Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-10-28

IL let MIN In presently.
"Jolceur seems jolly inpatient"
said
"Then open the window little; he'll
come in"
Ibegan to think-I could not help think
ing-that this house, where tie KEYS were
left outside the doors, and tn, sparrows
pecked at the windows for aims, was q
branch of the antique Roman Temple Of
Concordia.
observed Mr.. Joliceur, who first flew
to the ceiling, and then huttered across to
the bed-curtain, stuck his claws into it,
and began twittering with volubility Of
throat that betokened mighty choler in.
deed.
At last Mile. Eva made her entry by
sp-iDging lightly on the floor of the room
an entry to music for the moment her fee.
touched the boards, an invisible piano over.
head executed Hungarian march with re.
markable vigor.
The kestrel was even more pretty than
thought her. She made me formal court
esy, and held out her hand. We sat cere
nioniously down before the cracking wood
she in the arm. chair, on an ordinary chail
widowed of Its back.
"Wbat o'clock is it," she suddenly
asked, glancing at the window, which ad
mitted less light now than flashed from the
fire.
"Four."
"Ah! l understand why Jolicuur was Sc
enraged. But he'll wait for dinner pa
tiently now" she added, pushing bach
with her foot some cinders which had rolled
from the ahdirons.
l looked everywhere for the bird.
Eva laughed mischievously, and said
Guess where he is hid %
At hardly perceptible movement of hel
corsage | OWNED where the selfish Joliceul
was drying his wings.
The piano still resembling overhead,
remarked TO Mile. Eva, indicating the
stethoscope with my hand. You have az
instrument of music here"
That is not a trumpet, as you ma
think, " she answered srtlessly "that il
an instrument used by doctors for listening
to the beating of the heart. 1t belongs t.
my neighbor, M. GARNER, who forgot it the
last time he came up to see me. He is al
present at the Hospital of the Charity, anG
has only one examination more to pass be
fore he is admitted doctor. He is good
hearted gentleman, and is very kind tc
me-"
"You're ailing, then ?" asked l, after g
moments hesitation.
sob, that will not prevent me from be.
ing exact in my attendance at rehearsal, >
she replied quickly, rosy wave coloring
her cheeks. " Yes, some days | feel a
great pain In my chest 1t seems as if my
heart Is mounting to my throat it throbs
so loudly that | iaucy / can hear the noise
of fountain when lay my head ON the
pillow. NJ. GARNER does not give any
medicine for that y; he only tells me must
not dance, or take fatiguing walks, and
that must live as quietly as possible"
"And you follow his advice
She lowered her head, looked into the
flames with an anguished attempt at a
smile, and murmureG, When can Ii
is the old story Of prescribing fruity port
and carriage exercise to paupeIs.
My mouth was shut one cannot make
marvels Of economy on a salary of one
frauc and sixty centimes day.
l thought for moment she was atoat to
relate to me the history of her life, which,
l am free 10 admit, might have destroyed,
in all probability, the little retrospective
romance had alreadysbuilt UP for her in
my mind. did not imagine her to be the
daughter of a Co'onel, assuredly, but
declined to entertain the belief that a re.
tined-lookipg creature, with eyes cleaning
like carbuncles, such type of nose, aud
the hands of Duchess, could be the
daughter OF a coarse vendor OF cakes or
dame de la Halle
She only told me that she was not q
Jewess, as / had supposed that hel
mother lived near Tours, and she had al.
ready appeared on the boards at the De-
easements Co niquss and the Luxembourg
IL was Saturday. | informed her that
she could come to the theater on the fol
lowing Monday to sign an engagement, anC
rose to take my leave.
Daring our conversation the piano haG
not ceased playing, and the artist, under
whose supple fingers the chords were vi
brating, struck up at the moment charm
ing melody, which was new to me. TIL;
touch was mastery, and there was singu
lar alienation of the sweet and the sor
rowful, with an odd burst of what might
be defined as rebellious Joy, in the notes.
Seeing that was listening with pleasure
to the musician, she POINTED to the ceiling
with finger, and said /:
''Tis the Great Green Guzzler," as We
call him; but his real name is Nabal-s
friend OF mine. He is Jew. All he play.
is Of his own composition. He is grea
artist, who is without bread three days ou
OF the seven"
bsthought me OF ladder aud trap
had rosiced on the landing coming ill.,
How were they able to get piano
through that hole?' said l, puzzled t.
solve the geom strical problem.
They hoisted the case Of the instru
ment 70 level with the garrett window
and Nabal, VINO understands all about tn;
mechanism of pianos, took the pieces
asunder aud remounted them inside. L
was a music publisher he works for len
him the piano. He used to give few
lessons month ago but as he has neither
linen nor shoes that can be shown now, ht
hardly ever comes down but early in tn.
morning and after nightfall. The hote
keeper lodges him for the lessons he give.
his little daughter. Nsbal's composition!
are played in nearly all the cafes concert.
but another name is pnt on the bills. On
his is an extraordinary career"
The wretchedness OF the room / was In
must have been luxury to that of the gar
ret. l felt my heart capsized, as our sail
ors say, at what I bad heard.
"Why," / asked, "do they call THU
poor fellow the Great Green Guzzler ?"
"Oh, it's the students who come to th,
cafe below who gave him the nickname be-
cause he drinks huge glasses OF aosintht
and water when he is searching for new
ide.s for his competitions p
There was a knock at the door as sht
finished her explanation.
"Come in y she exclaimed.
a pale face, futed with care-worr
wrinkles and bordered with long blact
locks, fat and shiny, was inserted bstgeer
the half-opened door and the wall.
Come in, Nabal," said she, rising ant
approaching the new conner.
Excuse me for disturbing you. Mile
Eva, said the Great Green Guzzler, throw
ing an oblique glance OF mingled timidity
and defiance in my direction ;; 60 l came tx
ask you TO let me write word on THU
music sheet"
Sine took an inkstand and pen from ;
drawer and pushed the arm chair toward
| him, but ne obstinately refused to be seated
and wrote on his knees az the table ded
ication at the top of & chGnsoanette embel
lished with Autographed frou.ispiece.
Eabai, said Mile. Eva, when he haC
done, % will you be good enough to taxi
my key from below this evening and ligh
my FIRE? l shan't be back till ten, but i
will be as well if the room gets time to b,
warmed before l return"
He made sign OF the head, which served
both for salute and acquiescencs, and went
/ Il. L 4