Omaha daily bee., 1885-01-03
A SYMPHONY IN MINOR.
A Story BY Pjalmar ii. Bopesen,
PARrI

Miss Catharine Van Tassell needed a
music teacher, and Herr Max Greifen-
stett needed pupils. Presumably Miss
Van Tassell could have dispensed with
Man Greifenstett more easily than Max
Greifenstett could have dispensed with
Miss Van Tassell. But there was nc hint
of Max's dependence in the lordly man
ner in which he accepted Miss Van Tas-
sells proposition. 'fYou know l find
teaching borous," he added lordly: 81
mean boresome, or What you call it! Long
avelig! l like it mott"
"Why then do you do itl" asked Miss
Catharine languidly.
"Vhy l do it2 Ach Why"
Max flung back his great dark head
and stared ~defiantly at the caller. "Vhy
do I eatY" Why do L sleep2" he continued
dramatically. "Not because L like it,
surely. But because l am subject to the
tyrannical laws of matter"
"Then 1 am the embodiment of this
unpleasant fact to you," she said, smiling
YEARLY. DWELL, Mr.. G~reifenstettt, l
will be equally frank with you: You are
the embodiment of a no less dissgreeable
fact no me-the fact that 1 have to learn
music. My father insists upon IT.. You
are his choice, not mine. "He gelected
you, [ believe, because you are-so per
fectly harmless" she was about to say,
but abe changed her mind and finished,
"because of your pronounced alienism, "
"My alienism!" he repeated with a
puzzled frown.
"Yes, you know all our music is
foreign" Cathrine responded evesively;
'and the more foreign q man Is the more
muslcal he may be supposed to be-"
"Ah, but that Is not true, that is pos
itively false" he exclaimed with superb
German innocence. "Music is a divine
are, and 1t has nothing to- do with for.
eignness or not f~oreignness."
"What then has it to do with2' she
inquired with a shade of amusement at
his enthusiastic manner.
"Ah, madam" he cried fervidly, "here
you ask me one great question. But
| will answer 1t. 1t depends upon two
tings-one sensitive ear and one grand
SOUL"
"Then you have a grand soulq" she
queried %aippantly, raising her fan to hire
her amusement.
"You compel me to seem 1mmodest,"
he said, blushing, half with pride, hall
with embarrassment; shut if did not
believe that 1 had, 1 should never touch
the piano again."
emusic teachers are not usually credi-
ted with grandeur of SOUL" she ejaculat
ed, breaking into a heartless laugh. 'Ii
they were suspected of any such danger
GUS possessions, | am afraid the demand
for them would cease. They would b
lnconvenient in families where there ART
girls with romantic proclivlties."
"Madam," he said, with grave dignity
but with a shade of irritation: II ss'
you desire to offend me. l was foolisl
to lay bare my heart before you; pardon
me. l shall not trouble you again,
Good bye"
With his hand thrust into the bosom o
his waistcoat and with the most elaborst
of foreign bows he backed toward tn
door. Cathearine started to her fset AM
stood for a moment gazing at him In as
constituent. With his threadbare, i'll
fitting garments and overgrown hair ant
beard, he did not look like a man VIII
could afford to take %offense, and still Les
like one to whom a blue.blooded Kuick
erbocker could afford to apologize. New
ertheless Catharine WAS Ill at ease. Hi
gentle, mournful dignity had clearly pu
her in the wrong. She felt that she ha'
taken q cowardly advantage of her posi-
tion to infiict an injury upon a creatur
whose respect for ner sex prevented hir
from ~resenting 1t. Greifenstett had al
ready reached the hall, aud would hav
put on his overcoat If he had had one
As she heard him turn the knob of tn
outer door, hsr conscience smote hei
She fastened into the vestibule, put he
hand on his arm and said:
"Mr. Gretfenstett, | was rude to you
1 beg your pardon"
He blushed to his ears and SCENE
overwhelmed with embarrassment.
; 81 peg off you," he murmured, run
, ming his hand nervously through his hal
/ and bowling with excessive Difference.
"Iansist upon your coming back an
finishing the interview" she urged, leat
lug tuc Way tufouSu tho opou ooof. IL
! followed meekly, but with visible relu'
lance.
! "Sit down." she said, with gentle in
sistance, sit is then settled that we be
l gin our lessons tomorrow"
II peg your pardon" he replied, bent
ing for ward with q deprecatory gesture
"but if you Will not pc offended, i voul
rather not"
"But l shall be offended. You do NJ
regard me as a promising pupil, eviden
ly."
; "You must not compel me to say III
pleasant things to you. | have alway
been told that it is not polite to be SINGER
with ladies'"
"Mr. CT eifenstett," calculated the CIR
? in a tone half way between vexation an
: : amusement, "do you know that you al
perfectly dreadfuli have never had an