The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-04-27

~-AN-NN--N-NNNAH
emusic !"
Hester looked up with startled ex.
clamation:
"Musicl He calls for his music. Do
you not hear? Where ia t.? Who
knows about it2 Is it lost?" she ques-
toned eagerly.
Again that terrible attempt at speech.
The dull eyes opened wide, the feeble
fingers clenched Themselves on Hester's
hand, and, with q last mad effort OF ex-
piring desperate strength, he raised
himself and shrieked:
"AIy music Find il Save i'll"
And then he fell back on his pillow like
one dead.
physician, angrily, and ut the words
Hester, with moan, dropped down, in
sensible.
Not dead But when, after weeks
and months OF painful illness, he faced
the world again, he looked like
shadow out OF the past. But bent and
aged, with Scared forehead aud
whitened locks, the wreck of his body
was not the greatest evil that had be-
fallen him for Of the'brilliant genius
Of other days no yestige was left. Sad
dest OF all, the miserable ghost Of his
lost hopes haunted him, and in the
ruined chambers OF his darkened intel.
lect he was forever cropping, trying to
gather up the mystic chords OF tuneful
thought which no longer vibrated TO his
magic touch. The lost manuscript
music had never been recovered, and
though his feeble mind failed to take
in tho greatness OF his loss, the shadow
OF something beautiful which was TO
have been, but, somehow, failed to be,
lay on him, and gave his face o wistful
look, which was sadder far in its mute
endurance than any wall Of speech
could have been.
Music was to him now something
akinto the sound Of "sweet bells jingled,
out OF tune and harsh"
One day in early spring he went TO
the church for tho fifst time, leaning
on Hester's arm. The old, familiar look
OF the place struck him forcibly and
reused his dormant wits. He sat down
to the organ and glided his hands over
the keys; o few jangling, discordant
chords followed, wandering and discon.
nscted; then his face changed, and,
with q terrible cry, he flung his head
on his arms.
"oh, Hesterl tell me what is il 1
have lost? Sometimes almost reach
tit Is in my mind, something beauti.
ful which / almost grasp, and then 1t
eludes me and fades away. Ihaye lost
1t now. Hester Hesterl take me
home y
She kissed him and soothed him with
sweet womanlywords, and when he was
more composed she led him away.
Soon after that they were married
In vain Hester's friends threatened and
opposed her. She was quietly deter
mined.
"He loved me when friends and for.
tune smiled on him." she answered
them. "He would have given me every
great gift which the world was ready 10
bestow on him for love Of his beautiful
genius, and shall I desert him now
when misfortune has oyertaken him :?
Perhaps-oh, perhaps some time God
may restore 10 him his lost mind. I"
Tears filed her lovely, soft pathetic
eyes. "If Il dared to hope it-oh, II I
but might hope for II, how willingly
would / give my life to have 1t 80"
The day before her wedding she re-
ceiyed o visit from Conrad Charteris.
at shall not be |" he cried out
yehemently. 1Do you recognize what
you are doing? Why, you had better
far die at once, for Robert Field is but
little better than an idiot"
"And II he pere an idiot, returned
Hester, brayely hiding her hurt Of the
brutal words, "even then 1 would mar
ry him. I love him, and II not ono
vestige OF his glorious intellect remain
cd I would be Robert Fields wife, and
a proud one, tool"
"And, by God, I believe you would"
answered Conrad, looking with q fond,
mad. longing into the small pale face,
lifted so undauntedly to his dark gaze.
Chester, you will drive me mad. I
would to heaven that Robert Field was
dead. Why did he not die TINT night
last winter }" and he struck his hand
furiously on the table in blind frenzy
OF despair.
"God knows it was from no lacx OF
purpose in you that he did not die,"
fetorted Hester, spiritedly.
She spoke at random, but Conrad
shrank away with white face. The
idle words evidently hit him hard.
They cut close and sharp ~ steel in
their unexpected descent, and wheeling
abruptly about he left her and did not
seek her again.
They were married quietly, and after
that, In the tender security Of his mod
est home, under the fond and cherish-
ing care Of his wife, health and strength
came slowly back tothe shattered frame
of Robert Field.
Slowly, too, out Of the darkness he
begun 10 wrench, one by one, the Sc.
crets OF his prisoned mind. Old melo-
dies began TO shape themselves under
his touch, discordant and fragmentary
at first, but gradually assuming SYM
metry and power. al
"Not quite q wreckl' he would
sigh, wistfully. "some day some good
genii will unlock my prison door and
set me free
In the child that was born to them, q |
beautiful boy who sang sweet music in
every tone Of his childish voice, his
pride was great. He talked Of him,
listened to him, watched him, and
dreamed Of him, predicting q future Of
which Bertrand was to be the perfect
flower. the very golden rose Of Joy. So