Nebraska advertiser., 1876-11-30


his hOts. Several times be caugh
himself wondering what troubl
could cloud this happy home, and
he he'd been mistaken in thinking h
had heard Mr.. Greynaught had thre
daughters. 1t seemed an answer t
his unspoken thoughts when MI
Greynaught said:
The ladies will excuse us, doctor
while we step into the library and tr.
a box of cigars L opened to-day, gil
from a good Judge of the article, so
think you will find them excellent
want a word with you
They had smoked some moment
in silence when Mr.. Greynaugh
said
What I want to say to you, doctor
is an apology for what you nigh
otherwise consider a professional
slight. 1 have a daughter, Effie
the eldest of my children, who ha
been for seventeen years a deformeC
cripple, partly owing to a fall wher
only eight years old; partly due,
think, 10 an unsuccessful surgical op
Grafton. / have spared no expense
no trouble in efforts TO cure or relieve
her, and have twice spent winter in
I New York for her treatment there
E but no good has resulted. Indeed, sc
much has been done. and so vainly,
I tha, she implores me now TO let heT
rest, and has exacted promise that /
will not consult another physician.
l consented the more readily, as she
is now free from all pain, and seems
happy. You are not hurt that do
not consult your
Certainly not was the reply.
Still, if at any time l could be OF
service, it will bel a pleasure to me to
alleviate the sufferings of one so af-
fiicted. It is very sad.'
'Sadder than you can realize. A
brighter, happier child you have new
er seen than she was before she fell
from a swing and injured herself, and
now she is as cheerful and happy as
ever 1 would see her; really more
contented, 1 think, than Mary or
Lola
rs the mind at all afFected?'
No; a clearer, or more active INTEL
faaR = ,afl = II. al
sensitive about her appearance, but so
long as We allow her 10 be invisible,
she is happy. Sometimes 1 coax her
to let me drive her out, but she comes
home so weary that l think the effort
does her more harm than good. Her
room overlooks the garden, and has a
door leading out to the porch. so in
pleasant weather she will walk there
if she is sure of being unseen. You
would be surprised to see what noun
tains of brain work the wee thing ac-
complishes. German. Latin. and
French are all familiar to her. and
she is now threatening a course of
Italian
Without teacher?'
oh, help her, but she soon leaves
me behind. But, come, we will have
some music
The young ladies evidently expect
ed this demand, for when the gentle
men entered tho Purlor, the piano was
open, and sheets of music were scat
tered about as if recently examined.
Doctor Murrell's quick eyes noticed
one paculiarity in the handsome
drawing heavy curtain fall
ing from an alcove, evidently hiding
an inner room, which must have
overlooked the garden. Seeing his
eyes wander there, Mr.. Greynaught
said
'Effie's room, where, when the door
is open, she can enjoy the conversa-
ton of our visitors, and remain invis-
ible. She is very sensitive about her
appearance, and sees only a few old
friends, never any strangers. Come.
Mary lie added, in louder voice,
give us the last fashionable abomina-
tion on the piano.
The young ladies were both good
performers, evidently well drilled,
and possessing taste and love for mu-
sic, and an hour passed pleasantly in
music and singing, but Doctor Muir
rell was rather startled to hear his
host eXclaim-
There! Good girls! Now for my
musical treat. Effie =
There was no spoken word for an
swer, but after a moment there stole
out from the folds of the heavy cur
tain low, dreamy melody, like some
of Mendelssohn's inspirations, so sub
tie and sweet that it was like the echo
from some angels choir, and one
doubted the power of q modern piano
and feminine fingers to produce the
effect. l cannot describe it. L could
as well paint sunset in words, or de-
scribe the whispering of birds in pen
and ink, as to try to give any idea of
Effie Greynaught's playing. 1t was
her solace in her sore offiictions, her
in lonely hours, her COM
fort in pain; it was all to her that So
ciety, attention. pleasure, and excite
ment are to other young girls. She
did not know one written note of mu-
sic from another. but no melody was
too complicated for her ear to catch,
or her fingers to master, and the exc
cutioD was simply marvellous, unless
one considered how much of her
young life was passed In mastering
difficulties of lingering that would
have made her well-taught sisters
throw aside their music in despair.
Doctor Murrell listened in amaze
ment and delight, ignorant even as
he was that this was genius untaught,
save by its own inspiration, yet rec
OgniZiDp how far ahove aud havond /