Miss Dexie: A Romance of the ProvincesEveleth, Stanford
General
Miss Dexie: A Romance of the Provinces
Eveleth, Stanford
Fiction
When Mr. Ross and Lancy made their appearance, Dexie had to listen to the
expostulations of three very urgent gentlemen; and though she held to her
refusal for some time, she was obliged to capitulate at last, stipulating
that she should only be asked to whistle one piece. Mr. Ross was obliged to
be content with this, but he found it hard to decide which of the pieces he
would put upon the programme.
But a thought occurred to him, and he smiled as he considered it. Yes, he
would set down the new piece; and if he knew a Halifax audience, and he
thought he did, one piece would not content them. The others would do
nicely for the "encore" which he knew would be demanded.
He smiled with pleasure as he rose to depart.
"I will set you down for the new piece you were running over last evening,
Miss Sherwood," said he, "and Mr. Gurney will play your accompaniment. If
you do as well at the concert as you did last night when you first saw the
music, I shall be well satisfied."
"But what if I should fail, papa?" said Dexie, when she found herself alone
with her father. "How can I stand before so many strange people and
whistle? Oh! I'm sure I cannot. No young lady whistles in public, and I
feel sure they will hiss me off the stage!"
CHAPTER XIV.
The time slipped by bringing the eventful evening. In many homes nimble
fingers had been busy for days fashioning certain garments that were to
make the wearers quite fascinating to beholders. But Dexie declared that as
her best gown was very becoming, she had no intention of getting a new one
on purpose for the occasion, a few extra touches would make it quite
presentable. On the morning of the concert, she found there were still some
minor things needed to complete her toilet, so she went down-town to do a
little shopping.
As she stood in a store waiting for her parcel, her eyes rested on a
handbill lying near, and as she read it her face flushed angrily, then
turned pale to the lips, for those great, staring letters announced the
evening's performance, and she was referred to as one of the chief
attractions, but in terms that aroused her temper to its highest pitch.
Who could have worded that awful handbill? She longed to stamp her foot, or
scream, or give vent to her angry feelings in some way. How dared they
single her out by such a nickname? She snatched the parcel from the hands
of the astonished clerk and left the store with more speed than grace.
While she is flying homeward, her angry eyes shining like stars from her
pale, set face, let us read the cause of her displeasure.
"Temperance Hall. Temperance Hall.
To-night.
The Halifax Song and Glee Club will give their
Annual Concert
In Temperance Hall To-night.
Full Opening Chorus by the Members.
First Appearance of
THE AMERICAN WARBLER,
The only songster ever known to whistle popular airs to
piano accompaniment.
Don't Miss It.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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