Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-07-07
PLATO VS.. EROS.
L EVENING

l. ENkNlNo.
Harmony surging and echoing through the
empty church: twilight setting upon AL afouno,
making the saints In the ehancel windows assume
a strange dusty bloom (ls II modification had set
I'M; two inadequate gas-Iights making Rem
brandt effect OF the young man who slt on the
organ stool: how wterdly the ringing chords
sounded, chasing each other through the stone
arches and around the chancel IN this dim light
which nIumined only the salient points in the
church furniture and the calm upturned face Of
Reginald Gordon, the new orgsnist, whose strong
hands wandered with Intelligent carelessness over
the keys summoning untried combinations, and
boldly sending forth each new creation OF sound
sure OF its perfection with Intangible spiritual
strength, which only perfect harmony In the dy-
Ing daylight seems TO hold.
The new Organist caused quite a sensation In
the town. HE was young, he was handsome, and
he was unmarried. Miss Lucy Griflths was an
object of envy. because she was the only girl 10
town who had known him before She took great
pleasure IN relating how she had met him at
summer watering place-that propitious environ
ment which gets the credit for 50 much match
making.
As Reginald Gordon sat In the empty church,
and remembered tghy he was there; when ne
thought OF the fortune whose sudden loss had
made t necessary for hiIl 10 turn MS talent TO
Then, rising above this gloomy recollection, he
took up the steady. inspiring beat OF the march,
not 20 be daunted by difficulties at the outset; ne
would aim at something higher than the mere
grat1ncatsOn OF ambition. He thought OF the dear
mother 70 whose love and consistent influence he
owed all that was best and most manly In him,
and Involuntary the minor notes crept In, and
ne reached out MS hand 10 put In some OF the
stops, and the plaintive wall Of the Vox Celesti
predOudnated over the deep notes which spoke 10
him OF a sorrow. bitter and real and his face
sOftened, and his head bent In reverence for the
memory which filed his soul
The music died lower and lower; was he losing
Ia psrtrya .srrfaf W
there were his two sisters to be taken care OF?
The practical man must rise In him again; there
sunday Ron the swr ll-bring out the volume Of
the magnificent Organ-''C tristan soldiers onward
goI" Lie Is worth living.
Among the sifts that God has sent
One Of the most magnificent"
AS he closed with the nnal "AmenI" he felt that
exaltatiOn which Is familiar 10 all musical souls,
and b. gan 10 count his blessings forgetting, for
The moment, the other side OF his life
allow many people" he unused, as ne ran
chrOmatic scale on the pedals ('heel and toe, as
he to call IT.. are brought 70 this sort OF neces
thankful ought to De that no shadow Of disgrace
can rest upon my fathers name. That was
pretty mOduIatiOni- he exclaimed, as bar o; ex-
Quislte harmony seemed To produce itself under
his touch. ''By Joye. there's nothing like organ
IL Is living companion; IL Will actually think
for one; us better than-than a utfe," he ejacu-
lated as he burst forth irreieyantly into a the
Wedding March, and laughed aloud. "Im thank
full have no ioUe-aGuir'' he continued 'of all
the worst? Let him get engaged and he Is never
any more use 10 his friends; and then, let him
Hollow, hollow, hollow! Nothing like cynicism
To keep one levrl-hea1ed and clear-hesrtedp
And for the nrst time that evening his foot
slipped, and he made a crashing discord.
'.hi!" he exclaimed, ~ got beyond my depth
Theni / must conf1ne mys II 10 simpler things
until am more familiar with the Instrument"
Feeling desgltorlIy ABOUT over the keys he stum-
bled into a light gavOtte movement, and he wan
dered on, getting more and more into the spirit OF
wnasU and hn Aah VIII 0f
wEiring chords, he felt that IL was quite In keep
ing when clap OF thunder took up tne strain out
most Obliterated saints.
But suddenly harsh, uncongeniel sound grated
upon his ear. IL was a womaus laugh, shrill ana
nervous, immediately followed by the apparitiOn
In the doorway OF TWO female figures, come to take
refuge from the storm. He comIOrted himself
with the reflection that he was q stranger ana
that ne would not know them, when Miss Grit
hth's voice plped tunefully.
"Why. Mr.. Gordon, SO you are herer and
II am-unlOrtunateIy," said Reginald; then see
ing that he had said thing which would proba-
bly, strike nom m as ungallant, ne tired 10 mend
matters by adding, 81 mean 1t Is unfortunate that
nave no umbrella 10 offer you"
$50 that We could go away at once and leave
you 70 your beloved organP cried Miss Grifiths,
ytily. "How adrOiti But we are not going until
the storm has aoated so, TO make matters pleas
anter, let me Introduce you 20 Miss Leslie"
The other girl, who had been wac hiug Reginald
with interest since Miss GrIf1ithS had addressed
him az mr. Gordon" bowed, with little Quizzical
smile, and Observed:
".M,rydret Leslle.D
Reginald uttered an exclamation OF surprise,
and extended both hands. "Maryaretr" he cried
why Is II possible? the little girl used 10 play
with at homer"
YES" SAID Miss Leslie with the most cordial OF
smiles "Hdye changed so absoluJely?"
"why. no." Reginald fastened 10 say: then. re-
memDcring the sun-DOnnrI and ankIe-ties In
which ne had last seen her, he Was a raid he had
been ride again, and he said Except for the bet.
ter, at which she ushe1.
"wny, 1 knew you at oncer- she exclaimed
'eyen though did not hear your FIRST name.r
swell" exclaimed Reginald, sit Is wonderful
how girls can Tn ASSURE up such thingsr' ard this
time, with the certainty OF having biundered IN
pdTuOnaO.y, ne said, laushin., Margaret, you
must excuse me; you were always an angel OF
good-nature-I remember you enough 10 know
thatr
-And / remember you enough to be sure that
you mean well, II you don't always express your
sei quite happily, answered Margaret with
"Inlevd he does!' echoed Miss Griffiths. either
from the VISA not 10 drop out OF the sation
or 10 let Margaret see her inmate knowledge oil
welI'
Then We have neither OF Us changed" said Mar
gdTet- since tue day We chained ourselves To-
gether, piaylng rOayicts.' wnen Reginald proved
his weil-neaning but missuid- gaisanlry by run
hlis lroin Asi-dos am pulling me alter MIN al
such speed tndt ul-aSQred my length on The COO
Dle-stOnes, and l Convinced 1Im OF nv good tenn
per Oy IorSiyins hin"
"leS-~e kissed ami made IL up said Reginald
not
mo" you men remember trivial things,- Quoth
Margaret, with a coy little itugh, as II she f,.lt
Inat sue 700 were senturiAg,' but IL was too good
joke u lose.
Il declare. i feel quite de trop!- exclaimed Miss
Grifntns- with little wriygie, and a lauyn at the
a0surilty Of the notion- Il wonIer n it has
stopped raining?"
mo. replied Iteginald. promptly: .it "a raining
,OlllOsAs WITH Their horns DOWN, as our Old nurse
Jane Used ~ say. GLi. How lJ rev YES he S,sneI
u el4idhyod 10 meet old friends! DO you reInem-
Der Jauc7"
'.les, Perfectly" said Margaret, ..Gpw we u,ea
70 Tease Der about that false curl she used 10
wear" ~ W
Yes exclaimed Reginald, with that speciaI
nttIe L.uSh ~ en- DrOIgs 10 rcinlnlscrnces: al re.
l.eAVef, one iaS, sac went 10 my father Ia tears.
eaei@NnlhS, Mt only do they plague the life out
llr Win Their monkey -snInes, but they IN rows
L.e Ialse aair IA me iac-7 NY lat. ser conlure1 up
tAe tdbIedu vi our yelling tue pJOr WON an vi n
hef ON spurious JTesses. and Was mIlca shor keI.
but when IL Was explained, he let Us on Win a
sehl1 ehpostd-atiOn, ana an appeal 70 our better
1hEs these old friends mean Tered On until Miss
GHhtAs announced that the rain had stopped
and that II Vas tea-tIne.
'Ob, then there Isn't time for Rag-Nr q ,r,lon
10 PLAY 10 Us" exclaimed Margsret wOefulIy
M. u .rdOf sOunds Iorcsl," said X -ctaald
win nocA dignity; and whats more, II Is irced
~ Has natural Ior y 0u 10 say Reginald"
Il stand corrected" said MARI reI with grace
give the arectaIiOn7~
Reginald VIII, replied the Young man. .and
ne VIII oe happy 20 play 10 you Tomorrow az
tleSen-and 10 Miss Grifflths also" he added
tretnb.lh ing lest she should accept the Invitation
-SOrry i have eng4SemeRL" sad Mis-
GrlmtLs, with extreme eIusion.
ia, an rery sorry!r cried Reginald. 50 re-
Atscd lhdl ne Iclt the least aIOneuant he couIf