The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-03-02

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wood mad, them almost transparent.
He looked about him once in while,
as if in search of something, and his
presence cast such chill over the place
that it gradually seemed as If this Walt
of the storm had brought in with 1t all
the gloom and cOldnesS of the warning
elements. GOskin. mixing up cup of
hot egg-nOgg, advanced and remarked,
cheeTfully:
"Here, stranger, brace up! This is
the real stuff"
The man drained the cup, smaeked
his lips and seemed more at home.
Been prospecting, eh? Out in the
mOuntains-c caught in the storm? Lively
night, this!'
"Pretty bad, said the man.
"MusU feel pretty dry?"
The man looked at his steam1ng
clothes and laughed, as if GOskin's re-
mark was sarcasm.
"HOw long Out?"
-Four days"
"Hungry~
The man rose up, and walked over TO
the lunch counter, fell to work upon
roast bear, devOuring it like any wild
animal would have done. As meat and
drink and warmth began to penetrate
the stranger, he seemed to expand and
stTaighten up. His features lost their
pallOr, and he grew more and more con-
tent with the idea that he was not in
the grave, As he underwent these
changes, the people about him got
merrier 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 playeTP" he asked,
"Never had any," said GOskln, blush
ing at the confession.
81 used to play when was young.
GOskin almost tainted at the admls-
sion.
stranger, do tackle it, and give us a
tune! Nary man in this camp ever had
the nerve to wrestle with that music
box" His pulse beat faster, for he fear
ed that the man would refuse.
'I'll do the best | can, he said.
There was no stool, but seizing can
die box he drew it up and seated him
self before the instrument. 1t only re p
uuired few seconds for a hush to come
over the room.
"That old coon is going to give the
thing a rattle"
The sight of a man at the piano was
something so unusual that even the
farO-dealer, who was about to take In
a fifty dollar bet on the tray, paused,
and did not reach for the money. Men
stopped drinking, with glasses at their
lips. Conversation appeared to have been
struck with a sort of paralysis, and cards
were no longer shutfled.
The old man brushed back his long,
white locks, looked up to the ceiling
half closed his eyes, and in mystic
sort of reverie passed his fingers over
the KEYS. He touched but single note;
the sound thrilled the room. 1t was the
KEY to his improvisation, and as he WOYe
his chords together, the music laid Its
spell upon every ones ear and heart.
lie felt his way along the keys like
man threading uncertain paths, but
gained confidence as he progressed, and
presently bent to his work like master.
The instrument was not in exact tune,
but the ears of his audience, through
long disuse, did not detect anything rad
ically wrong. They heard succession
of grand chords, a suggestion OF Para-
disc, melodies here and there, and it
was enough.
"See him counter with his left" said
an old rough, enraptured.
The PLAYER wandered off 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 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 blossoms sank through
the soft air to join the viOlets on the
green turf of the New England States;
they saw the glOTies of the Wisconsin
naples and the haze of the Indian sum
meT blending their hues together; and
nf . IL
beat upon their memories vaguely.
Then came all the old Christmas
carols, such as they had sung in church
thirty years before; the subtle music that
brings up the glimmeT of wax tapers,
the solemn shrines, the evergreen, holly,
misletOe and suTpliced chOirs. Then
the remOrseless performer planted his
final stab in every heart with Home,
Sweet Home"
When the player ceased, the crowd
skunk away from him. There was no
more of the revelry elements left in his
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
asleep.
want a little rest"
81 feel tired" the old man said. Per
haps you'll let me rest here for the mat
ter of day OF sop
He walked behind the bar, where
some old blankets were lying, and
stretched himself upon them.
81 feel pretty sick. guess won't
last long. I've got brother down in
the ravfne-his names DriscOll. He
don't know I'm here. Can you get him
before mOrningP I'd like to see his face
once more before 1 die"
Goskin started up at the mention of
the name. He knew DriscOll we'll.
"He your brother? I'll have him here
in half an hour"
As he dashed out into the storm, the
musician pressed his hand to his side
and grOaned. GOskin heard the words
hurry and sped down the raVine tC
DriscOlI's cabin.
1t was quite light in the room wheI
the two men returned, DriscOn was as
pale as death.
"My GOdl I hope he's alive!
wrOnged him when we lived in England
twenty years ago."
They saw the old man had draw
a blanket over his face. The two stOOC
a moment, awed by the thought that h
might be dead. GOskin lifted the blank
ct and pulled itdOwn astOnished. Their
was no one there!
"GoneP' cried DriscOll, wildly.
| aConap, aahnad Goakin milling on