dale was silent; his eyes
never left Violet's lovely face as
the girl, In return for the confidence
of these new-found friends, told the
sad story of her loveless life. She
told it simply and straightforwardly.
"My DEAR. quavered Miss Twitch-
ell, at last. and she quite forgot to
scratch, you are a wonderful girl
and believe we are going to love
you-rand l hope you viii forgive
me for what said on the, stairsI"
Dear Miss TwitchefI!" muir
INJURED Violet, as she impulsively
kissed the faded cheek SO near her
own.
. Still Homer Dale said nothing
The others chatted so fast that
they entirely forgot his presence.
When bedtime came Violet saw his
extended hand, and her own little
one was lost in its warm grasp
Thank you, Miss Lane, for con-
fiding in US this evening"" he said
gravely
AS she prepared for bed a tender
smile curved her lips. IF these are
the bears and cats and geese of Sal
ly's story, I must say that | adore
the occupants of Miss Cady's Zoo!
believe-Pm-going- be very happy
-here!" And Violet drifted into
slumber.
Sally Hecker faced her fellow
teachers with a tragic wave of her.
hand toward Violet Lane, who was
walking home with Homer Dale.
"Girls, leok!" she commanded
There goes the most successful ami
NAL trainer in the world-VioIet Lane!
What is her record? Merely that she
has tanned Miss Cady's Zoo to a man
or a bear! Miss TwitcheIl swears
by her-Miss Crotty worships her
Doctor Coleman growls her praises to
whoever will, lfsten--the drug clerk. NJ
hopelessly in love with her-and Mrs
Jones has offered to adopt herr What
can we do? The menagerie tB tanned
by a little blue-eyed grit"
There 10 Homer Dale, the big.
drown. growly bear" reminded Miss
Fem, mischievously.
"Oh, he is the most cowed Of them
ALL" retorted Sally, brightly. In
fact, Violet is to lead him through
life with a chain Of roses-fact, girls.
they are engaged! Isn't it lovely
that she is to have a real home and
real folks at lastr"