San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-04-22

What fools we mOTtals bew he unused
1--WE find talking TO any audience better THAI
sOiIOquiSing. So, as it will ease my mind
why should not answer the question, ant
| once more recount my wrongs
! The boy stood patiently waiting; but In In,
interval he had given searching though
cautious glance round the barely-furnisheG
room, which looked cold even on this sum
mer evening.
Know then, N.Y." Guy began, with {
melancholy attempt at mirth, that my can
tata-the cantata which was to he sung to
MORROW in the CathedraI-iS good honest
work, and has, swear, life in IT, 1t was in
! spired by love; she looked at me while
wrote it, she approved, she corrected, and at
last gaZed through and through me with
those dear eyes of hers, and said, Guy, il /,
excellent; and, when ii is successful, YOU
shall winner"
The candlelight, falling on the boys face,
seemed TO whiten il curiOusy. and his brown
hand shaded his eyes from the glare.
81 am COMPOUNDED fool to talk like this, y
the young composer continued. with some
self-cOntempt; but | have lived so long
alone that | cheat myself into the belief
sometimes that her picture is i"p!jg alive, OF
that her spirit lives in II for me. What was
| saying? Why should ask you, my poor
boy" he broke off, with laugh, you, who,
| dare say, do not understand one-tenth of
the words speak or One-humdredth part of
what mean?'
You were telling me of your music" the
boy answered quietly.
MY music-right! was telling you how
| thought il was 10 make me famous, and
how happy | was in dreams of tomorrow.
Well, the dreams have faded away, as all
dreams do, and am left with ruined hopes
and blighted prospects to comfort me-"
viii you not tell me more plainly what it
all means, sir?' his young companion asked.
Il scarcely know myself my boy. All |
can tell you is that the chOriStcr who was to
have sung the great solo part of it has dsap-
peared."
But how does that ruin you? Is there no
one who can take his placer
You don't understand, child" the young
man answered impatiently. How should any
one take his place at days notice? Even if
there were one of the chOristers who had
voice for it, it would need weeks and months
of training to make him sing it as it should
be sung. ! gave every moment | had to
spare to teaching that boy, and now
Well, after all, it matter hitler. The great
world knows and cares nothing about me, l
suppose, and the small one will only laugh,
and say put him out Of the way because
feared to produce my work. don't care for
them; but what is hard to bear is that she
will believe it too, will think more than ever
that bartered my inheritance for a mess of
pOttage, and will, like the rest, condemn me
as a vain egOtistCa fool whose boast Of
genius was but arrogance. Besides, if any
thing serious has happened to the bOy-which
Heaven fOrbid!-l may have trouble in the
matter, and may as well make up my mind
at once to leave the place that has been dear
10 me for so long. For here, in this little tat
Ting town, where Justice Shallow reigns
pre-eminent, though am not likely to be
killed by the law, | shall run every chance
of being socially communicated and finally
starved out in cruel earnest. No pupils will
come to man of whom it is whispered, as
my enemy Luttrell, sneeringly sympathetic,
told me only this afternoon, that ii is strange
the boy was last seen in my company and
that it is awkward had seemed so angry
with him."
Through the dusky skin of his companions
cheeks a red glow burned.
DO not add that to your troubles" he said
quietly; "Mr. Luttrel knows where he has
gone"
"Luttrell knows! The viIlainl Are you
sure?'
THE boys own mother told me So"
Guy made movement as if to leave the
room. His companion laid his hand detan-
ingly on his arm.
10 M of Mr. Ialla ba oil
"they would not tell you where they have
hidden him, and, even if they did, he is sent
too far away to be of any service to you to-
morrow"
The young man sat down again in his old
Responding attitude. He was presently
reused by gentle touch on the shoulder.
Don't despair, sir" the boy added-and
the words were spoken in so jubilant a tone
that he looked up in establishment, to see his
companions face flash into beauty with his
words-"dOn't despair, sir, and with Heav-
ems help We'll triumph over your enemies.
What | came tonight to ask is that you
should allow me to fill the missing boys
place, and take the solo,"
Your Hallam sprang from his seat in
amazement, and, Selling the boys shoulder,
gazed deep into his clear eyes. Your he
repeated, and then released him with laugh.
"Why, my boy, did you not hear me say that
it has taken months to teach young Estwick
the part? No. no; you are kindly lad, but
this is no simple hymn-tune TO be sung at
sight. 1t is the whole soul of the Cantata."
II know the boy persisted. Il have
heard it more than once. | am not a bad
musician in a small way. Ny schOOlmaSter
used to take a good deal of pains with me.
Trust it to me, and think | may promise to
do it as well as young EStwick."
III spite of himself Guy Hallam hesitated.
There was something reaSSuring in the boys
evident sincerity and confidence, and the rich
tones of his voice themselves pleaded for
him.
AT least let me hear you sing few lines
of it," he requested.
But the boy drew back and refused posi-
lively.
mo" he said; ''if you accept my offer, |
will do my best, and think you will be salts
fed; but you must take me on trust. Re
member what you yourself said, that there is
absolutely no one TO sing the part, and con
slider that you waver between possible failure
and positive defeat. Already have stayed
here longer than | ought; you must make
your deciS o at once
The young man stood for moment in
doubt then he took a step forward and I'M
pulsively laid his hand on that of his cOmpan-
ion.
my boy" he said, 'if l trust you, you
won't deceive me? You don't know what
depends on my success tomorrow. 1t will
kill me If my work proves failure, or, if it
does not | shall kill myself This is not an