Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-03-29

IhO AOtA lid oAAhS Assu>so w
ward the fire, and the light Of the bla-
zing wood made them transparent.
He looked about him once in while,
as if in search of something, and his
presence cast such a chill over the place
that gradually the sound Of revelry was
hushed, and it seemed that this waif Of
the storm had brought in with it all
the gloom and GOODNESS of the warning
elements Goskin, mixing up cup Of
hot egg-nog, advanced and remarked
cheerily:
"Here, stranger, brace up! This is
the real stuff"
The man drained the cup, smacked
his lips and seemed more at home.
"Been prospecting, ehi Out in the
mountains caught in the storm : Live.
ly night, this"
Pretty bad" said the man.
Must feel pretty dryg
The man looked at his streaming
clothes and laughed, as if Goskins re-
mark was sarcasm.
"lIow long out"
"Four days.
HUNGRY"
The man rose up, and, walking over
to the lunch counter fell to work upon
the bear, devouring it like any wild an
imal would have done. As meat and
drink and warmth began to permeate
the stranger, he seemed to expand and
tighten up. His features lost their pal
lor, and he grew more and more content
with the idea that no was not in the
grave. As he underwent these changes
tile people about him got merry and
happier, and threw off the temporary
feeling of depression which he had laid
upon them.
Presently his eye fell upon the piano.
where's the player" he asked.
"Never had any," said Goskin, blush
ing at the confession.
~ used to play when | was young"
Goskin almost tainted at the admis-
sion
Stranger, do tackle it, and give us
tune! Nary man in this camp ever had
the nerve to wrestle with that music
box. His pulse beat faster, for he feared
the man would refuse.
"I'll do the best cam he said.
There was no stool, but Selling can
dle-box he threw it up and seated him
self before the instrument. 1t only re-
CURED few seconds for bush to come
over the room.
THAT old coon is going to give the
things u rattle"
The sight of q man at the piano was
something SO unusual that even the faro
dealer, who was about to take in fifty
dollar bet on the tray, paused and did
not reach for the money. Men stopped
drinking, with the glasses ia their lips.
Conversation appeared to have been
struck with - sort of paralysis, and cards
were no longer shufiled.
The old man brushed back his long,
white locks, looked up to the ceiling, half
closed his eyes, and in mystic sort Of
reverie passed his fingers over the keys.
He touched but single note, yet the
sound thrilled the room. 1t was the key
to his improvisation, and as he wove his
cords together the music laid it's spell
upon every ear and heart. He felt his
way along the keys, like man treading
uncertain paths: but he gained conf
dence as he progressed, and presently
bent to his work like a master. The in
stru ent was not in exact tone, but the
ears of his audience, through long disuse
did not detectanything radically wrong.
They hear q succession of grand chords,
asuggestion Of paradise, melodies here
and there, and it was enough.
"See him counter with his leftw said
All old rough, enrapturdid.
'He calls the time every time on the
upper end Of the board,''i responded q
man with Q stack of chips in his hand.
The player wandered of into the old