Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-05-31


nothing Of music, be had q very poor opin.
ion Of bis cousins attachments, aud, In
deed, he gave Hopkins credit for possess
ing very small ability Of any kind.
We'll" he said, IF you please yourself
don't suppose you do any one any harm
by your little weakness"
Hopkins was unusually silent and seemed
nervous. After looking at him for a little
Dell said:
81 know what you want, Tom. You
would like to look at my Cremona, and you
have asked to see it so often, suppose
you are little shy about asking again. But
you are always welcome to have look at it;
though it Is impossible that it can ever pass
out of my own possession"
So saying, Dell unlocked his cabinet and
placed the Cremons in Hopkins hands.
Hopkins had felt for the last half hour that
! be would not be able to summon up courage
enough to ask for the Cremona, but now his
fingers were again touching its soft, flesh
like texture His violin case lay on the Ia
bic close beside him. Dull had gone to the
FIRE to stir it and put on some fresh coal
! The opportunity was not to be lost, so turn
ing his back to Dell, Hopkins opened his
case, and taking out the violin it contained
he laid the Cremona in its place and shut
| the lid. II is scarcely necessary 10 say that
when Dell returned it was Mr.. Cappers fab
rication that Hopkins was steadily admir-
ing.
The envious little beggar% said Dell to
himself as he noticed the signs Of agitation
in bis cousins face. Hopkins was now
trembling lest his fraud should be discovered
as soon as he handed Dell the fictitious fd
die, and in that case he was prepared to
acknowledge the trick at once and laugh
the matter over as practical joke. By and
BY Dell said:
You have looked at it long enough for
one night; let me lock it up now" and then
he took the fiddle out of his cousins hands
Well might Hopkins tremble now, for Dell
looked at the instrument lovingly. He turn
ed il over in his hands admitting its beauti-
full proportions. How familiar were the
marks that time had traced upon it, He
did not reckon them flaws, and set posl
tive value upon that little worm hole on the
neck, q distinguishing sign by which ne
would have known his Cremona among
thousand, had so many existed. Hopkins
thought be had never seen him pay such
long worship to the true divinity as he now
did to the false image. At last DELL having
stated once more his pride Of ownership
consigned the fiddle to the cabinet. Soon
after Hopkins said he must now go, and
went off carrying his prize. 1t was not,
however, till he reached home and had taken
the Cremona in his hands tuned it and
played on it, that he completely realized the
success OF his manruvre. All the celestial
toue Surely this divine instrument was
lever meant TO lie disused in the possession
Of man destitute Of any appreciation Tor
music. Hopkins stald up all night play
ing, and next day, he LETT his business
ABOUT two o'clock, as he was too unsettled
10 remain longer at his oiiice, BY means OF
| "A little fresh varnish he considerably altered
rhe appearance OF the Cremona, and be had
carefully filed ND the little worm hole, so
II at he was not afraid lest the violin should
re recognised when be took it among his
friends. As he practiced almost necessarily
It Was not surprising that ne acquired iucreas'
- dcxteritv; the magnificent tone OF the
| instrument, too, made him seem better
erformer than be really was 80 that his
| former admirers were now rapturous Iii
heir praises. and one Of the seyeresc critics
~as overheard to say Hopkins is certain!
improving.
A musical amateur who knew both cous-
ms. meeting Dell one day at this time, said,
Hopkins is coming out strong; ! never
knew anyone improve so rapidly. heard
him play a solo the other evening at friend 8
house, and it took very well with critical
audience
81 don't profess to be musical critic,
said Dell, but doubt much whether Hop
krns is capable of doing anything clever. |
Lave very low opinion OF his abilities;
don't know any man Of fewer ideas.
Anyhow, there can be no doubt that ne
has got hold of a very fine Stradivarius, one
Of the richest tones l ever heard; it is said
he gave $500 for it" ,
81 am glad to hear it. Only recently
advised him TO buy Cremona, as he had a
hankering after mine, and WAS always poster
ing me TO sell il. .,
"He has one Of his own now, and grand
one" =, %.
"Maybe, but think know Of better,
said Dell, and he smiled complacently as he
hade his informant good-by.
A few DAYS after this co-versstion an en-
inent French violinist who was performing
in London called on Dell with letter Of in.
production, in order to see the celebrated
violin which had been known by fame to
hun for many years. Deli was highly fiat
tered By his visitor evident interest in the
Cremona, and after RECALLING him with seve-
raj glasses of old port he unlocked the cab
met. No sooner had the Frenchman taken
the fiddle in his hands than he shrugged his
shoulders doubtfully. lie said nothing,
however, but screwed up the strings till they
we're in tune, and then he swept them with
the bow.
Bah" he exclaimed, laying down the
instrument in disgust.
Whats wrong now? asked Dell, highly
dissatisfied with the artists contemptuous
gesture.
"You play me trick, said he Frenchman
lardbing; 1T is mot Italian but German
| n,1cle, what you call copee.
4 so it is onlv copy is it? said Del
Ironically and after all the years it mas
! been in my possession you are the hrst tc
discover il? ! suppose Joachim hash play
a On it and said be never heard such
tone: and l suppose the Duke OF & -
didn't offer me 5000 Tor It!
He was evidently in earnest, so tn
Frenchman took the violin in his hand:
again, and examined it. A short scrutiny
however, satisfied him, and pointing to th'
sound hole as he gave it to the owner, h
ssid: -.
"The violin is new look within this ven
tre.'
Dell was staggered BY the assurance 0
the speaker, and after some twisting he sue
ceeded in holding the fiddle to the light, s
as TO be able to see clearly through the SCUM
holes. Then his experience told him tina
, bis visitor was right; what he held in hi
, hand was only a counterfeit In much be
wilderment he laid down the violin and be
gan to ponder. Gradually his puzzled ex
preston disappeared, and a look Of intelli
rence came into his face. He remembered
the night on which Hopkins had come &C