Rensselaer Republican, Volume 28, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1895 — FIVE-STRINGED BANJO [ARTICLE]

FIVE-STRINGED BANJO

Miss Josephine Bannister, daughter of the well-known music seller at Seacliff, was a highly attractive, If rather pert, young lady, whose good looks’ Were the source of much male custom to her father’s shop. Yj»u could have seen her during thq Seacliff season bobind* the counter, in her neat tailor•nade costume, rolling up music with white, bejeweled hands and flirting vigorously with her gentlemen customers. She was a sight for the gods—not for the goddesses, though. No female, human or divine, could ever have been found to say a good word for Miss Josephine. Ladies in Seacliff had even beeu heard to ; allude to her as a “minx,” surd to deplore the infatuation- which lett young men to desert charming girls of their own station for the vulgar snigfcerings of that shop girl down on the Parade. This criticism, however, was not without prejudice, for the ladles who made these remarks liked a flirtation themselves—and had it, too, when they could get it—which was not, however always, for in Seacliff the ladies out numbered the gentlemen by nearly two to one. • But, although Miss Josephine flirted Indiscriminately with every man she met, simply because “it was her nature to,” and she couldn’t help it, she had a certain small coterie of admirers, whom she treated with particular favor. This coterie consisted of five young men, and feome wag, with more wit than was usually to be found in the Seacliff humorists, had evolved for her the punning and appropriate nickname of “The Five-stringed BanjoT* - ******* Oh, that silver string! How truly divine was its music. Many other ladies besides Miss Josephine had come under Its bewitching influence. The first time It intoned the prayers in Seacliff Parish Church a gross and a half of feminine devotees bowed the head and worshiped. Before the sermon was half finished that Sunday, 200 tender hearts were fluttering inside an equal number of smart summer blouses. ’Twas not merely the new curate’s voice—not' merely his looks—not merely the graceful hang of his surplice, not the sublime set of his stole—not merely the righteous fervor of his roaming eye—these, indeed, had their influence, but above all, a je ne sals quoi fascination In the man himself, which no male mind could appreciate and no female heart resist. When it became noticed—and you may be sure that this didn’t take long in a place like Seacliff—that Rev. Bra baton A. B. C. Flitch was constantly buying music in the shop on the Parade, the ladies of the place grew very angry. Now, if there was one girl in the place'(excluding for the moment the live-stringed banjo), to whom the curate could be said to pay attention, that girl was Tlsjiy Bullock. Her full name wfts Letltla, and she was the daughter of a wealthy widow, who lived in a Urge house just outside the town. Tishy was a pretty girl, considerably prettier than ber name, either In its long or Us shortened form. She was kn only child—the future heiress! under settlement, of her mother’s monay. The curate began by being polite to her. He was—there Is no doubt about it, though it occurred in the modpst society of Seacliff—ln fact, encouraged to be more than polite. You Bee, Tishy didn't want money. She did want birth, refinement, a sympathetic helpmeet. And what man better fulfilled these requirements than Braba■on Flitch? To one Bullock’s banking a. count add one Flltch’a blood and

birth. What was the answer? Tlshy totted up the sum and found it came to social success. Mrs. Bullock checked her figures and pronounced, them correct. The result was, that Brabazon Flitch became conspicuously persona -grata nt AVeatcomhe house This, of Course, excited remark in Seacliff. People soon had still more Interesting news to gossip about Brabazon Flitch had been seen coming out of the five-stringed banjo’s father’s prlvate door, and. the five-stringed banjo’s father had followed him on to the step, with a red face and a choleric demeanor. The Inference was obvious, brabazon Flitch had been called to account by Bannister, Sr., for trifling with his daughter’s affections, and whatever explanation he might have given of his conduct had clearly not satisfied the Indignant father." Iu church, next Suhday, Brabazon wasobserved to be nervous and depressed. On the left of the middle aisle, where the ladies sat, many eyes shone with watery sympathy. Tlshy was observed to t,urn pale; Mrs. Bullock got her smelling salts ready In case she should faint away. At present other people only surmised and guessed the faevs. Tlshy and her mother knew them—from Brabazon’s own lips. The previous day he had called at Westcombe house, and, discarding all reserve and false modesty, had poured the whole story of his trouble into Mrs, Bullock’s thetic ear. He had been a little .foolish—he owned—to have gone so frequently to Bannister’s shop. He had—yes, he had been attracted, just at first, by Miss Bannister’s superficial beauty, and, no doubt, he had talked to her more than was prudent. Then he had a hint from a kind friend that his visits to the music shop were getting talked about He at once discontinued these visits. And what had been his reward? He had been summoned by her father to an interview, In which he (the father) had adopted a high-handed, bullying tone; had demanded whether meant to marry his daughter—whom he would as soon have thought of marrying as of flying over the moon. get (Brabazon) was quite at his wits’ endTcTknow what to do. The girl’s father had given him a week to decide in and the week expired next Monday. Unless by that day he Brabazon a written undertaking to marry Josephine, he should not only take the first opportunity of assaulting the curate on the street, but proceedings would be immediately instituted to recover damages from him at law. “Either of these steps would be fatal to me,” said the unhappy curate, “and both together would simply crush me. If you, dear friend, could advise me what to do for the best you would lay me under an eternal obligation.” “It is a shameful, scandalous conspiracy,” exclaimed Tishy’s mother, with indignation. “I should be disposed to—to—simply defy the wretch.” “But think what that would! mean, dear friend. A layman might take this course; no doubt But a minister of God—how Is he to face It? The mere fact of having such accusations publicly brought against him is sufficient to ruin him, even though they be not substantiated. And these people, having gone soffar already, will not, I believe, hesitate to perjure themselves in support of their wicked claim.’’ “Yet what else can be done?” answered Mrs. Bullock, with a perplexed look. “If you do not defy him you must give in to him and| marry that hussy, his daughter, which would be still more deplorable.” “Alas! I am afraid, dearest lady, that I am between the dev—hem—on the -horns of a dilemma.,” the curate hastened to corrpct himself. “But I could not—could not marry that girl, If for no other reason, because—because ” He broke off suddenly, looking confused and embarrassed. “Pray do not hesitate to confide in me,” said Tishy’s mother, gently. “My dearest friend,” said Brabazon, ’suddenly, speaking with determination and resolve, like a man who had made up his mind to a bold course, “I feel I have no right to conceal this thing from you. I never meant to have told It to anybody. It was to be a secret locked up in this bosom, because—because ” The curate dropped his eyes and lowered his voice, humbly. “I knew that I was unworthy to mention it to—to—her, whom it chiefly concerns. But you have spoken so kindly to me in my trouble, dear lady, that Z—l cannot but confide the truth to you. Spurn me, ridicule me, if you will. It will only be what I deserve. I—l God help me to bear my cross and to recognize the futility of my suit. Ip-1— •love your daughter!” “Oh, Mr. Flitch,” cried out the lady, extending both her hands to him, and smiling joyfully Into his face. “Don’t speak of unworthiness—of—of—futility. You have made me the happiest woman, but one, in the world. For I am convinced that dear Tishy alone will be happier about this than I am!” “But, alas! dear lady,” said the curate, a cloud overspreading the radiant felicity which had for the moment shone In his face. “Remember how I am placed. I-4.l—could not subject that angel to the shame of marrying a publicly disgraced man.” “Pray do not talk like that, my dear Mr.—may I say Brabazon? You have done nothing wrong. Therefore, |you have Incurred no r£al disgrace." “But the shame of a—a—public trial —of a—a cruel exposurel” murmured the unhappy priest, with a miserable look. “Perhaps that may be avoided,” answered Mrs. Bullock, after a brief reflection. “Of course, these wretches are mercenary. They must be, else they would never threaten to sue you for damages. I have no doubt that we can buy them off. Don’t you suppose »r

"If I could offer them a large sum of money they might accept It as satisfaction,” answered Brabazon, rather dubiously. “Then lie added: “But I need no* think a bou tth at, for I have not the money to offer them.” “Brabazdn,” said Mrs. Bullock, who, with all her faults, was a generous woman at heart and had more delicacy of feeling than might have been expected. “Do not be offended, my—my boy, at what lam going to say. I look upon you as my—my son now, you know. And it would be hard, fndeed, if a mother might not help her son out of a “scrape; —You must-must -let me find the money for this purpose.” “Oh, *1 could not—l could' not!” exclaimed Brabazon, evidently overcome by her generous offer. —-But ± you must,” Insisted Tishy ’s mother, with gentle firmness. “People would—would—think—think me—me—contemptible for thus spsponging on you,” said the curate. “Besides,—if —if those—those people knew they were treating with a—a rich person, they would—would make the most extortionate demands.” - “There.is no reason why they, or anyone else, should know of my connection with the affair,” replied Mrs. Bullock. “You shall conduct all the negotiations and the money shall be paid through you.” Still Brabazon’s scruples were not overcome. He resisted the generous proposal a little longer. Mrs. Bullock, however, determined woman that she was, would have her way. And the curate, half relieved, half ashamed, and wholly embarrassed by her kindness, at length consented to accept her help —for Tishy’s sake. • * * • * • * Bannister senior would not accept any less sum than £I,OOO. Neither argument nor entreaty on Brabazon’s part could Induce him to abate those terms. The curate went to Mrs. Bullock, with tears in his eyes, "and told her of the extortionate demand.- She was not daunted, but at once drew him a check for the amount. Next day curate—and cash—quitted Seacliff.—London Truth.