“'Why!” repeated the merry, husky voice in the darkness. “My goodness, child precious, those vagabonds are here! To think of your never having been serenaded before!”
She drew the girl to the window and pointed to a group of dim figures near the iliac bushes. “The dear, delightful vagabonds!” she chuckled. “I knew they'd come! It's the beautiful Tappingham Marsh with his fiddle, and young Jeff Bareaud with his flute, and 'Gene Madrillon and little Frank Chenowith and thin Will Cummings to sing. Hark to the rascals!”
It is perfectly truthful to say that the violin and flute executed the prelude, and then the trio sounded full on the evening air, the more effective chords obligingly drawn out as long as the breath in the singers could hold them, in order to allow the two fair auditors complete benefit of the harmony. They sang “The Harp that Once Thro' Tara's Halls,” and followed it with “Long, Long Ago.”
“That,” Mrs. Tanberry whispered, between stifled gusts of almost uncontrollable laughter, “is meant for just me!”
“Tell me the tales that to me were so dear,” entreated the trio.
“I told 'em plenty!” gurgled the enlivening widow. “And I expect between us we can get up some more.” “Now you are come my grief is removed,” they sang.
“They mean your father is on his way to St. Louis,” remarked Mrs. Tanberry.
“Let me forget that so long you have roved, Let me believe that you love as you loved, Long, long ago, long ago.”
“Applaud, applaud!” whispered Mrs. Tanberry, encouraging the minstrels by a hearty clapping of hands.
Hereupon dissension arose among the quintet, evidently a dispute in regard to their next selection; one of the gentlemen appearing more than merely to suggest a solo by himself, while the others too frankly expressed adverse opinions upon the value of the offering. The argument became heated, and in spite of many a “Sh!” and “Not so loud!” the ill-suppressed voice of the intending soloist, Mr. Chenoweth, could be heard vehemently to exclaim: “I will! I learned it especially for this occasion. I will sing it!”