Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-09-09
AFTER MANY DAYS.

In the mud, WORTHLESS pleCs VI "ooHi
rldely snapped in twain, with q few
loose fragments Of strings, soundless
yojceless vet beside it, as reyerently a.
though bending over something hu-
,aan that had died-with passionate
burst of grief, as for some dearly-loved
friend llnelt little lad Of some thlr-
teen summers.
put from the mud, with tender
caressiug touch, he lifted up the shat
tered remnants, his tears falling the
while thick and fast, his slight frame
convulsed with the sobs which would
not lie rcpresscd.
IL made no cutlery, but his face was
white with tile anguish Of despair. He
lad lost his all the friend to whom he
poured ont al his woes; the compan-
ion Who until now, never had failed
him, his second, better, noDlcr self.
Not many PAGES distant on the side
walk stood tile pcrpetrator Of the out
rage. sort of underlined remorse gnaw-
inp within Ills breast. From mere
hravado lie had wrcnched from the
hanGs of the little musician his lnstfl-
mrnt ana broken IL across his knee,
throwing the pieces in the mud.
Realizing lmly that he had commits
.d Il coward and Il bully's act, he took
from his pocket 4 small coin and tossed
il toward tile hoy.
Iakc that, he cried, 'and stop your
whimpefing. "You We got no business
Il Hay your music III the public streets.
You're 4 heggar and 4 nuisance.
But In III instant, with flashing eyes
ana lcad thrown proudly back, the lit
Tic street Arab bud lung the money
back.
oYou think you can pay me thus 4
he replied, IL frenzied tones. 1t Is
who awe yol L debt ! yet will live 10
wipe orl
They stood one instant looking steadi-
m INTO each others eyes one the sen
or of tic other by some three or four
years, tall and powerful. clad in broad
clothan,l lime linen one i little, shrink
ing lad, his ragged clothes hespattercd
With mud of the streets.
At this moment III open carriage
rolled ~, bit the little girl seated with.
III II had, with hcr quick eyes, discover
Cd something amiss.
size lad seen tie disdainful return Of
Ill, rejected com; Size lad heard the
boys words she had marked the traces
IL i passionate grief upon lis Face
and, with il hasly command to the
c0aclnran G. stop, She called INN e
her
"Whal are yml about e. 10, Miss 81.
ma f. questioned the lady with her
her soverness.
Nothing naughty, dear Miss Irwin,
She replied This poor 10y see, his
yiolil il broken ! am 50 sorry foi
HIM
The iad lad slowly approached the
carriage, IN obedience ~ her command
hut thcrr was 10 light III his face, nu
eagcfrcss III Ills step.
How did tins happen a asked the
little girl.
Carl looked III. Was this M ango
mho spoke 10 hun IL had never
seen anyone half q lovely. Her hail
Heated about hcr shoulders IL shower
81 gold and resting on i was white
lat. With Il hong white plttmc dropping
lnr down behind, hcr eyes were Ike
Two purple pansits; IN her check was
III, tlush of thr sunrise; her lips were
III rcd An tie eanalion, though they
qlivcred with her unspoken sympa
thy.
Tie boy bold an the broken pieces 81
his violin.
III was ny all, lie said Il shall
laryo now, hut am glad of that, fol
| lid not leyelt only that il brought
no bread loved il loved Il he
oausr i talked e. me, and with i was
never lonely
Rnt ta. YOU MT lmy another
II have 10 money, mss. | can ncv-
III make enough SINCE this has gone.
had hoped one day 10 buy something
better than this, Int now the day vii
never Gomez"
4 sl,ade sc thoughtfulncss crent over
thc sweet. fair face In the llttl,
glyed hand she held tiny purse. and
within i three bright, ghttcrlng gold
pieces sh,nc they were to pnrchas,
4 coveted doll, her fond fathers birth
day rift
She turned hastily to her goycrncss
Please, Miss Irwin, do you Trims
papa would ~ disrleased if | do not
hny my deHa No, ~ know y,
would not
Then. Waiting for no reply, Sill,
pressed the purse into the boys hands
Go buy your violin, She said. Ne
you must not return this rs you re
turned tlle other money but som,
day. When vou are L great musician
you shall repay me, Who knows yet
may play II MY wedding.
and, NTH little light laugh, is iii,
carriage started forward, tie child
With 4 wave II her hand disappeared
The huv stood mntionless, Wrappe,
ii i sort af ecstasy. No doubt that i.
Scrit:thlc angel had visited HIM. crosset
his mind Had lie been dreaming
Nh. for WITHIN his land Ivy the daint,
little purse Opening il Amos, Will
reverence, tile shining pieces IF sol,
met ms ga7c. hut something else Il
we'll i little piece Of pasteboard, am
upon Il written name and address
Tie Ind lifted il IL his lips.
elt IS another debt owe, he san
softly 50 himself,
Fen years later, and on !, bright stal
iii night IN january, the New Gor
Academy ST Music was filled from pi
~ dome The great violinist, Her
tarl Seiherg WAS IS appear. lie wa
very Young. not twenty-three. the crit
les sad, and vet hc had reached the q,
nth Of his fame \ great wave Of NJ
plause greeted linn il lie came forwar
~ the center ot TIE stage. lie was "a
hut slight With large, dreamy eyes, an
mouth whose SensitivenesS tho blond
monstache could not wholly hid,
With i soft. caresSing motion, he DIRE
the bow across the strings. An almos
human Voice af exquisite melod
seemed to respond The house held il
breath 81 listen
Ia one al the lower proscenium hoxt
sat i Young SRI of nineteen. She wor
nn hat and in her golden hair ther
cleaned diamond star. She W.
beautiful with i rare loyclincSs. Their
WIS liz talror face In all that Crowde
aSsemhlagc Behind her, leaning q
the back of her chair, vas y young ma
whose gaze of rapt admiration nev,
Withdrew itSclf-a man of super
height and breadth If form, and wit
eyes and hair dark rs the night-ey'
which gloMed with feeling rs they dive
upon her face, for the hope neare
Fairfax Farley's heart was to win Il
woman for hls Wife
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