Page:Ballinger Price--The Happy Venture.djvu/17

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THE HAPPY VENTURE

CHAPTER I

TALES IN THE RAIN

" 'How should I your true love know,
From another one?
By his cockle hat and staff,
And his sandal shoon. . .'"

IT was the fourth time that Felicia, at the piano, had begun the old song. Kenelm uncurled his long legs, and sat up straight on the window-seat.

"Why on earth so everlasting gloomy, Phil?" he said. "Isn't the rain bad enough, without that dirge?"

"The sky's 'be-weeping' him, just the way it says," said Felicia. She made one complete revolution on the piano-stool, and brought her strong fingers down on the opening notes of another verse.

" 'He is dead and gone, ladie,
He is dead and—'"

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