Page 89 - 1930 Hartridge
P. 89
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Through the closed auditorium door came the sound of music min gling with many voices that sang sweetly, if a trifle sadly. Suddenly the piano seemed to forge ahead of the singers in a rousing time while they,
all oblivious, kept up their half-chant. One voice trieci in vain to accom pany the music, hut, as if overcome by superior numbers, slowly dropped hack. After a prolonged chorus of discordant notes the playing ended
abruptly, but the singing rambled on, diminishing gradually as the lag gards realized that they no longer heard the piano.
There was deep silence for a moment, broken by someone’s exclaim ing in tones of despair, “ Girls, girls, that was a chanty, not a lullaby or a serenade! You evidently didn’t understand that it should have been sung with a swing and a dash. Let’s have that again, and please, please, as a special favor to me, even if it overtires you terribly, liven it up a bit.’’
d'he music started again, and a noble few, judging from the noise, were endeavoring to show what powerful lungs they possessed. Through the first measure the singers continued the awful din, hut soon they were
again murmuring softly, whispering what sounded like endearments.
A blatant, jarring noise interrupted them. “The bell!’’ said Hewes with fervent relief. “The bell!’’
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