The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-05-28


that this waif of the storm had brought In
with it all the gloom and GOODNESS Of the war
ring elements. Goskin, mixing M cup oil
eggnog, advanced and remarked cheerily
"Hcre, stranger, brace up! THIS is the real
stuff"
The man drained the cup, smacked his lips
and seemed more at home
"Been prospecting. ehs Out in the noun
tains--caught in the storm? Pretty lively
night this"
| "Pretty bad" SAID the man.
Must feel pretty dryw
The man looked ut his streaming clothes
and laughed, rs il Goskin's remark was sar
Icasm.
How long outy'
-Four days"
| "liungryy"
The man rose up, and, walking over to the
lunch counter, fell tn work upon roast bear,
devouring 1t like any wild animal would have
done. As meat and drink and warmth began
to permeate the stranger he seemed to expand
and tighten up. HIS features lost their palor,
and he grew more and more content with the
idea that he vas not IN the grave As he I'm.
derwent these changes the people about him
got merrler and happier, and threw of the
Temporary feeling OF depression which he had
laid upon them.
Presently his eye tell upon the piano.
Where's the player?' he asked.
"Never had any" said Goskin, blushing at
the confession.
IL used to play when was young"
Goskin nearly tainted at the admission.
stranger, do tackle il, and give us tune
Nary man IN Tins camp ever had the nerve to
wrestle with that music box" His pulse beat
faster, for he feared that the man would re.
| fuse.
an do the best can" he SAID
| There was no stool, but seiZing IA candle-boX
he drew it up and seated himself before the
instrument Ii only requires few seconds
| for hush to come over the room.
THAT old coon IL going to give the thing a
rattle"
| The sight Of man at the piano was some
| thing so unusual that even the farodcaler,
who was about to take in fifty dollar bet on
the tray, paused, and did not reach for the
money. Men stopped drinking with the glasses
to their lips. Conversation appeared to have
been struck with a sort of paralysis and cards
were no longer shutiied.
| The old man brushed back his long white
locks, looked up to the ceiling, halfclosed his
eyes, and in a mystic sort of revere passed
his fingers over the keys. He touched but a
single note, yet the sound thrilled the room.
twas the key 10 his improvisation. and "a he
wOvc his chords together the music laid its
spell upon every ear and heart. He tclt his
way along the keys like man trcading un.
certain paths; but he gained confidence in his
| work like "A master. The instrument WAS not
| in exact tune, but the ears of his audience,
through long dlsuse, did not detect anything
radically wrong. They heard succession of
grand chords, suggestion of paradise melo-
dies here ana there, and it was enough.
See HIM counter with his leit! SAID an old
rough, epraptnred.
ale calls the turn every time on the upper
end OF the board" responded a man with a
stack of chips in his hand,
The player wandered off into the old bal
lads he had heard at home All the sad and
melancholy and touching songs, that came up
like dreams of childhood, this unknown play.
er drew from the keys His hands kneaded
their hearts like dough, and squeezed out the
tears as from a wet sponge. As 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 bios.
SONS sank through the soft air to join the vio-
let's oz the green turf of 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
heather of the Scottish hills, the white cliffs
Of Britain, anG heard the sullcn roar OF the
sea as it beat upon their Weakened memories
vaguely.
Then came al The old Christmas carols that
they bad sung in church thirty years before,
the subtle music that brings up the giimmer
of wax tapers the solemn shrlnes, the ever
green holly, mi9tletOe and the surpliced
choirs Then the relentless performer planted
his final stab in every heart with "HoMe,
Sweet Home"
When the player ceased, tue crowd skunk
away from him. There was no more revelry
and element left In bis audience. Each man
wanted to sneak off to his cabin and write the
old folks a letter. The day was breaking as
the last man left the place, and the player,
laying his head down on the piano, fell fast
asleep.
Il say, pard," SAID Goskin, "don't you want
little restr'
II feel tired" the old man said Perhaps
you'll let him rest here for the matter of n day
or So
He walked behind the bar, whore some old
blankets were lying, and stretched himself
upon them.
IL feel pretty sick. ] guess | won't last
long. I've got brother down IN the ravIne
his names Drscoll. lie don't know I'm
here. Can you get HIM here before morningg
III like 20 see ms face just once more before
die"
Go,kln started up at the mention Gf the
name. lie knew Drscol we'll.
lie your brotherY IN lave him here IN
half an hour"
a. he dashed out INTO the storm the muai.
clan pressed his hand to his side ana groaned
Ga4kin heard the word Hurry" aud sped
down the ravnc to DrlScoll's cabin
/; was quite light IN the room when the two
men Eeturned. Driscol was pale AZ death
"My.God! hope he's alive! wronged
him when he lived in England twenty years
ago
They SAW the old man had drawn the ban.
ket over his face. The two stood moment,
awed by the thought that he might be dead.
Goskin lifted the blanket and pulled t down
astonishCt. There was no one therel
"Gone!" c.ied Drscoll, wildly.
Gone" echoed Goskln, pulling oGl his
cash drawer. Ten thousand dollars in the