Guy Hammersley; or, Clearing his Name — page 72: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

GUY HAMMERSLEY. 63 while Mrs. Hammersley exclaimed : ‘‘ Who, then, can play my accompaniments? Have you secured a substitute ? ” : ‘And who will play mine?” added Ruth. ‘‘] should be most happy to give this young man a position, if he will accept it,” and the colonel placed his hand for an instant, with an air of paternal guar- dianship, on Ward’s shoulder. “TI?” The boy looked around in unbounded astonishment. ‘‘ Why, I have never played for any one but Ruth in my life.” ‘¢ But you are a quick reader of music,” interposed the colonel, suavely. ‘‘I have heard your sister say so. With just a little practice I will warrant you will do beautifully, and that reminds me, Master Guy, wouldn’t you like me to relieve you of that ticket- taking business, and earn your salary on the stage instead ?” Guy’s amazement far exceeded Ward’s. But the colonel did not allow him time to more than draw in a long breath preparatory to protesting his inability to do anything of the sort. ‘JT heard from Miss Stanwix how you had enter- tained the household there one evening by reading a series of humorous selections. I have a stock of some exellent productions in my satchel which I will show you after dinner, and I am sure that with your voice and presence, you can make yourself a note- worthy feature of the evening’s entertainment. For a good reader is a rara avis, and when he appeals to the humorous side of the great American people his success is assured. And now let us drop ‘shop’ and take up dinner.” GEomichboo cS (E(0) m