Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1885-09-12
Music and IIaJrlmony.

When "hoating' young man Of
'hIrty years ha~ sister Of eighteen ready
10 graduate from the boarding school
NEich has conveniently swallowed her
"p for the last eight years what is he to
do with her. This was The question that
IuzzIcd Frank Curtis. He remembered
h1s sister as very pretty little girl,
though he had not seen her Tor three
wears There was no help for it, Frank
aaw that matrmony for him was imrn;-
#ncut
AboH this time he made a trip with
the. Cutler family; they were rich an /
f"lf-made, worshiping their maker, and
the hoNschold consisted Of father, moth
er, aud daughter, still under twenty-f fvc.
Joseph Cutler. Of Cutter Sheffield {. Co..
'oS rcputcd worth -, 600, 600 oCswhich
one at least the golden youth hoped
Wou3N bc >ottlcd on his daughter Lizzie
- bride. Not very clever, not very
pretty, She at least knew that her money
could buy hcr whatever she wanted in
1he way Of y husband, and she was con
tent to wait until chance should bring
hor the man who most nearly rcscmblcd
her ideal.
Frank Curtis wooing was brief after
he had once decided that Lizzie Cutters
money would provide u luxurious home
for himself and his sister. He had a
small income of his own, and was con.
sldercd clever in his profession Con-
EratuIatIons began TO pour in thick and
fast on the pair when hundred thou
sand dollar house began to rise at Mr.
Cutters expense to be ready for the
young couple on their return from their
bridal trip. They were to take in Clara
Curtis commencement as they travelled
and bring her home with them.
Frank was ngrccahIy surprised at his
sisters appearance when he and his bride
arrived at her school. In vague. mascu-
line way he felt that She and Lizzie did
not seem very congenial, but he supposed
that would wear off after a-lttIc
"Of course YOU are coming 70 night, "
said Clara. ITS our concert 81 play, "
she continued, dmpline and bIushing,
"a Duct for violin and piano with Mr..
Heldmann,"
Frank nodded He was fond Of mu
sic, and, to sit through IA whole evening
of school girl playing and singing was a
sacrifice on the altar Of fratcrnal atfcc-
tion and the proprietes. As for Lizzie
she always frankly avowed that good
music sent her to sleep. But she be
came suddenly attentive and 20 did
Frank, when Clara appeared with the
violin and the professor took the piano
Frank heard genius in the moaning and
walhng under her hands of that most
perfect instrument. II she had been
pretty before. she became transtigured
now. He wondered how she felt, stand
ing before all those people of whom.
perhaps, not one in ten understood what
she WAS PLAYING But tne novelty Of the
thing. the sweet face lovingly pressed
against the violin, the delicate fingers
dashiug over the strings, brought dogn
the house She was the success If the
evening. and had her first taste Of that
Intoxicating dr.nA-thc applause If the
multitude.
Il congratulate you" said Lcr
brothpr II WIS proud Of you Tonight. "
"C.ara. Professor Max wants all in ,hc
music room. ~ said one of OF her com
.panlons, and Mr. and Mrs. Curtis were
left alone. while Clara and her fellow
performers pursued their way 10 the
prcsenre Of The professor Of music and
German. a talr-haired, powerfully huilr
. man OF one ~oC two and thirty years,
known among his hnttering pupils a>
Professor Man, and addressed by them
as Mr Heldmann.. He congratulated
chem on their success. and :Aen d ;,
missed oil hat Clara
"lhave told You many times now al
ready, Miss Curtis, : he said You have
genius that YOU shoald cultivate. ad
wise YOU that you 20 to Europn and
study"
BE professional player" said lara,
with 'wide eyes, What would ny
brother sayl'
Talk to him aboutit He will yield
Break from your friends. from love; you