Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-27

the real stuff.
The man drained the cup. smacked
ms lips and seemed more at home.
Been prospecting, ELI? Out in the
mountains-caught in the storm Lively
night, this |"
Pretty bad. said the man.
!" Must feel pretty dry
The man looked at his steamine
Clothes and laughed, as if Goskin' 3 re.
mark was sarcasm.
How long out?"
" -Four days"
Hungry?
The man rose up, and, walking over to
the lunch counter. fell to work upon
some roast bear, devouring it like any
w,ld animal wouid have done. AS meat
and drink, and warmth began to Der,
meate the stranger, he seemed to ex-
pand and tighten up. His features lost
thelr pniior and he grew more and
more content with the idea that he was
not IN the grave. As he underwent
these changes, the people about him got
merrier and happier, and threw off the
temporary feeling Of depression which
he had laid upon them.
" DO you always have your place dec
GRATED like this?' he finally asked of
Goskin.
This is Christmas eve" was the re-
ply.
The stranger was startled.
December twenty-fourth. sure
enough"
"That's the way put it up, pard."
When was in England I always
kept Christmas. But had forgotten
that this was the night. I've been wan
dering about the mountains until I've
lost track of the feasts of the church,
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 I was young. !"
Goskin almost tainted at the admis-
sion.
Stranger, do tackle it, and give us a
time Nary man in this camp ever had
the nerve to wrestle with that music
box. His pulse beat faster, for he
feared that the man would refuse.
g Til do the best I can" he said.
There was no stool, but, Selling a
candle-box, he drew it up and seated
himself before the instrument. 1t only
required few seconds for a hush to
come over the room.
THAT old coon is going to give the
thing q rat lie.
The sight Of man at the piano was
something so unusual that even the faro
dealer, who was about to take in $50
bet on the tray, paused, and did not
reach for the money. Men stopped
drinking, with the glasses at their lips.
Conversation appeared to have been
struck with sort of paralysis, and cards
We're no longer shuffied.
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 d single note,
yet the sound thrilled the room. Itwas
the key to his improvisation, and as he
wove his chords together the mllsic laid
its spell upon every car and heart. He
felt his way along the keys, like a man
treading uncertain paths but he gained
confidence as he progressed, and pres
emily bent to his work like a master.
The instrument was not il exact tune,
bat the ears of his audience, through
long disuse, did not detect anything rad
ically wrong. They heard succession
of grand chords, suggestion of para
disc, melodies here and there, and it was
enough.
"See him counter with his left (" said
an old rough, enraptured.
He calls the turn every time on the
apper end of the board" responded a
man with q stack of chips in his hand.
The player wandered off into the old
ballads they had heard at home. All the
sad, and melancholy, aud touching songs.
that came up like dreams Of childhood.
this unknown player drew from the KEYS.
His hands kneaded their hearts like
dough, and squeezed out the tears as
from q wet sponge. As the strains flowed
one upon theoiher, they saw their homes
of the long ago reared again they were
playing once more where the apple blos-
SONS sank through the soft air to join the
violets on the green turf OF the old New
England States; they saw the glories of
the Wisconsin naples and TIE haze of the
Indian summer blending their hues to-
gether they saw the heather Of the
Scottish hills, the white cliffs of Briton,
and heard the snllea roar of the sea, as
it beat upon their memories vaguely.
Then came all the old Christmas carols,
such as they had sung in church thirty
years before; the subtle music that
brings mp the giimmer of wax tapers,
the solemn shrines, the evergreen, holly,
mistletoe and surpliced choirs. Then
the remorseless performer planted his
iinsl stab in every heart with Home,
Sweet Home.
When the player ceased, the crowd
skunk from him. There was no more
revelry and deyilment left in his audience.
Each man wanted to sneak off to his
cabin and write the old folks letter.
The day was breaking when the last
man left the place, and the player, lay
ing his head down on the piano, fell
asleep.
81 say, pard, said Goskin, don't
you want a little rest
81 feel tired" Che old man said.
- Perhaps you'll let me resi- here Tor the
matter of a day or so.
He walked behind the Lar, where some
old blankets were lying. and stretched
himself upon them. :.
g feel pretty sick. / guess won't
last long. I've got a brother down ~
the rayine--liis names Driscoll. He
slon't know I'm here. Can you get him
before morning2 I'd Like to see his
face before die. /"
Goskin started mp at the mention Of
the name. He knew Driscoll well.
"He your brother? I'll have him
here in half an hour.
AS he dashed ont into the storm the
musician pressed his hand to his side
and groaned. Goskin heard the word
:. Hurry and sped down the ravine e
Driscoll's cabin.
Ii was quite light In the room when
the two men returned. Driscou was as
pale IS death.
my God I hope he's alive !
wronged him when we lived In England,
twenty wears ago.
They saw the old man had drawn the
blankets over his face. The two stood a
moment. awed by the thought that he
n,iobb he dead. Goskin lifted the blan'
lset ana pulled II down astonished. There
was no one there.
a Gone r cried Driscoll, wildly.
"fSene r echoed Goskin. pulling out
HE cash-drawer. "Ten thousand dol
lars 81 the sack, and the Lord knows
how much loose change In the drawer !
TIL next day the boys got out, foi-
lowe n horses tracks through the snow,
60 .s.a,,, -, Aha trail leading toward