Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1883-07-07

- must 60 back many years, he sad,
to the time when | was a little lad, foot
sore and friendless. Nay, rot triendless
| lad one friend-a poor little piece OF wooo
with strings across il; bat | forgot it was
wood. In my hours of loneliness and 1-itf
and sadnesa, | would talk 70 it, and then, by
idly drawing my bow across The str ngs, it
would answer me All no one would have
believed it but myself, but It painted to NE
the future-it tod ne al that might be. l.
whispered COURAGE breathed hope. Well
one day s~frolliny through the streets, touch
ing its chords, asking no alns-l never
hegsei-a boy older than |, taller, stronger.
a boy richly dressed, and with a gold ehain,
hanging at his vest, stopped and mockel
me. | walked on silently. He followed
me, and, in an unp,epared moment snatch
ed my violin, and s%narping it across MS
knee, threw it into the filth end mud of be
street.
Il was stunned. The magnitude Of ny
loss overwhelmed me. The SURFING tide of
my despair closed in about my soul. | saw
neither earth nor ~sky-naught save the
shattered, voiceless wood. Then he who
me a coin. 1t reused me from my stupor
I caught and hurled it back. Not thus might
he ray the debt that | owed to him..
In that moment a carriage passed
Seated within was a beautiful child-a little
girl. She ordered the coachman to stop,
Sic had seen nothing Of what had happ.k-
ed. She inquired the cause Of my distress,
Then, with tender PITY in her eyes, and a
voice like music, she put her purse into my
hands and babe me use its contents ss !
would. Some day. she said, when You are
"a great musician, you shall repay me. Who
knows? you may play ct nv wedding"
The girls head was bowed now H!
bosom rose and fell. Two sparkling tears
g!immered on the lashes which swept hef
cheek. Like a dream it all came back te
her; like a vision, she saw the boyish face
uplifted to hers through a mist of tears.
Herr Seiberg strobe to her side. he pu'
his hand within his coat and drew some-
thing forth. Instinctively she knew it tc
be a little purse.
1T has never left ne" be said, h~oarsely
II owe all that | am to you. The gulf be.
tween US is as wide now as then. | have
never hoped to cross it. You are the heir
ess of a rich man. |, too, have wealth, ba:
that cannot wipe out the spot. Let me tel
you, though, what did. | took your mon
ey and bought my violin. The man wh'
sold it to me had q kindly face, and VIE,
| paid him for it'll asked him for a ia
vor.
The money with which | purchased thi
was lent to me, | said. | would like-oh
0 very much.-to keep this same gold. WI
you lay it aside for three months, when
but will save every penny | earn, if yo
will but do this COR me"
The man smiled and consented"
He marked the gold within my sight an
laid it away. Within the time | had re
!; gained possession Of it. 1t is here, Mi.
Laurence. 1t seems a trihing sun, now, t
: both of rs. but remember that it bis mad
me oil that | am. Yet its payment does n,
: pay my debt. You said that perhaps
a might play at your wedding. Command II
aud | obey. even though | thus forswear II
IS second debt to the boy, who, a second tin
in my manhood, causes me the deepest 10
n cry my life has known"
II he paused, and held outstre;ched toxal
her the open purse. His face was like ma
bic; his eyes shone with a wonderful fire.
of what are you speaking?' she sal
gently. Whom am l to marry
Last night he told me you were his ).
trothed."
r. HE? Who9'
1t Fairfax Farley"
,, 1T is no. true. He has wished it so b
u | dldno. know my heart, and asked .ba,
h should wait. know tia. ii can nc ever /
r. Carl, you spoke OF a gull betveen ia. Is
y one that love will not BRIDGE
The next night, FAitax Farley aud Es
GO Seiberg met.
You have decided asked the "a
ID ner.
'Itisimposslble." Carl replied, 'bu, sir
81 Tou so kindly have asked me 10 play
your wedding. may | no, ask you 10 dar
a st miner