The Penn's Grove record., 1888-11-10
NUMBER Is.


| Would she never come? All, the door
opened and forth she trlpped, holding
her skirts out of the mud and uttering
an impatient little exclamation as she
felt the raindrops upon her face.
| Gracefully, and with Difference Albert
handed her into the carriage.
His own foot was IN the step when
a hand was LAID lightly on his shoulder,
and, turning, he saw a tall man OF
| slight but elegant build. carrying a
violin case in his hand. The intruder
simply said, "wait," IN a calm. quiet
tone, and then addressed himself to the
occupant of the carriage. Too much
astonlshed for a moment to resent the
intrusion, the younger man could only
look on and listen in amaZement.
Little one," said Otto, earnestly
and tenderly, taking q trembling little
hand in his own, "by thy friendship to
me, and by the duty thou owest to thy
conscience and to thy God. | charge
thee leave this mans company now and
forever. l, myself, will see thee safe to
thy home"
In Flora's face there was amazement
and sorrow, but no anger. why,
Otto," she began; but the young man
behind them had recovered from his
surprise and advanced hastily. a great
anger cleaning from his handsome
eyes.
"Out of my way, you," he cried,
roughly, and then, ~perceivlng by the
proud way in which the intruder drew
himself up that he was addressing u
gentleman, he added, ~passionately: ''By
what right, sir, do you dare to interfere
herep"
by the right of a Just man to
tLwart a villain" answered Otto, his
own temper rising. Young man.
thou hast a wife, go to her 1 say"
The youths face grew llvld. He
saw the girl in the carriage cover her
face with her hands and make "a move
ment as though to leap from his car
tiage. "D-natiou!" he shouted, ''take
that for your meddling!' He raised a
heavy walking stick that he carried and
struck Otto squarely upon the forehead.
The heavy-silver head inflicted an ugly
wound, from which the blood flowed
freely. For an Instant Otto was daz.d
but as his enemy'S stick was raised for
another cruel blow, he lifted his violin
case, his only weapon, IN both hands,
and brought it down upon his assail.
ants head. The blow was badly aimed,
or it must have killed HIM. AS it was,
1t glanced off and the Case came vio-
;entIy to the sidewalk, bur5y open and
discovered the priceless violin, broken
Sluarely i'll two!
Otto gazed stupidity at the wreck for
Il single moment and then Eel! senstle5.
beside his shattered Instrument, the
blood still issuing from the gaastiy
wound in his head.
1t all seemed to have hlpp" ned IN an
instant. The meu and women who
rGshed from the door, Startled by IL
succession of sharp, agOIiZ4d sArieks,
saw IL carriage driving rapidly away
and q man lying Frustrated on the
muddy sidewalk, his head IN the lap of
the little dancing gIfl, who strove at
once to staunch the blc0l with her
handkerchief and to cali To back to
life by every tender and enGeariny
word that she knew.
1T was five days before he could
recognize anyone, aud the first face that
he knew WAS Flora'S. She had rarely
left his side except 10 60 to the theater
and then she had to be almost forced
there. Two days after that an she en-
tered softly III the early afternoon.
thinking him asleep, she discovered
that lie had been weeping, for there
were tears Oh his checks and III his
eyes.
She knelt beside the bel and touched
his cheek with her hand. "Wny do
you cry, Ottot" she aSke d very softly.
He was silent for a moment, aud
then answered, 81 weep, lit ls M
iirst oecause l am weak, and next de-
cause my violin is broken"
Then, Otto" she persisted, breath
lessly, ''you need not weep. because
you will soon be strong tslin, aud be-
cause Giacomo, the little. ugly c%elloist.
has mended your violin and avs when
You play OF it again no one will ever
know it was broken,
Still silence, and then as she saw that
no JOY came into his eyes even yet, IA
great gladness sprang INTO her own.
Lower, lower sank the bright head
until her cheek almost touched his.
"Ottc," whispered she, b~rsathlessly,
dear Otto, is there anything else that
makes you weep"
HIS head turned sharply upon the
pillow. Brown eyes g&Z4d long and
earnestly into black.
"Flora-lieoe Florai'
"Otto-daIlingl"
The violin had triumphed after all.