River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-03-31

ed IN amaZement, Tor ne naQ seen no
musical instrument about the place, he
began to realize that it was part of
Strauss artist life waltzGs that he heard
"a strain that he often whistled. He
stepped round the jutting of the cliff
and there, leaning against the granite
wall, was Lizzie, her chin dropped
carelessly on little red violin, as she
drew the bow across the strings. She
flushed like guilty thing when she
saw Mcintyre.
"You whistled that the other cay"
she faltered, "and liked it so much
it haunted me ali the time"
He stepped forward.
'tWhy, Lizzie! Is it possible you play
like that without notes."
Il don't play much now" she said,
drawing her dark brows over her eyes.
"a party of ladies and gentlemen came
here to visit the lighthouse, once, and
overheard me playing. l heard one of
the ladies say, The idea OF girl with
q fddlep So ] thought perhaps it didn't
look we'll
.Not look well, indeedr' and he
laughed in merry scorn. "Why, child,
did you ever hear of Camilla Urso?"
NO"
"Well, she is lady, and she makes
the most exquisite music on fiddle
and thousands of people go to hear
her. Why, Camilla Urso herself would
listen with pleasure to your music,
Lizzie said Mcintyre, extravagantly.
"Who taught you to play?'
mo one. This violin belonged to
my father, and he learned me how to
tune it. / pick up tunes that / hear,
but l never heard anything half SO
beautiful a the things / hear you sing
and whistle"
Mcintyre smiled; his repertoire of
music consisted of snatches of operas,
waltzes, redowas and German airs,
which had dimly associated in his
mind with nights of brilliant gayety;
and he wondered dreamily how this
pure minded, healthy-souled girl would
look upon the elegant dissipation car
ried on by the set of which he was the
favorite. A sudden glow warmed his
heart as he thought that not one of the
fine ladies who had swung languidly
through the maZes of that very waltz of
the great composers could have res
cued him so bravely from the jaws of
death as Lizzie had-Lizzie, who stood
there so quietly, with her little violin
hanging from her breast, and her fin
gers straying lovingly over the strings.
Tell me about Camilla Urso," she
said presently. ''Did you ever hear
her play?"
YES, indeed l have a paper in
my trunk containing little sketch of
her life, which you may read for your
self, and which will tell you better than
| can of her talent"
For a moment Lizzie's ewes met his
own, look of shame and distress gath
ering in them.
''Mr. Mcintyre, that will be of no
use-I cannot read"
"Lizzie !"
Her violin slipped from her grasp
and would have fallen to the ground
had not Mcintyre caught it, and she
covered her face with both hands.
But Lizzie" persisted her compan-
ion, I'D some perplexity, 81 do not UNI
derstand. There are good puplic
schools in the city, and surely your
father must have known that it was
his duty to give girl like you an ed
ucation, to say nothing of Neddie, who
is growing up such a splendid young
fellow"
at is very kind Of you to say such
things of Neddie and me, we are COM
mon people, and ours is a common
life. Neddie did spend two years with
our uncle who lives in York state. He
went to school there. But father
doesn't think much of book learning.
Aunt Jane never had time to help me,
and Neddie is too restless to keep still
long enough, | suppose" She csntin-
ued quantity, "You who live out in the
world look at these things in different
way; but know of many who are just
where am. Why, there is whole
family on that island" pointing to
tiny speck away to the eastward, who
cannot read or write. Once in three
months, perhaps, they go to the main
land scarcely ever go. suppose shall
always live here, and | am contented-
| think" and look of doubt gathered
in her eyes; sat least was. But late
" have wished so much that | could
read and had books-for it is so lonely
here in the winter"
"Well, dear child,' said the young
man gently, this gives me the privilege
of paying my debts, doesn't it,"
''Your debts?" echoed Lizzie in sur
prise.
Certainly. Did you not fish me
out of the water a week ago? Well,
now you shall put your six feet ofdrlft-
wood to some service. / will teach you
to read and to write"
After that Mcintyre proved the most
faithful of teachers, and his pupil
made steady progress in her lessons.
Neither was the violin any longer in
disgrace Lizzie played to attentive
ears while learning deeper lesson
than either at first realized. Mcintyre
was the first to wake up. He was
man ofthe world, and understood him.
self or thought he did, thoroughly.
Accordingly he started, one morning
for stroll along the beach to think 1t
all over.
Gas the case now stands" he solilo-
quized, as he lit a cigar and threw
away the match, sit is either Lizzie or
the world; and | confess, the world has
charms for me-" Then came a thought
which caused his heart TO beat faster,
ana sent lHp nOJ DlOOu W Ills DION.
But he shook his broad shoulders in
dignantly, and lifted his hat to let the
cool sea-breeze sweep through his hair,
II must be a greater scoundrel than |
am to work so great a wrong on that
dear girl. Gaith!" and he laughed in
bitter scom of himself, that would be
n fine way to recompense her for saw
ing my life She might better have
left me to feed the fishes! Could take
her home with me rs my wife?"
His gaze wandered absently over the
swelling waves, and fingered on a far
off sail that dipped and rose, dipped
again, until it sank below the horizon.
His lip curled involuntarily as he
thought of the delicate ladies in his set,
and how wretched they would make
the poor girls life in their Own high
bred fashion. No-but would they,
thought"
4 faint amusement fingered in his
face as he recalled Lizzie's rather state
" carriage and stately dignity that re-
deemed her from being commonplace.
He laughed out.
1T would be fun to see her among
all these peacocks. Poor Lizziel What