2 Miss Fortescue the Seamstress, , FORTUNE'S CHANGES, CONrtlTOKl). T IMIE all-important Saturday evening at last came. At an early hour an eldor- 1y gentleman, liaving a veiy gonial aspect, 'called on Alice and Introduced himself as Mr. Fryor, chairman, etc., eto. After the first salutations were over, Alice expressed her deep obligations to the committee for their very flattering and unexpected offer. Finding that her caller was disposed to be Bociable nd chatty, she jestingly remark 'ed: "In offering me this engagement, Mr. Pryor, it would seem that the gentlemen of the committee have been a little venture some, for they talk me entirely on trust." " In part, Miss Fortescue, but not en tirely," said the gentleman, with a good humored smile. "Surely no one, with tho exception of my mother," rejoined Alice, " has heard me sing sinoe I have resided here." " Pardon -me," replied Mr. Pryc, "I thick you labor under a slight mistake !" " 1 am positive, sir," said Alice, '" that I have not sung a note out of ttris room, ad only in the presence of my mother." "I -will admit all that," smilingly re marked Mr. Pryor, "but not that your mother has been at all times yowr sole au ditor. "Let me explain," he added, seeing ithe wondering expression on Alice's face: "Last Tuesday evening, I think it was, ' young gentleman belonging to our com mittee, 'by the merest accident happened to extend "his walk in this direction. As he ariived -opposite your house, lis steps wore arresteB, to use his own langnago, ' by one of 'the -sweetest voices he ever heard.' He watted on the walk until the lady had fin isliokl (her singing. He tnatfe inquiries in regard to said lady, ascertained her name, -and b? his urgent recownendation the -committee was induced to invite her to sing'ia the choir." "That, then, solves the mystery which 'hasipczzled mother and myself not a little," said -Alice, a modest bhteh mantling her cheeks. "We wondered-wby the invita tion was extended to oneof whose musical abilities the committee must be, as we -supposed, in total ignorance." ' "I .acknowledged just tiow," remarked Mr. Tryor, " that we selected you partly on -trust, but not entiawly. We have re lied ololy on the representations of the lyoung gentleman who listened to your .prrformance; I have doubt that when the. rest of the committee 'hear you this evening, they will be vuite as favorably impressed as was eur-young friend." .lAs Alice began to moke preparations for. - her departure, Mr. iPryor said : "'By the by, Miss Fortescue, would you -object to sing this eveuiug the piece which -so-charmed my friend the other evening?" -".It was an 'Ave -Maria' by Schumann," said Alice, going to the music-stand and selecting the composition; " I will sing it with (pleasure." -Iua short time they -started to attend the rehearsal. On the way to the church her companion remarked that he had invited a number of friends, which he hoped would net be objectionable to her. "."Not in the loast," was her reply; "but you mist remember, Mr. Pryor, that this will-bcjmy debut, therefore any short com ings that may arise from the embarrass ment of tho occasion I twist will be over looked." The .gentleman assured her that every thing -would be taken into consideration, while his mental conolusioa was, as be gazed into the brave face turned to him, that there-was but very little danger of her fail ing to meet all requirements. On being introduced to the choir, Alice .received .a very cordial greeting from its members, among whom she very soon felt lief self quite at home. -She was taken a flittle -by surprise at the large number of ladies and gentlemen present in the body of the-chuseh. She felt that it was not before an ordinary audience that she was to appear, but an assembly -of critics. It was a trying situation for the young singer. Had she been constitutionally timid, the fact we have mentioned would very natu rally have caused ber to appear to disad vantage. -But be was fortunately blessed with a good share of confidence, and she Awaited the ordeal with less perturbation than she had feared she should experience. There was a slight tremutousness percep tible in Alice's voice at the commencement of the first piece sung by the choir ; not sufficient to mar the tones, or marked enough to attract particular notice. In stead of telling against her, it seemed rath er to enlist the sympathies of the audienoe in her behalf. It soon passed off, however, and ber voice swelled out to its full com pass, clear and defined, yet blending har moniously with the other parts. It was very evident, by the expressive nodding of heads and whispered remarks of the occu pants of the pews, that the impression she made was decidedly favorable. In the two or three pieces that followed, that im pression was evidently greatly strengthen, ed. In the last piece, in particular, where she bad a short solo, a murmur of approba tion from the pews below greeted ber exe cution of it ' But now came what Alice considered, and what in fact was, the severest ordeal to which the young debutant had been or would be subjected, the singing of the "Ave." A rustling movement among her auditors and the air of expectancy they wore, as Alice arose in the choir, evinced that their Interest was concentrated on this particular performance. " You have brought an extra copy with you, I presume, Miss Fortescue ?" said the organist, as he arranged the notes before him on the instrument. "No, I have but that one," replied Al ice; " but it matters not, as I am perfectly familiar with the piece." 44 You will not attempt it without the notes 1" said the former, with some little astonishment. " I have.no other alternative," rejoined Alice, with a smile, " unless I look over your shoulder, which would be somewhat awkward." Tho old gentleman said no more, but with a doubtful shake of his head turnod to his instrument and commenced the per formance. Whatever nervousness troubled Alice on her first essay that evening, she experien ced none now. She was one of those who, let the emergeucy bo what it may, seemed endowed with power to' meet every demand that may bo made upon thorn. Encouraged by the success that she had already attain. ed for all singers and publio speakers are quick to discern whether or not they have secured the sympathies of tboir heareri she entered upon her task with the fullest confidence. Tho moment her pure, sweet, magnetic tones wcreteard there was an instanta neous hut throughout the church, as if a sudden aoell had been wrought upon the audienoe. As she proceeded and entered more fully into the subject she was render ing, she seemed to lose all consciousness of her surroundings, and poured forth her pe tition with a passionate fervor, which man ifested to all that she was not rehearsing a part, -but that her utterances sprang from the impulses of ber own exalted spirit. She made the prayer her own, faud the patbes with which it was offered, and the effect it produced upon the listener, wore not a triumph of ait, but of nature. Ac her voice arose, now in impassioned adoration, now in fervent supplication, and again breathed low in penitential confes sion, a glance at the audience, sitting mo tion-less, almost breathless, was sufficient to shew that she bold her listeners incomplete thraldom. The final " amon" fell from her lips, and still the same profound hush was observed, until, flushed with emotion, Alice turnod to resume her seat, whon tho combined plaudits or the choir, followed simulta neously by those in the pews below, broke the stillness. The aged organist left his instrument, and taking the hand of the blushing girl, said, in a voice full of feeling: " Heaven bless you, my child ! We now know how the angels sing t" In a short time the committee in a body entered the choir, and were introduced to Alice by the chairman, each of whom con gratulated her on her success, and bestow ed the most flattering encomiums on her performances. On introducing the several members of the committee, the chairman, Mr. Pryor, remarked, as he presented one gentleman : " This is Mr. Frederick Stanley, Miss Fortescue, the gentleman I spoke of when I called on you, who, by the chance of hearing you sing the other evening, has secured such a valuablo addition to our choir." As Alice gracefully exchanged the usual courtesies, sho was mentally querying, " Where have I met him before ?" It was not until she had retired for the night that it came to her mind, that it was at Miss Dunbar's, on an occasion already known to the reader. Before leaving the choir, Mr. Pryor apol ogized to Alice, saying that he should be detained by parish business, but that Mr. Stanley bad kindly volunteered to attend her home; he hoped the arrangement would be satisfactory to her. Of course Alice was more than satisfied to exchange ber elderly beau for one a score of years younger, al though she did not so express herself to the worthy chairman. As Mr. Pryor did not remain" at the church, but proceeded directly to his own domicile, it looked very much as if there had been a collusion be tween the two members of the committee. Alice was very much pleased with ber es cort. He was an ardent lover cf music, and they found plenty to talk about in dis cussing their favorite subject. On taking leave of her, Mr. Stanley said that the de cision of the committee in regard to enga ging her would be early communicated to her. This remark caused Alice not a little wonderment. She supposed that her en gagement was already settled. . She knew that she bad put in proviso on accepting the invitation of the committee, but from the commendations bestowed upon ber, she had every reason to believe that she bad given entire satisfaction. She had no fears in regard to the decision, although she awaited the promised communication with a considerable degree of curiosity. She was not left long in suspense. Early the following morning the postman brought her a letter. The reader, perhaps, can in some degree enter into the feelings of Alice as she read its contents, which ran as follows: " Miss Alice Foimtsouit. The musio committee of Q - Street Church have unanimously docided to engage your servi ces as soprano, and that, on condition of your filling the situation for three years, your salary shall be $900 por annum paya ble quarterly. " very respectfully, "David Pnvon, Chairman, etc." , " Whom do you suppose they have en gaged as soprano in our choir ?" asked Miss Gates of ber friend Miss Dunbar, as they met the next day on their way from tht morning service. "Really, I cannot imagine; who is. U pray?" responded Miss Dunbar.- " Why, none other than Miss FovtesAjue the idea 1" replied Miss Gates.. " I am told that they give her an extravagant salary. I suppose she will put on more airs than ever now 1" " What kind of a singer la she has she a good voice ?" Inquired her friend. "O, she has a passable one, I suppose, although the gentlemen appear to bo in raptures with it, and her, too, I should judge. By the by, Mr. Stanley waa at church this morning, a new thing for him, and he seemed more taken with her than any. And, would you believe, it, Miss Dunbar, I saw him go up and shake bands with her as she came out of church the ideal and afterwards accompany her down the street ?" " As he is one of the music committee, he had probably something to say to her in relation to the singing." "Of course, it is not to be supposed that otherwise he would take notice of one of her class. And yet tbey appeared to bo mighty " thick," I assure you. When I passed them ho was so engrossed with her that be did not condescend even to notice me the idea 1" And the lady plied her fan vigorously, as if to soothe her ruffled dignity. . "Do you attend vespers this evening?' asked Miss Dunbar. 41 1 would like to accompany you, and hear what kind of a voice the girl has." "0 yes, I always attend when the weath er permits. ' 1 will call for you on my way. Doubtless t shall find Mr. Stanley with you, as usual, who will act as our escort." 41 Very likely," said Miss Dunbar, very confidently ; " be sure and come early, Miss Gates." And the two friends passed on their respective ways. At an early hour after tea Miss Gates called on her friend. To the surprise of the former, and something more than sur prise of the latter, Mr. Stanley had not made his Appearance. They awaited his coming until the very last moment before proceeding to the church. " He is probably unavoidably detained," said Miss Dunbar, not altogether easy in her mind. " I will leave word for him to come after us." The notice was left, and the ladies took their departure. Although the relations that existed be tween Mr. Stanley and Miss Dunbar were very intimate, there was no "engagement," neither had there been a "declaration." It was very manifest, however, that it needed but a proposal on the part of the gentlemen to bring the first named affair about. It had all along boon dooi ded by those uninterested that, sooner or later, such would be the result of the mat ter. Miss Duubar was deemed a veiy " eligi ble match," for Mr. Stanley, who belonged to an old aristocratic family, and was the inheritor of great wealth. She possessed many personal attractions, and by some was called very beautiful. So far as form, features and complexion were concerned, this judgment could not be disputed. She was, withal, refined and ladylike in her manners, and highly accomplished, and above all, in the estimation of many, she was the prospective heiress of a vast for tune. She had at an early . age attracted the at tention of Frederick Stanley had won, in deed, his "calf-love," as the budding affections of boyhood are styled. This youthful fancy would doubtless have ripen ed into a deep abiding sentiment, had it not been for the, fact that as ho grew older, and the " glamour" of a first love was gradually dissipated, he began to discover that the object of his devotion was not the all-perfect being he had fancied her. The moment one begins to discover faults in the object of one's worship, that moment the idol commences to crumble and fall. Stanley's character was above the or dinary standard. His mind was more comprehensive and far-reaching than is usual with young men. Although thor oughly genial in his nature, he was less given to frivolities of life than others of his age, and especially those who, like himself, possessed abundant means to gratify every wish. He belonged to what some styled aristocracy, but it was of the highest type, having not the loast taint of the mushroom to it. He was remarkably free from assumpt ion on account of birth, position or prop erty ; and nothing was more distasteful to him than the pretension of those who plumed themselves on such distinctions. The first suspicion awakeued in the mind of Stanley that his worshipped idol might be after all, nothing but o!ay, was caused by the discovery in her of those pretensions to which we have jU8t ftiidcd. He there- "f ""uoavurer i obtain a clearer in Sight into the la dv's character. It waa in the pursuance or tuig Bubjeot that he in- "ruuueuu luo discussion recorded In our first chapte A De was not altogether pleas ed with t' jq result of his experiment, leav ing, as did, the lady in a most unfavor able lifht. The mushroom taint was too obvio,Q8 to escape his notice, and hisesti n' Jon of the lady was in consequence gi' tly lowered, lie began to wonder at Ae infatuation which had exalted her aoove an ouiers ot nor sex ; and when a young man begins to indulgo in such re flections on tho object of his passions, be sure the prog ress of disenchantment is in rapid progress. We left our ladies on the way to church, where they arrived just as the services commenced. Before thoy wore fairly set tled in their scats, an unpleasant nudge from Miss Gates, and the whispered re mark, " I declare if there is not Mr. Btan loyin his pew the idea 1" brought a slight flush to her companion's cheek. Whether the nudge or the discovery bad the most to do with the heightened color, Miss Dunbar alone could say. We are sorely afraid that the lady in question was in any but a devotional frame of mind during the exorcises of the even ing, for she could not but observe bow completely absorbed tho gentleman appear ed during each performance of the new singer. This, however, should not have caused tbo lady uneasiness, for nearly the entire congregation evinced the same rapt attention as her liquid sympathetic notes were heard in the beautiful vesper service. Sitting where he commanded a view of the choir, Frederic Stanly might well be pardoned the steadfast admiring glances bcHtowed upon the fair singer. Yery beau tiful waa Alice at all times, but when in the act of singing, a divine beauty rested upon her countenance. Many vocalists nearly destroy the effect of their musio, if seen, by their facial contortions while singing. It was not so with Alice. Dur ing her performances each feature was moulded in perfect grace, while her face was illuminated with an almost an golio beauty. Couple with this her match less voice and execution, and what marvel was it that Frederio Stanley, keenly sus ceptible of the beautiful, and a passionate lover of music, should be so " carried away with hor," as Miss Gates would express it? At the close of the services a passing shower caused the ladies to huddle in tho vestibule of the church, with dismal antici pation of ruined bonnots and dresses. By good luck Stanley found a stray umbrella in bis pew. Seouring the prize he hastened to the crowded porch. Miss Dunbar and ber friend saw him making his way in their direction, and, confident that the umbrella was intended for them, they becan to crath- er up their skirts to protect them from the wet. To their great disappointment he passed within ashort distance of .them with out a sign of recognition, and they had the mortification of seeing him go towards Alice, who at that moment descended from the choir, and of hearing him say: " It is raining, Miss Fortescue ; will you not accept the protection of my umbrella?" The reader will imagine the feelings of Miss Dunbar, as sho watched the couple thread their way through the crowd and at last disappear from the doorway. As for Miss Gates, in her indignant astonishment she could only utter, which she did most emphatically : "The idea!" The reflections of Miss Dunbar on nr. riving home that night, were, as may be supposed, rar from agreeable. The foel ings which agitated her were not those of wounded love ; nor was it, in the strictest sense, jealousy that rankled in her bosom ; it was simply mortification, with no small admixture of anger. Her pride was touched probed to tho quick. She felt that she had been snbWt to a double slight. . In neglecting to make his usual evening call, and going to church in stead, for what purpose he best knew. was Mr.Stanloy's first slight. But the leav ing her in the church,to find her way home through the rain as best she could, and "going off with the sewlug-girl" this was the crowning offence which awoke her righteous indignation. We have said she had no feelings of wounded love. Miss Dunbar was a woman incapable of strong affection. She was by nature cold and unimpassioned. Althmio-li he had spared no effort to secure the re gards of Stanloy, it was not love that prompted her. In looking forward tn Mm time whon she should become his wife and she doubted not thot day would surely come she cherished no fond anticinatinn. of the event the thought of it never caus ed a single passionate thrill. Hor predom inant thouL'ht in rceaid to her bennmln., Stanley's wife was, that ber marriage would be the means of her attaining a somewhat higher rank iu the social scale. Ambition, not affection, was hor ruling motive. The reception Stanley met with when next he called on Miss Dunbar was not a flattering one. The lady was not partio ularly demonstrative at anv time In manifesting ber regard; but on this occa sion ber manner waa so studiously cold and constrained that the most indifferent ob server could not fail to observe it, and it rather amused him. He sought for no ex planation. He knew very well where the shoe pinched, and ho did not seem disposed to relieve the pressure. He would not at present, perhaps, have sought an oppor tunity to orean up the intimate relations that existed between them, although thoy had begun to grow irksome to him, but as one was offered him, he was very willing to avail himself of it. Nothing had ever passed between thorn there had been no interchange of sentiment therefore if either saw fit to interrupt the existing in timacy there was no necessity for explana tions. Stanley made his visit as brief as he possibly could, consistently with due cour esy ; nor was he in much haste to repeat it. Thereafter they met but seldom, but when they did meot, it was with the usual show of friendship, although, on the part of 8tanloy, it was with the consciousness that the spell which once enthralled him was broken, and on the part of Miss Dun bar, that her power over him had passed away. 41 Mother doar, do you hear?" said Alice one morning in a playful, positive way she sometimes affocted ; " after those shirts are finished no more work in this, house not another stitch 1" 41 1 don't know, my child" " But I know," interrupted the lively girl; " with the salary I now receive we can afford ourselves a little relaxation ; besides, you know, we ought to give other poor folks a chance I Now do not say one word against it, or away go thread, needle and thimble out of the window 1" "Ah, my doar child," said the mother, smiling at her daughter's sportive manner, " it is all very well now ; so long as you have your health and retain your voice, we have sufficient for our limited wants but what if they fail?" "They are not going to fail, mother dear 1 1 am in perfect health why should I be sick? Nine-tonths of the sickness in the world is caused by wicked carelessness. People fall sick and say it is a providential infliction, when Providence has no more to do with it than my little finger. It is, as I have said, their own wicked carelessness, their disregard of the well-known laws of nature, that has brought the evil upon them ; and if death is the result, I do not seo why they are not as open to the charge of suicide as if they had taken poison, sent a bullet through their brains, or strangled themselves with a rone. The end , same, and the only difference is, tho latter adopt the most speedy process to obtain it." " Why, my doar child.how you do talk!" said Mrs. Fortescue, a little shocked at tho views advanced by Alice. 41 It is the truth, mother, and a very sad truth," said Alice. " But let it pass. As for my health, you shall see what a i. dent body I will be, and what care I take ot myself. As for the voice, it is a rare thing for a woman to lose that; if it were less rare, some people husbands, for in stanoe would deem it a blessing rather than a misfortune !" "But the little work I do," said the mother, roturui ng to the subject of giving up sewing, " I consider it a pastime rather than a toil." "Ifyouwanta pastime, mother, there are your dressess that need renovating, and replenishing. You have hardly one decent to wear. But in proposing to relinquish needlework, I do not intend to remain idlo." "What new projoct have you got into your head, my child ?" " Not a new one, but an old one revised," Alice rejoined. " Miss Vaugban, I learn, is about to give up ber classes in music, being on the eve of marriage. ' Our organ ist who takes quite a fatherly interest in mo, has suggested that I can secure her -pupils, and kindly ottered his services to bring the matter about. I am expecting to hear from him on the subject in the course of to-day or to-morrow." That afternoon Alice received the grat- ifying information that nearly all Miss V.'a pupils would attend her class, and that a number of others expressed a wish to join it. Soon after taking her music class, she was one day honored with a call from Miss Gates. The lady came to urge her to per form somo sewing at her own house. As Alice politely declined, the lady said in a tone and with an air of dissatisfaction : " Well, I suppose it must be done here, then ; when will you do it ?" " Excuse me, MIbs Gates," said Alice, "I should be very happy to oblige you, and I thank you for calling on us, but mother and I hare given up taking in needle-work." - " O I" ejaculated Miss Gates. This was all the lady said ; but the tone iu which that simple interjection was uttered, and the manner of the speaker, gave to it a deal of significance. As plainly as tone and air can express language, hers -implied, "Yes, got above it, I suppose!" And when she took her leave, in every line of her face was legibly written : "The idea!" It was remarkable about this time what efficiency young Stanley displayed in the performance of his duties as music-com- ,.,... uinui in a formal sort of way ; but since the ad vent 01 tue new singer ne was a very con stant attendant at the reheat baV nftan bringing some new piece of music to be ung, in which the soprano had a promi nent part. Concluded next week. MM.
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