The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-05-20

the lunch counter, fell to work upon roast
bear, devouring 1t like any wild animal
would have done. As meat and drink and
warmth began 10 permeate the stranger,
be seemed 10 expand and brighten up.
His features lost their pRlloF, and he
grew more and more content with the
idea that he was not In the grave. As
he underwent these changes the people
threw OF the temporary feeling Of de.
preston which he had laid upon them.
Presently his eye fell upon the piano.
"Where's the playefp he asked.
"Nevsr had any" said Goskin, blushing
at the confession.
II used to play when was young"
Goskin almost tainted at the admission
STRANGER, do tackle 1t, and give Us q
tune. Nary man In this camp ever had
the nerve to wrestle with that music box. y
His pulse beat faster, for he feared that
the man would refuse.
an do the best can" he said.
There was no stool, but seizing candle
box, he drew II up and seated himself be.
fore the instrument. Il only required .
lew seconds for hush 10 come over the
room.
THAT old coon isgolng TO give the thing
a rattle"
1.-THE sight Of q man at the piano was
something go unusual that even the faro.
dealer, who was about 10 take in o $50
bet on the tray, paused, and did not reach
for the money. Men stopped drinking
with the glasses at their lips. Converse.
ton appeared 10 have been struck with
sort Of paralysis, and cards were no longer
shutlled.
The old man brushed back his long,
white locks, looked up OF the ceiling, closed
his eyes, and In q mystic sort Of reverle
passed his hngere over the keys. He
touched but single note, yet the sound
thrilled the room. It was the key 10 his
improvisation, and as he wove bis cords
together the music laid its spell upon every
ear and heart. He felt his way along the
keys, like man treading uncertain paths;
but be gained confidence as he progressed;
and presently bent 10 bis work like 0 mas.
ter. The instrument was not In exact
tune, but the ears Of his audience, through
long disuse, did not detect anything radi.
cally wrong. They heard o succession Of
grand chords, q suggestion OF paradise,
melodies here and there, and II was enough.
"see him counter with his left" said an
old rough, enrSptured.
"He calls the turn every time on the
upper end OF the board, " responded man
with stack OF chips In bis band.
The player wandered OF into the old
ballads he had heard at home. All the cad
and melancholy and touching songs, that
came up like dreams Of childhood, this
unknown plsyet drew from the keys.
His hands kneaded their hearts like dough
and squeezsd out the tears as from wet
sponge. AZ the strains flowed one upon
the other, they saw their homes Of the
long ago reared again; they were playing
once more where the apple blossoms sank
through the colt air TO Join the yiolets on
lhe green turf Of the old New England
states they saw the glories Of the Wis.
consin mApleb and the hSzs OF the Indian
sumner blending their hues together;
they saw the heather Of the Scottish bills,
TIE white cliffs OF BEiton, and heard the
sullen roar Of the sea as II beat upon their
memories vaguely. Then came all the old
Christmas carols, such as they had sung In
the church 30 years before; the subtle
music that brings up the glimmer Of wax
taper, the solemn shrines, the evergreen,
holly, tmistletoe and supplied choirs.
Then the remorseless performer planted
his stab In every heat with "Home,
Sweet Home" When the player ceased.
| fhe crowd skunk away from him. There
was no more revelty lett In his audience.
Each man wanted TO sneak of 10 bis cabin
and write the old folks a letter. The. day
was breaking 80 the last man lett the place,
and the player, laying his head down on
the plano, fell asleep.
II say, pafd," hAid GeBkin, don't you
want little reat2"
81 feel tired" the old man said. "Per.
haps you'll let me rest here for the matter
Of 4 day or 3d."
lie walked behind the bar, where some
old blankets were lying, and stretched
himself upon them. sU.
# feel pretty sick. enets won't last
long. I've got A brother down the ravine
his names DfisColl. He don't know
I'm here. Can you get him before morn.
inR7 IA lie 10 see bis lace once more be
fore die"
Gbskin statLed up al The mention Of the
nsne, He knew DrigCnll well. I'd
ale your brother? Ill have him here
In half an hout."
As be dashed out ID the STORM the mu.
sician pressed bis hand 10 bis aide and
gtoaned. Gcskin, heard The VOID Hurry u
and sped down the tavine 10 Dfiscolls
cabin,
Ii was quite light In the room when The
two men returned. DhEcoll was as pale
as death.
INV God hope hes alivsl I wtonsed
4 him when we lived in England, twenty
years ago" .,..
They saw the old man had drawn The
blankets over his face. The two stood
, moment, awed by the thought that he
might be dead, Coekln lifted the blauke
and pulled II down astonlshed. There wa
no zone thefel ~
IGonel" cried Dfiscoll, wildly.
"Conel" echoed Goskln, pulling out hi
easb.dYaWef. "Ten thousand dollats y
he sack, aAd the Lord knows how mucl
io6ee change In the dtawetp
The next day the boys got out, followed
. A hoise,a tracks through the snow, ADJ
lost them in the trail leading togatl
!. ploehe, There was q man missing Iron
llhe camp, Il was the three card mont
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