The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1881-04-15

cheerfuIly:
Here, stranger, brace up! This is
the real stuff"
The man drained the cup, smacked his
lips, and seemed more at home.
been prospecting, Ell? Out in the
mountains-caught in the storms Live
/ ly night, thisl''
"Pretty bad" said the man.
Must feel pretty dry 90
| The man looked at his streaming
clothes and laughed, as if Goskin's re-
mark was q sarcasm.
How long Outr'
Four days"
"HungrYs"
The man rose up, and walking over
TO the lunch counter, fell to work upon
roast bear, devouring it like any wild
| animal would have done. As meat and
drink and warmth began TO penetrate
the stranger, he seemed to expand and
straighten up. His features lost their
palor, and he grew more and more con-
tent with the idea that he was not in the
grave. As he underwent these changes
the 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.
Il used to play when was young"
Goskin almost tainted at the admIs-
sion
<sStranger, do tackle it, and give US a
tunei Nary man in this camp ever had
the nerve 10 wrestle with that music
box" His pulse beat faster, for he fear
ed that the man would refuse.
IN do the best can" he said.
There was no stool, but seizing can
die box, he drew it up and seated himself
before the instrument. 1t only required
few seconds for hush to come over
the room.
THAT old coon's going to give the
thing a rattle"
The sight of man at the piano was
something so unusual that even the faro
dealer, who was about to take in fifty
dollar bet on the ace, paused. and did
not reach for the money. Men stopped
drinking, with glasses at their lips.
Con Tersation appeared to have been
struck with sort of paralysis, and cards
were no longer shuffied.
The old man brushed back his long,
white locks, looked up to the ceiling,
half closed his eyes, and in a mystic
sort of reverie passed his fingers over
| the keyes. 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 its spell upon every ear and heart.
He felt his way along the keys, like a
man treading uncertain paths; but he
| gained confidence as he progressed, and
| presently bent &c, his work like mas
ter. The instrument was not in exact
tune, but the ears of his audience,
through long disuse, did not detect any
thing radically wrong. They heard q
succession of grand chords, suggestion
of paradise, 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
| upper end of the board" responded a
man with stack of chips in his hand.
The player wandered off into the old
ballads he had heard at home. All the
sad and melancholy and touching songs
that came up like dreams of childhood,
this unknown player drew from the
| KEYS. His hand kneaded their hearts
like dough, and squeezed out the tears
as from wet sponge. As the strains
flowed one upon the other, they saw their
homes of long ago reared again; they
were playing once more where the ap-
pie blossoms sank through the soft air
u JOIN Ju0 flOlGtS Ou TIC green lu4t Vi
the old New England states; they saw
the glories of the Wisconsin NAPLES and
the haze of the Indian summer blending
their hues together; they saw the heath
| er of the Scottish hills, the white cliffs
of the Briton, and heard the sullen roaI
of the sea as it beat upon their memories
vaguely.
Then came all the old Christmas car.
OILS, such as they had sung in the church
thirty years before; the subtle music thai
brings up the glimmer of wax tapers
the solemn shrines, the evergreen, holly
mistletoe and surpliced chOirs. Then
! the remorseless performer planted his
final stab in every heart with Home
Sweet Home"
When the player ceased, the crowd
skunk away from him. There was none
of the revelry element left in his au
dience. Each man wanted to sneak of
to his cabin and write the old folks let
ter. The day was breaking as the last
man left the place, and the player, lay
ing his head down on the piano, fell
asleep.
II say, pard," said Goskin, don't you
want little rest2,
81 feel tired" the old man said. "Per.
haps you'll let me rest here for the mat
ter of day or sop
He walked behind the bar, where
some old blankets were lying, and
stretched himself upon them.
81 feel pretty sick. l guess Wont
last long. I've got brother down in
the ravine-his names Driscoll. He
don't know I'm here. Can you get him
before morning? I'd like TO see his face
once more before die"
Goskin started at the mention of thu
name. He knew Driscoll we'll.
III he
in half an hour''
As he dashed out into the storm, the
musician pressed his hands to his side
and groaned. Goskin heard the word
"Hurryw and sped down the ravine IL
Driscoll's cabin.
1t was quite light in the room wher
the two men returned. Driscoll wa:
pale as death.
"My Godl 1 hope he is alive wrong
ed him when we lived in England, TWEEN
ty years ago.
blankets over his face. The two stood
moment, awed by the thought that ht
might be dead. Goskin lifted thu
blanket and pulled it down astonished
/ There was no one there!
: 'Gone!" cried Driscoll wildly.
"Gonen echoed Goskin, pulling GU
, the drawer. "Ten thousand dol
lars in the sack, and the Lord know
: how much loose change in the drawer !!
The next day the boys got out, follow
! ed horses track through the snow ant
: lost them in the trail leading toward
Phoebe.
: There was a man missing from tn
camp. 1t was the three-card monte mar
who used to deny point-blank that h
could play the scale. One day the
found wig of white hair, and called +
7 mind when the stranger" had pushe
: those locks back when he looked towar'
t the ceiling for inspiration, on the nigh