Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-10-19
going TO defer the rehearsal, and some
body has gone To mako innniriea

words, and then the door opened and a
voice cried down: "Tell Raphaelo that
we'll send back this tuneless old guitar
when he sends us the cello we have
enough kindling wooden hand withoutit
Ha, ha, ha Il"
The meeting then seemed to break up,
and the people dispersed; and then told
Elvira that n large case had arrived, and
was on the floor downstairs.
She coul1 hardly wait for the musicians
to get out of the way, she was in such a
haste to go down, aud in moment or two
we were all in the room where tho huge
instrument lay
"Yepowers! !" exclaimed Ricardo, aghast
at the sight of the case.
Elviras eyes were wide with astonish-
ment. "What is the hateful thing any
way?' she asked, touching it delicately
with her little foot as if she thought it
might bite. "And where did it come
from?"
"a foreign-iooking man, very respect
full, but wholly incomprehensible, left it
about half an hour before L went up
stairs I replied. ut looks like those
monstrous affairs they use in the orches-
tras. Are you sure it is the fashion, Ell
vira, dear?"
|
ing wrathfully at Ricardo, who was chuck
ling over her discontinue. 81 wonder
why they didn't send me brass horn or
a trumpet, she added impatiently.
"Or bass drum" suggested Ricardo.
"Mightn't it possibly be the missing
cello that caused the disturbance up
stairs?" he observed thoughtfully after
his mirth and 'Vira's wrath and my sur
prise had subsidized.
And, MS if in reply, came distinct rap
at the door, and / believe we all started,
as if we thought it had come from some
thing inside the black case. Ricardo
opened the door. There stood large,
fair gentleman, whom he introduced at
once as Professor Felix. The latter bow
ed, us he said, "There has been some
mistake about musical instrument, and
this man here. pointing to an unintelli-
gible foreigner, who stood grinning and
bowling behind him, ''says he left valu-
able cello here to-day by mistake for this
guitar. Will you tell me if this is true?"
Explanations followed, and the gentle
man was about to take his leave when his
eyes fell on Elvira, who was hugging her
recovered treasure with unconcealed rap
ture.
"That pleases you?" he asked, with
surprise.
delights me, enchants me, satisfies
me, she returned. valiantly Drawing his
scorn. '.But when know how to play,
perhaps | shall use it for 'kindling
| wood ="
"My sisters were in my studio, said
Ricardo apologetically, "and heard your
remark. You were talking pretty loud,
you know"
"And, besides" added Elvira, reck-
lessly, 81 had my ear against the wall,
SO as not to lose note of that heavenly
music"
"Ah he looked Modified. "Have
you teacher?'
mot yet"
II am violinist myself" he said smil-
ing, "but understand the guitar as well.
If you require my services at any time 1
shall be happy to become your instruct
or"
"But, professor" Numbered Ricardo,
"you refused half-a-dozen pupils the 9TH
er day, and you told me you didn't mean
to teach any more.
"That was for the VIOLIN" he returned
quickly, while the color deepened in his
fair cheeks cit will be a novelty and a
rest for me to teach the guitar, and-and
in short, make an exception" He bow
ed himself out.
"Well, Elvira,' cried Ricardo, "you
will have every chance Of being in the
mode, for fashion kneels at the feet of
Herr Professor Felix"
His charges will be too nigh" said
Elvira, decidedly, and for while the
matter dropped.
One day, however, the professor hand
ed Ricardo card for his sister, on which
he had written his terms. He offered to
give her lessons for the sum usually ask
ed by ordinary teachers, and his kind
ness was gratefully accepted, Thus it
was that he became first her instructor
and the friend of us all.
"Elvira, said one day, 81 never
should have believed 80 small an instrll-
ment could groan, and twang, and shrek
as that one does Why do you make it
give that weary wall 2"
"That," replied my sister, loftily, ais
the glissando-the slide, if you prefer
English l am practicing it, and although
it hurts the fingers little it is very pref
ty when well done-like scale with the
notes all melted together. But whatever
is the matter with the rubbishy thing"
she continued; 81 have tuned and tuned
till my ear is confused. / wish l might
have had more modern guitar-these
old-fashioned tuning screws must have
been invented when sin first entered the |
world. | ought to have guide to help
me about tuning. Go out and buy me
one, Ricardo won't you?"
Ricardo laid down his book good-na- |
turetlly, took up his hat and said, "What
A tt,p g., IL,
"Tuning-fork - returned Elvira, dis.
dainfnlly. "Tuning-fork indeed A |
pitch-pipe in A."
"Oh y and he departed.
Elvira fused over her instrument until
he came back, which he did very shortly
with heightened color and an amused ex-
preston.
"Only think what did" he exclaimed.
II must have been mixed up between nv
fork and your pipe, for l marched into
the music store around the corner, and
asked the young lady who waits there for
you'll never believe me, but really did
it-for pitchfork y
"You didn't What did she say -
81 verify did. She looked ut me for n
moment, and then gravely asked me if it
was the name of new piece of music or
o song. She hadn't heard of it if it was.
| manrged to explain what 1 meant, and i
hurried out, but not quickly enough to
avoid hearing smothered giggle from
behind the counter. There's your pitch
pipe; catch! T.
We laughed good deal over Ricardo
mistake, SO much Indeed that he became
rather grumpy about it, and took himself
OH to his own room, whittier we followed
him later in the afternoon, with peace.
Offering cake on lovely painted plate.
The professor was playing in the next
room, and Elvira stepped softly up to the
door to listen.
=, Better not lean too heavily against
the next door" cautioned our brother,