Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-04-23

thought her quiet and transcendental;
women, shy and uninteresting. She
practiced necessarily, much to the
disgust of Lizzie, who declared to her
husband that the scraping of Clara's
fiddle drove her crazy. Every day
only proved more conclusively that
she and her sister~in-law were made
of different clay.
That conversation with Heldmann
Ia the MUSHROOM REQUIRED to Clara
again and again.
Another thing troubled her, and
that was the very evident desire of
Frank and Lizzie to see her married
She had been at home a year now.
She had noticed that Harry Bennett,
a friend of her brother was, beginning
to act toward her very much as poor
Professor Max had beha Ved before his
explanation in the music room. She
liked Harry, but what he saw in her
to care for in that way puzzled her
greatly,
He called one afternoon and found
Clara practiclng. Confess that you
didn't really like that stuff, he said,
as she laid aside the violin. "You
only play it because you thing you
ought to."
at is the best part of my life," she
answered, gravely; "the only part
that feel is worth living"
81 know said Harry, 'all young
girls think they ought to live for
something. That's part of their
boarding school training; but l have
been hoping for months that we might
try life together. You shall do just
as you like practice all day long if
you want to.
Don't think that am ungrateful, "
said Clara, in low voice; "but can't,
indeed | can't. Musicians tell me that
l can, If | will, become great violin
list. shall open the subject to m
brother this very evening"
"Clara, don't do that, implore
You don't know anything of that kind
of life; you don't know what terrible
influences will be brought to bear on
you. Give up the fancy; | wish !
could move you by saying, for my
sake. Give it up"
But Clarence thought of Professor
Max's words, and neryed herself for
an interview with her brother. 1t
was more stormy than she bad an
ticipated. From his standpoint she
was absolutely inexcusable and
equally incomprehensible. But they
were obliged to give way before her
determination. The world dicovered
that the Curtises had quameled with
Clara ard sent her to Europe, and
her name was dropped from its visit
ing books and after a while from its
mind.
She sent one letter to her relatives,
but Lizzie returned 1t unopened,
without consulting Frank, and they
received no more communications
They learned through an eyer-vigil-
ant press that Miss Curtis, a young
American girl, had, as Clara Ansel
mo, made brilliant debut abroad,
and after that they lost sight of her
for several years. On taking up his
paper one morning Frank discovered
that the celebrated violinist, Nine.
Clara Anselmo, and the great Polish
pianist and composer, Philippe Noel,
who rivaled Chopin in his delicate
fancy and the strain OF French blood
that gave him his name, had been en-
gagged for a series of concerts.
1T is the worst possible taste for
her to come back here, " said Lizzie.
"Of course, you will take no notice. "
Most people have forgotten her
existence by this time" said Frank,
deprecatingy. "Ishouldn't dream of
your going, but think | shall go and
hear her play"
He went. Across the hall he saw
Harry Bennett and his pretty fiance,
of any interest but music
on Harry's part, for Clara was years
before her day. Harry seemed exert
ed and nervous, and, III watching
him, Frank forgot to look for his sis
ter's entrance until the welcoming
applause of the audience aroused
him.
She was the same Clara, SIMPLE and
quiet as ever, except that close Oh
server coule see added power in her
serene forehead and direct gaze. But
once in the full tide of sound she
seemed to becone etherealized with
excitement and delight. Max Held
mann was right. This was her world,
the career for which she was born.
The audience was reused to Juror by
the violin and piano duet composed
by Noel and played by him and Clara.
Even Harry could not feel the sym
pathy and perfect accord between the
two. He turned to the pretty girl by
his side and knew that she was all his
but he felt chat if he had married
Clara she would always have escaped
from him on the wings of music.
When she played she no longer be
longed to earth.
unknown 10 Lizzie, Frank went to
see his sister the next morning. lie
met Harry in the hotel parlor, and
they went together to her rooms, an
noyed to find, early as it was, the
pianist Noel already there, apparently
on an intimate footing. But perhaps
he had only come TO practice. He
rose with Clara as the two men came
forward.
Frank, am very glad to see you.
didn't hope for this, giving him an