Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-08-06

"Mr. Marshall was just saying how
fond most people are of music, said
Lila. You know how the poorest PEG.
pie will run after man with hand.
organ; and when an old negro gets out
his fiddle and begins to scrape the
strings he has an audience about him at
once"
Il do not play, but am very fond OF
hearing the piano" said MIR. Marshall.
Can you give us some music, Miss
Stormouth?'
Il will do so with pleasure" answered
Kate, and the party ad. burned to the
parlor at once.
But the piece of music which Kate
classical. so utterly beyond the taste OF
her listeners, that Lila soon saw that
they gave it their attention from po-
likeness alone. She waited impatiently
until Hates hands dropped from the
keys.
Cant you play us The Mocking
Bird with variations, kate?" she asked
little timidly, fearing her sisters re-
ply.
mine.' said Mr.. Marshall.
81 don't play anything of that kind, "
said Kate. in a chilling tone. Il haven't
played The Mocking Bird since l was
fourteen years DID,
"Do you know any dance music?"
asked Will Beardsley. 81 may be sub
jecting myself to your inward scorn,
Miss Kate, but 1 must confess liking
for waltzes and galops.'
Kate tried to repress it. but a de-
risive smile curled the corners of her
mouth.
81 leave dance music for Tom," she
said. whenever he is home he tortures
me by strumming on my piano when
ever he can get a chance. and the
'Chopsticks Waltz The Blue Danube
and 'Mollie Darling are among his
favorite selections.
ale knows all the Pinafore airs,
too cried Lila. 81 think it is wonder
full that he can play so well. for he
never took a lesson in his life"
81 don't agree with you as to his
PLAYING Web," said Kate. ''lf it
wouldn't look selfish | would lock the
piano whenever am through using it. "
well, suppose we 60 out on the
porch again, said Lila. There is no
use staying in here if Kate won't play
anything we like"
1T is not my fault that you don't like
it," said Kate.
mo, it is our misfortune" said VIII
Beardsley, laughing. 1--WE poor NOR
tails have not reached your height yet.
You do well to aim only at the best,
Miss Kate, but we can not all have your
chance"
As the sisters were going upstairs on
their way to their bedrooms, an hour
or two later, Lila turned to Kate and
said, in an aggrieved tone:
1T was really unkind of you not to
play anything we asked you for, Kate
l know Mr.. Marshall was dreadfully
disappointed"
you told me that he was fond of
music" said Kate. coldly. eff you
meant trash. why didn't you say sop
Il think it is downright selfish for
you to learn pieces that only one per-
son out of hundred can enjoy" cried
Lila. AT least you might learn some
thing occasionally that would please
the friends invite here"
''My friends enjoy my music" said
Kate, land | can not waste my time
over the trashy pieces you would select
for me. Your friend, Minna Day,
wanted to join our club, and was sure
her music was up to our standard. We
admitted her to our meeting last night
and gave her trial. She WAS to play
anything she chose, and we We're to
criticise. What do you think she Sc
lected? l declare | almost laughed
when she began on What are the Wild
Waves Saying with variations. You
ought to have seen the faces of the
other members. 1t was as good as 4
farce OF course we will not admit her,
Il don't blame you in the least" said
Lila, warmly. Her music would not be
acceptable, and it is only to your credit
to cultivate yourself as far as possible;
but | think it would be only polite for
you to learn few pieces that would
please your family. Father has spent
hundreds of dollars on your mus cal ed
ucation. and you show your apprecia-
ton of his generosity by playing moth
ing he can enjoy"
at seems to me that you are giving
me regular lecture" said Kate. Il
will leave you before you get fairly
warmed up to your work, for fear you
might say something even more disa-
greeable.
Unpleasant truths never are palat-
able said Lila, rs parting shot.
The next dav Kate dressed herself in
her most becoming suit, and went to
call at Mrs. Beardsley's She had ex-
pected to see viii, but his mother told
her that he was on the hills sketching
You may tell him that he may ex-
pect a note from me this evening"" said
Kate. She spent an hour after she
reached home in the composition of
that note, for she wanted it to be word
ed in manner that would leave moth
inc to be desired. ~srss
Il am going to take that prize with
out fail. mother she said that even
ing. Il thought last nj oh: of something
| can put in my quilt that will make it
hundred times prettier than thought
it would ever be. You mustn't ask me
any questions. l will tell you all about
it as soon as get note | am expect
ing"
The door-bell rang shortly after and
she left the room, her face fairly beam
ing.
1T is my note, suppose, e. she said.
as she went out. s.s
She returned half an hour later. Her
eyes were red and swollen from weep
ing, and an angry flush was on her
face.
did You ever hear of anything so
mean?" she cried, crumpling in one
hand sheet of note paper. 81 would
not have believed it of him! Oh, man.
ma, l am so disappointed. l was sure
he would be only too glad to oblioe me!