The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-07-10

next door, They had been been expected
apparently for some days, and Mrs. Morst
was most anxious that they should prove
as quiet and inolIsnsive as the last tenant,
a deaf and paralytic old lady, "who never
annoyed master or me in the last, and
she was there before | Came-fourtee1
years ago last May, that IT,"
All this and much mora OF her fears and
anxieties lest the new neighbors should
give noisy parties and keep late hours
las they did next door where | lived last
which was why | left, sir, for their noise
WAS dreadful I" Mrs. Morse told me, as she
held In her hand the toast which she had
brought In for my tea, and which, In hel
abstraction, she forgot 10 set down.
Not until she had at last shut the dool
after her %good-natured gossip, and | had
found the toast decidedly cold, did l re-
member that l had heard a piano the
night before, az | sat aud smoked, ap,
parently played next door. l accounted
Tor 1t by imagining that some one must
have arrived their sooner than Mrs
Morse knew.
She told me tho next morning that the
new neighbors were only q young lady
and her aunt, and on hearing this | most
successfully Gained her fears Of the night
before.
During the next week l spent most o.
my days in sketching an early English
church near, which | had discovered with
great pleasure and in the evening smoked
many a pipe while listening to the piano
next door. Generally, | am unreasonably
irritated when / am obliged to other peo'
PIES pianos against my will; there Il
something very trying In being obliged Ia
submit, without remonstranCe, TO hear
whatever they may be moved to play, or,
worse still, practice.
But this was different. It was, l thought,
a woman's touch, and sho played we'll
chiefly old airs and sonatas OF Corelli.
am very fond Of the old musicians, and
there was in this playing Of them some
thing very gentle and soothing.
One evening, at the end OF that week, ]
found, on coming In, o note, which
opened, and read in great surprise:
"Miss Ethel Mayns would be very
greatly Obliged II Mr.. Wyndham would
not allow his piano to BIO used at so late
an hour. Miss Mayne asks this for the
sake OF her aunt, an invalid, who is great
ly disturbed by it."
l read this note over IN over again
each time with more amazament. How
could l explain, without seeming rude
and brusque, that not only had | never
played during my stay here, but that the
house did not even contain q piano
Thompson Is not in the least musical
The more l thought Of 1t the stranger II
appeared. One thing was Certain-the
plano which disturbed them must be the
same as that to which l had listened on
so many evenings. AT lust l decided Ia
call next morning, and explain better
than a note that l was not to blame. ]
did so, about IL o'clock next day, and was
shown into a drawing room wearing the
uncomfortable leok common TO newly
arranged rooms before they had time Ia
receive any marks Of the owners charac.
teristlcs.
In a few moments the door opened and
q tall girl, with dark hair and a sweet face,
came In. She bowed as l rose, and said
"Mr. Wyndham, l believe? l imagine
you have called In answer 10 my note.
am sure you will will accede to my request.
My aunt Is only now recovering from a
long illness, and the piano keeps her
awake at night"
~ would, Of course, instantly discontin.
ue it." l said, 'lf 1t were in my power;
but | came to explain that l have played
nothing since my coming here; indeed,
my friend has nc piano-in fact, Miss
Mayne, l have thought that l was listen
ing 10 your playing every night, for l have
heard what must be the same piano."
Miss Mayne looked i~nCredulous ct tirst,
then utterly amazed.
~ do not understand" she said. "Oan
II be that we are nea enough to hear this
from any other house, She ose and
went to the window. mo; II Is impossi.
BILE" as the window, from which we could
see some distance, showed the nearest
house 10 be separated from US by the
garden and q street which ran at the bot.
tom Of II, besides the whole length OF an.
other garden and rambling old orchard.
as II possible" l said, feeling as II l
saw a gliihmor Of light on the question,
"that any Of your household walk In theii
sleep2 We hear this quite late; and II
might be poBsible-people have done
such strange things In sleep"
"1ndeed, no." she said, II am afraid
that will not do as an explanation. W.
have Just now only one old servant, whom
have known ali my life, and l never
knew Of her doing such q thing. Besides
she 10 not muslcal," smiling as she said Il.
~ can answer for my aunt and myself
and=ior full RBsDranCe-our piano Ia mol
yet unlocked, l have the key" touching
her watch chain. II have been too occrt
pied with my aunt 10 touch II as yeti
ut 10 more than lean understand, sale
!, rising. ut must be accounted for By
some Kind Of echo. will wiite to mj
friend ThompAon about 1t. / am only stay,
ing In his house for q week or two, as yot
may know. | called because l wlBhet
YOU to understand how gladly ! woult
put 4 STOP 10 what ann0ys you, were
abie,n Rhe gave me her hand on leaving
and | thought hers ono. Of those face
which seem more beautiful "a you know
them better.
/ wrote 10 Thompson, aud got In a day
or two The following characteristic notes
"DRAR WYNDnAM-You must have beet
asleep, People next door, too. Neyei
heatd.any piano, and l have lived there
fourteen years, The man who was there
before me 10 dead, 60 ! can't send you Y
him for information. Glad don't heaI
Il, CANT bear music. Delighted that yot
IKE '0u1 "YSuts, y. II"
1Callsd at The end Of tho week to tel
Miss Maynp the result Of my letter. Thl
aunt was better aud down staifsi the!
gave me afternoon tea, and came aWal
thinking that the mystery, % It still was
had al least obtained for me Two YER
pleasant Acquaintance
But the unexplained music did not pAg