The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-10-11

buJ uuuernehJn tairIhA hrley 3
courteous calm was seething mael-
strom, a burning jealousy.
Two weeks later, he waited outside
Miss Laurence's home until Herr Sci
berg stood on the steps, In the moon
light. He had been passing the evening
with her. The two had dlned at her
table. An hour before, Mr.. Farley had
made his adleux.
"Herr Seibergl' ~
1t was bis voice, addressing the young
musician.
EYES," he responded, his surprise
showing in his tone.
~ have waited for you" continued
Mr.. Farley, Sin order to ask of you
favor. 1t is a great favor, but money
need be no object between us. L am
willing to pay you any price, however
fabulous and although / know 1t is
quite out of your line, / want very much
that you should play one solo at my
wedding"
In the moonlight, Herr Seiberg's face
showed strange pallor.
"At your wedding You are to be
married May inquire to whom 20
"Miss Lawrence is my betrothed. Had
you not heard Y''
Both in question and answer rang
strained intensity; but the silence that
followed had in its dumbness more force
than either. Then Herr Seiberg spoke.
(tTno ,srl, nj IL
shall have my decision," he said, and
rapidly strobe away.
Before noon, the day following, Miss
Laurence received Herr Seiberg's card
Penciled on it were these words
"Pardon my intrusion, and grant me
halfhour's interview in which to bid
you FAREWELL
Farewell There was a certain Spas
modic fluttering of her heart as she dim
ly realized its purport.
What did this sudden departure por-
tend and why-aOhy did it cause this
faint sickness, which stole through every
pulse and fibre of her being?
''Show Herr Seiberg up" she said to
the servant; then, schooling herself to
be calm, sat awaiting him.
On the threshold of the room he paus-
ed.
"You asked me once, Miss Laurence"
he began, 'the story my violin told on
the night we met. Ianswered that some
time you should know. Would it weary
vOu tn hear it nou ~
She bowed assent, and motioned to a
chair but he still stood.
~ must go back many years, he said,
ITO the time VIII en- / was little lad,
foot-sore and friendless. Nay not friend
lessl / had one friend-a poor little
piece of wood, with strings across it;
but forgot that it was wood. In my
hours of loneliness and grief, and sad
ness, L would talk to it, and then by idly
drawing my bow across its strings, it
would answer me. All, no one would
have believed it but myself, but it paint
ed to me the future-it told me all that L
might be - it whispered courage = it
breathed hope. Well, one day, strolling
through the streets, touching its chords,
asking no alms-I never begged-a boy
older than /, taller, stronger, boy rich
ly dressed, and with gold chain hang
ing at his vest, stopped and Knocked me.
walked on silently. He followed me,
and, in an unprepared moment, snatch
ed my violin, and swapping it across his
knee, threw it in the filth and mud of
the street.
81 was stunned. The magnitude of
my loss overwhelmed me. The surging
tide of my despair closed in about my
soul. L saw neither earth nor sky
naught save the shattered, voiceless
wood. Then he who had wrought the
wanton, wicked act, threw me coin.
1t reused me from my stupor. caught
and hurled it back. Not thus might he
pay the debt owed to him.
"In that moment carriage passed.
Seated within was beautiful child--a
little girl. She ordered the coachman to
stop. She had seen something of what
had happened. She inquired the cause
of my distress. Then, with a tender
pity in her eyes, and voice like music,
she put her purse into my hands and
bade me use its contents as would.
"'Some day, she said, when you are
a great musician, you shall repay me.
Who knows ? you may play at my we'd
ding p"
The girls head was bowed now. Her
bosom rose and fell. Two sparkling
tears glimmered ON the lashes which