Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-10-31

ous calm was seething maelstrom,
burning jealousy.
Two weeks later, he waited outside
Miss Laurence home until Herr Sci
berg stood on the steps, in the moon
light. He had been passing the even
ing with her. The two had dined at
her table. An hour before, Mr.. Farley
had made his adieux.
"Herr seibergl
1t was his voice, addressing the mu-
sician.
"Yes," he responded, his surprise
showing in his tone.
81 have waited for you," continued
Mr.. Farley, ''in order to ask of you a
favor, but money need be no object be-
tween US. l am willing to pay you any
price, however fabulous; and although
know it is out of your line, | want
very much that you should play one solo
at my wedding"
In the moonlight Herr Seiberg's face
showed strange pallor.
'At your wedding! You are to be
married? May inquire to whom?"
"Miss Laurence is my betrothed.
Had you not heard %
Both in question and answer rang a
strained intensity: but the silence that
followed had in its dumbness more force
than either. Then Herr Seiberg spoke.
Tomorrow night, at this hour, you
shall have my decision" he said, and
rapidly strobe away.
Before noon, the day following, Miss
Laurence received Herr Seiberg's card.
Penciled on it were these words:
pardon my intrusion, and grant me
half-hour's interview in which to bid
you farewell"
Farewell! There was a certain spas
modic futtering of the heart as she dim
Iy realized its import.
What did this sudden departure por-
tend ? and why-why did it cause this
faint sickness, which stole through her
every pulse and fibre of her heart
"Show Herr Seiberg up" she said to
the servant; then, schooling herself to
be calm, sat awaiting him.
On the threshold of the room be
paused.
"You asked me once, Miss Laurence, y
he began, 'the story my violin told on
the night We met. L answered you thai
sometime you should know. Would il
weary you to hear it now?"
She bowed assent and motioned to &
chair. but he still stood.
al must go back many years." ht
said, 'to the time when l was little
lad, footsore and friendless. Nay, no
friendless | had one friend-a poo
little piece of wood, with strings across
it; but [ forgot that it was wood. Ii
my hours of loneliness, and grief. anC
sadness, would talk to it, and then, b.
idly drawing the bow across the strings
s it would answer me. Ah, no one bu
myself would have believed it, but i
,o;rtoJ ~ mo Tho f,fpro ~ fo1d poa n I
that might be. 1t whispered courag
it breathed hope. Well, one day
strolling through the streets, touching
= its chords, asking no alms-I never beg
ged-,a boy older than |, taller, strong
er, boy richly dressed, and with gol
: chain hanging at his vest, stopped AM
mocked me- walked on silently. H
followed me, and in an unprepared me
f ment, snatched my violin, and, snappin
: it across his knee, threw it into the fit
and mud of the street.
II was stunned. The magnitude c
! my loss overwhelmed me. The surgin
/ tide of my despair closed in about N
q soul. l saw neither earth nor sky
naught save the shattered, voiceles
wood Then he who had wrought th
wanton, wicked act, threw me coil
9 1t reused me from my stupor caugf
and hurled it back. Not thus might b
pay the debt / owed to him.
II cat that moment carriage passed
), Seated within was beautiful child
Il little girl. She ordered the coachma
= to stop. She had seen something (
what had happened. She inquired tt
70 cause of my distress. Then with tel
,e der pity in her eyes, and voice lii
,r music, she put her purse into my hant
and bade me use its contents as woul
m Some day. she said. when you al
great musician, you shall repay m
IL Who knows? You may play at n
s. wedding"
The girls head was bowed now. HI
bosom rose and fell. Two sparklir
tears glimmered on the lashes whi'
II swept her cheek. Like dream it q
" came back to her; like vision she sa
the boyish face upliftcd to hers thrOut
mist of tears.
id Herr Seiberg strode to her side. /
DO put his hand within his coat and drt
something forth. Instinctively s
knew it to be the little purse.
an "It has never left me, he said hoar:
ly. IL owe all that am to you. L
ur gulf between us is as wide now as the