Year: 1878

she had ever been and wanted TO send


lnd do away with Berthais election; and


scratch her name off the roll of the so


ciety. As good make her into an actress


at once, protested Aunt Pen; and that


music must have turned Stephen clean
imad.


However, for once Stephen carried


his own will. With much coaxing and
depreciation, he pointed out TO his wife


that the child's one sole recreation was


music, and her voice and her talent were


above the common, and that they had


no right to deny her the opportunity ol


improvement. So Aunt Pen, who


prided herself upon being just, and who


really was so, gave in with a good deal


Of grumbling.


The one white day in the week for


Bertha was Thursday. At eight O'Clock


the society met in their concert hall for


their practicing. Sometimes however


they met only once a fortnight; always
so in summer. Few of the members
had taken any notice of Bertha; the quiet
girl of retiring manners, who was always
dressed poorly,was obviously not worthy
of it. Ready money was sadly short at


Uncle Stephens; and Aunt Pen never
laid out farthing unnecessarily.


Away walked Bertha under the star
light, drawing her old plaid shawl
closely round her throat. The town was
not far of, the road was anything but
lonely, gas lamps lighting it all the way.
Bertha felt as safe as in her own parior
at home. She generally went alone; but
Uncle Stephen would fetch her back.


Bertha, conscious that she was late,
entered the hall lust as the members
rose to sing the opening chorus. Some
what abashed, she was about shrinking
iuto back seat when the leaders sharp
eyes fell on her. A rapid nod brought
her forward to her usual bench, the
first in the row of the general chorus
singers. When Bertha was first given
this seat, it was her one idea Of perfect
bliss, for right in front of her sat that
charming singer,Miss Carpenter, the one
paid lady artistic. Bertha could touch
her handsome garments, watch her mo-
bile features, and catch every sound of
the marvellous voice, Oh, what a Won
derful creature, in Bertha's eyes, was
Miss Carpenter! A woman who sang in
fashionable places, with salary of no.
body knew what; who appeared at con
cer;s in wondrous dressesa and trilled out
pathetic little ballads, when encored af
ter heavy scene, that literally brought
down the room; who took the applause
like queen accepting homage, seemed
to think nothing of her triumph, and
was sent carefully home in a carriage.


Bertha would give Uncle Stephen i'm
itations of this wonderful wornan's sur
passing style, and he would kiss hislittle
niece, praise her voice, and declare that,
for his part, he knew Berthy could do as
well if she only had chance.


The remark would send Bertha into
low spirits. She never would have such
a chance. 1t was so dim, 50 imaginary.
She had no money to pay for good in
struction; no courage to put herself for
ward or try TO attract observation.


The conductor of these meetings was
a Mr. Mason, the organist of the princi-
pal church of Crossdale; he had a bald
head, and Bertha thought him very stern:
but he had talked to her little lately
and once he had called her to his side
and seemed to listen attentively to her
while she sang in the chorus. He was
in his place this evening, and Miss Car
penter in hers; and Bertha was, as usual,
in the seventh heaven of delight. A sa-
cred concert was to be given in public
the day after Christmas, and they were
now practicing for it. More than ever
was Bertha enchanted with Miss Car
penter's singing, as she took the solos
never had her voice sounded SO clear, so
pure, so rich and resonant. Bertha, all
her attention given to Miss Carpenter,
did not observe gentleman in clerical
attire, who seemed to look at herself as
well as the great lady.


Suddenly there occurred a delay.
Several people had gathered round Mr.
Mason, and Bertha presently observed
that they were talking of the desirability
ofintroducing some duet, which had not
previously been thought Of The strange
clergyman, who appeared to be friend
of Mr. Mason's, as he stayed by him all
the time, seemed to urge it strongly.


Il am willing" said Miss Carpenter.
But, is there any one who could take it
with me?'


Mr. Mason looked round at the differ
ent ladies-for the duet was for two
trebles- and hesitated. Gould you take
it, Mrs. Bembridge?" he asked.


II dare not" replied the lady address
ed. a should break down from sheer |
To sing before the public |
is so different from singing among our
selzes."


You could take it, 1 think, Miss
Dane?'


Bertha started, hardly believing her
ears, or that the organist could be sd-
dressing herself But he was motion
ing to her to 20 forward, and she obey
ed, hot color flushing her cheeks.


did you ever try it," asked Mr. Ma
son, putting the sheet of music in her
hand,


Sometimes, With my Uncle Steph-
en-"


Never another word spoke he. Be
ginning to play. Bertha found she had
to sing at once with Miss Carpenter.
Two or three times over did they try it.
At first Bertha was timid but as she
lost her selfconsciousness in the delight
the music brought her, she sang her
best, and became oblivious to all else
the old plaid shawl slipped off her shoul-
ders, displaying her older dress: and she
never once noticed that the eyes Of the
clergyman were again steadily fixed
upon her.


THAT will do for now" said Mr. Mason
to her. You can return to your seat
for the last chorus


The rehearsal over, the room soon
cleared itself Bertha went out last; she
never put herself forward before those
well-dressed people who let her
zee that they looked down upon her. At
he entrance door below she glanced up
he street and down the street, thinking