Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-04-22
IZU Reward
To q Compliant Pianer Player.

| they became aware of the presence OF
a white-haired man crouching near the
fireplace. His garments, such as were
| left, were wet with melting snow, and
he had half-starved, half-crazed ex-
preston. He held his thin, trembling
hands toward the fire, and the light Of
| the blazing wood made them almost
| transparent.
| He looked about him once and awhile
as If in search of something, and his
presence cast such a chill over the
place that gradually the sonnd OF revel-
ry was hushed, and it seemed that this
waif of the storm had brought in with
it all the gloom and GOODNESS of the
warning elements. Goskin, mixing up
a cup Of hot egg-nog, advanced and re-
marked, cheerfully:
| "Here, stranger, brace up This il
the real stuff"
The man drained the cup, smacked
hig lips, and seemed more at hcme.
Been prospecting, eh? Out in the
mountains-caught in the storm
Lively night, thisr' ~.
'Pretty bad, said the man.
Must feel pretty dry"
The man looked at his streaming
clothes and laughed, us if Goskin's re
mark was u sarcasm.
Glow long OUT"
"Four days"
Hungry"
The man rose up, and, walking over
to the lunch counter, fell to work upon
roast bear, devouring it as any wild
animal would have done. AS meat,
and drink and warmth began to pene-
trate the stranger. he seemed to ex-
pand and straighten up. His features
lost their pallor, and he grew more and
more content that he was not III 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
'sNever had any," said Goskin, blush
ing at the confession
Il used 70 play some when | was
young"
Goskin almost tainted at the ad-
mission.
Stranger, do tackle It, and give us
tune. Nary man in this camp ever
had the nerve to wrestle with that mu-
sic-box." His pulse beat faster, for he
feared that the man would refuse.
sPll do the best | can, he said,
There was no stool, but Selling can
dle-box, he drew it up and seated him
self before the instrument. 1t only re-
quired u few seconds for Il hush to
come over the room.
"That old coon is going to give the
| thing rattle"
The sight of man at the piano was
something so unusual that even the
faro-dealer, who was just about to take
in $50 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 sort of para
lysis, and cards no longer were shnf-
! fled
The old mln brushed back his long
white locks, looked up to the ceiling,
] half closed his eyes, and in II very
mystic sort of reverie passed his I'm
gers over the keys. He touched but Il
l. q,
room 1t was the key to his improviS-
alton and is lie wovc his cho DIS to-
gether the music laid its spell upon ear
and heart He felt his way along the
keys, like man treading uncertain
paths; but he gained confidence as he
progressed. and he presently bent to
/ his work like master. The instrll-
ment was not in exact tune; but the
ears of his audience, through long dis
use, did not detect anything radically
wrong. They heard Il succession OF
grand chords, 4 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 Il
man with stack of chips in his hand.
The player wandered of, 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 II wet sponge.
As the strains flowed one upon the 9TH
er. they saw their homes of the long
ago reared again; they were playing
once more where the apple blossoms
sank through the soft mir to ION the
violets. on the green turf Of the old
New England State; they saw the glo-
ries Of the Wisconsin naples and the
haze of the Indian summer blending
their hues together; they saw the heath
er of their Scottish Hills, the white
cliffs of the Briton, and heard the sui
len roar of the sea rs it beat upon their
memories vaguely.
Then came all the Christmas carols,
such as they had sung III church thirty
years before; the subtle music that
brings up the glimmer Of wax tapers.
the solemn shrines, the evergreens.
holly, mistleto and surpliced choirs.
Then the remorseless performer plant
ed this final stab in every heart with
Home, Sweet Home"
When the player ceased the crowd
skunk away from him. There was no
more revelry and element left in his
audience Each man wanted to sneak
off to his cabin and write the old folks
letter The day was breaking Is the
last man left the place and the player
laying his head down on the piano, fell
asleep.
Il say, pard,' said Goskin, don't
you want little rest?'
II feel tired" the old man said. Per
haps you'll let me rest here for the
matter Of day or so?"
He walked behind the bar. where
some old blankets were laying, and
stretched himself upon them
Il feel pretty sick. | guess ! wont
last long long. got brother down ii
the ravine-his names Driscoll. He
don't know I'm here. Can you get him
before morning? I'd like to see him be
fore / die
Goskin started up at the mention O
the name He knew Driscon well.
HE your brother? I'll have hin
here in half an hour"
4 As he dashed out into the storm, thu
musician pressed his hand to his sid,
] and groaned. Goskin heard the wore