The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-09-08

by idly drawing my bow across tb
strings, it would answer me. All, n,
one would have believed it but myself
but it painted to me the future-it toll
me all that l might be. 1t whispere'
courage-it breathed hope. Well, on
day, strolling through the streets
touching its chords, asking no aims
never begged--a boy older than
taller, stronger, boy richly dressed
and with a god chain hanging at hi
vest, stopped and Knocked me.
walked on silently. He followed me
and, in an unprepared moment, snatch
ed my violin, and, swapping it across
his knee, threw it in the filth and muC
of the street.
81 was stunned. The magnitude o
my loss overwhelmed me. The surg
ing tide of my despair closed in about
my soul. 1 saw neither earth nor sky
-naught save the shattered, voiceless
wood. Then he who had wrought the
wanton, wicked act, threw me coin
1t reused me from my stupor.
caught and hurled it back. Not thus
might he pay the debt I owed to him
"In that moment carriage passed
Seated within was a beautiful child-a
little girl. She ordered the coachman
to stop. She had seen something Of
what nat, had d., hanpsned, Then. VIII; t. 9
like music, she put her purse into my
hands and babe me use its contents as
l would.
"Some day she said, when you
arc great musician, you shall repay
me. Who knows? you may play at
my wedding
The girls head was bowed now. Her
bosom rose and fell. Two sparkling
tears glimmered on the lashes which
swept her cheek. Like a dream it all
came back to her; like a vision, she
saw the boyish face uplifted to hers
through a mist of tears.
Herr Seiberg strobe to her side. He
put his hand within his coat and drew
something forth. Instinctively she
knew it to be the little purse.
at has never left me-" he said,
hoarsely. "I owe all that am to you.
The gulf between us is as wide now as
then. l have never hoped to cross it.
You are the heiress of rich man. I,
too, have wealth, but that cannot wipe
out the past. Let me tell you, though,
what did. l took your money and
bought with it my violin. The man
who sold it to me had kindly face,
and when | paid him for it 1 asked of
him a favor
"The money with which l purchase
this was lent to me- said. Il would
like-oh, so very much to keep this
same gold. Will you lay it aside for
three months, when may redeem it?
| do not know that l can, but will
save every penny l earn, if you will
but do this for me-
"The man smiled and consented.
"He marked the gold in my sight,
and laid it away. Within the time /
had regained possession of it. 1t is
here, Miss Laurence. 1t seems
trifling sum now to both of us, but re-
member that it has made me all that l
am. Yet its payment does not pay
my debt. You said, perhaps I hi ght
play at your wedding. Command me,
and l obey, even though l thus for
bear my second debt to the boy who, a
second time, in my manhood, causes
me the deepest misery my life has
known"
He paused, and held outstrctched to-
ward her the open purse. His face was
like marble; his eyes shown with a
wonderful fire.
"Of what are you speaking?" she
said, gently. "Whom am I to marry?"
Last night he told me you were be-
trothed."
"He2 Who?"
"Fairfax Farley"
vt is not true. He has wished it so,
but ! did not know my own heart, and
asked shat he should wait. know it
now. l know that it can never be. Carl,
you poke of the gulf between us. Is
it one that love will not bridge?
The next night Fairfax Farley and
Herr Seiberg met.
"You have decided ?" asked the for
mer.
'It is impossible" Carl replied; "but,
since you SO kindly have asked me to
play at your wedding, may 1 not ask
you to dance at miner
"Ah, you are betrothed, then?"
eyes,
4 "And to welcome whomY
Miss Laurence, the young musician
answered, proudly.
Two little words-a name soon to be
merged into another identity; but
their momentary utterance had can
ceied his two-fold debt-redeemed his
boyhood's vow.