The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-18

thought to brilliant movement" from Men
delssohn to Chopin, from Mozart to Wagner.
After long fantasia of Rubensteins, she ran,
without pause, into simple prelude In sharp.
indicating the bass IN eighth notesa rest instead
OF every third one-the right hand filing up the
pauses with sweet tripping runs, as the mocking-
bird interjects his rapture in life and love, or
like the sudden song of heart surprised at its
own bliss Then she began to sing
when thy song on the still air soareth SO high"
Warbling it so charmingly that her husband
complimented the performance by holding his
cigar motionless between first and middle fingers
until one verse was over Leaning forward, then,
to knock the ash from the tip into bronze tray
on the table, his eye fell on the nook cast into
shadow by the crimson portiere dividing library
from mushroom. Some one, probably servant,
had pushed back into the recess large chair
that usually stood we'll out into the floor.
In 1t sat Orpah Wayne, looking at him! Par
alyzed IN all but sight and thought, he stared at
It. Orpah Wayne, in the dress and attitude that
were hers on the June night of the chamber-con-
cert, the hair coied low at the back Of her head,
the thin sensitive face, with the strange effect
of waver and translucency upon it he had re-
membered that evening for the first time, as of a
light oscillating behind Parian mask the
small, dainty hands folded over each other on
her lap-all these were unaltered, as ne noted at
glance.
But the eyes dusky twins of love past finding
out; of sorrow supreme and unspeakable seek
ing, questioning and hope gone out of them for
ever-they said the farewell the pale lips
formed, although the air brought no whisper OF
their meaning. One long minute they held him
by their awful earnestness, then the music broke
off abruptly and Mrs. Wiltsc appeared in the
archway.
THAT song reminded me of a letter had TO-.
day-Why, Tom! What draft there is in here'
shivering and looking around the room.
The figure arose from the armchair, moved a
step or two forward, the shadowy hands were
wrung slowly, and extended toward him. Fare
well, still, and only "farewell' Then, he could
have sworn it, the wrath kissed the fingers that
held back the curtain 1.-THE hand that wore the
wedding -ring), there was the noiseless drift OF
white drapery into the hall, the wave Of a fading
hand, the CLEAN as of twin stars vanishing into a
cloud-and his wife swept forward, chatting her
hands and laughing somewhat nervously.
"Have you been asleepl You are blue with
cold. Don't sit near that bay window. The
wind finds its way in at every joint" She
threw more wood on the fire, stirred the deep
bed of GOALS to flames, dragged the big chair
from behind the portiere, seated herself in it,
and spread her fingers to the blaze
Draw up hero and be comfortable" was her
order, and as he obeyed, mechanically she ran
on with the story she had come in to tell, screen
ing her eyes with her fingers, and watching the
flicker Of the ruddy light between them.
II meant to tell you at dinner time of Mrs
Wayne's letter, but funerals and death beds are
not choice table talk. Afterward it escaped my
mind Orpah is dying, her mother says. of one
of those horrible slow Southern fevers On
the day Mrs. Wayne wrote the
child had given minute directions as to her
funeral, directing that she should be laid out in
the gown she wore at my chamber concert last
June. l don't suppose you remember ia
cream -colored French bunting homemade and
fitted barbarously.) It gave me the creeps to
read the ghoulish detail l do not grieve that
Orpah has given up the experiment Of living
1t was such misfit for her The world, as it is
now, hurt her at every turn and the world is
sorry, however, for the mother This is her
only daughter. Orpah sent "dear love" to us
both, said 'her last breath would be prayer for
our happiness" Grateful and appreciative to
the end Mrs Wayne says. am thankful we
gave her one bright month to look back upon,
one draught of genuine happiness-if it was an
awful bore to u.s. was really fond of poor Or
pah. l hope she is at rest now"
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