Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-22

ssrument II only required few seconds for
Q hush 70 come over the room.
That old coon 10 going to give the thing
rattle"
The sight Of a man at the piano was some
thing 90 unusual that even the faro-dealer. who
was about TO take in Q dfty-dollar bet on the
tray. paused. and did not reach for the money.
Men stopped drinking. with the glasses az their
lips. Conversation appeared 20 have been
struck with q sort Of paralysis, and cards were
no longer shufiIed.
The old man brushed back his long. white
locks, looked up TO the ceiling. half closed his
eyes, and in a mystic sort of reverie passed his
fingers over the keys. He touched but a single
note. yet the sound thrilled the room. IL was
the key to his improvisation. and rs he wove
his chords together the music laid its spell
upon every ear and heart. He felt his way
along the KEYS. like a man treading uncertain
paths, but he gained conadence as he pro
guessed. and presently bent TO his work like
master. The instrument was not in exact tune,
but the ears OF his audience, through long dis
use. did not detect anything radically wrong.
They heard a succession OF grand chords. a
suggestion of melodies here and there, and 1t
Was enough.
See him counter with his left!'' said an old
rough
He calls the turn every time on the upper
end of the board" responded a man with q
stack Of chips in his hand.
The player wandered of into the old ballads
they had heard at home. All the sad and
melancholy. and touching songs that came up
Ike dreams Of childhood, this unknown player
drew from the keys. His hands kneaded their
hearts like dough, and squeezed out the tears
as from wet sponge. As the strains nowed
one upon the other. they saw their homes Of
the long ago reared again; they were playing
once more where the apple-blossoms sank
through the soft air 10 JOIN the vioiets on the
green turf of the old New England states; they
saw the glories OF the Wisconsin naples and
nf ha
their hues together: they recalled the heather
OF Scottish hills, the white cliffs of Britain. and
heard the sullen roar of the sea, as II beat
upon their memories vaguely. Then came all
the old Christmas carols. such as they had sung
IN church thirty years before; the subtle music
that brings up the glimmer OF wax tapers. the
solemn shrines, the evergreen. holly, mistle-
toe, and surpliced choirs. Then the remorse-
less performer planted his final stab in every
heart with Home, Sweet Home"
When the PLAYER ceased, the crowd SUNK
away from him. There was no more revelry
and devilment left in his audience. Each man
wanted to sneak of TO his cabin and write the
old folks a letter. The day wac breaking as the
last man left the piece. and the player. laying
his head down on the piano. fell asleep.
Il say, pard, said Goskin, ''yoa want a little
rest2"
Il do feel tired" the old man said. Per
haps you'll let me rest here for the matter of q
day or So"
blankets were lying and stretched himself upon
them.
Il feel pretty sick. guess won't last long.
I've got brother down in the ravine-his
names Driscon. tie don't know I'm here. Can
you get him before morning."
Goskin started. He knew Driscoll we'll
He your brother I'll have him here in half
an hour
As he dashed out into the storm the musician
pressed his hand to his side and groaned. Cos
kin heard the word Hurry and sped down
the ravine to Driscolls cabin. Ii was quite
light in the room when the two men returned
Driscoll was pale death.
MY God 1 hope hes alive. / wronged him
when We lived in England. twenty years ago"
They saw the old man had drawn the blanket
over his face. The two stood a moment, awed
BY the thought that he might be dead
Goskin lifted the blanket and pNlled it down
astonshed There was no one therei
Gone" cried Driscoll, wildly.
Gone" echoed Goskin, pulling out his cash.
drawer. Ten thousand dollars in the sack
too
The next day the boys followed horses
trail leading toward Phoebe.
There was man missing from the camp. Il
was the threc-card monte man. who used to
deny point-blank that he could play the scale
One day they found a wig OF white hair, and
called 10 mind when the stranger" had pushed
those locks back when he looked toward the
ceiling for inspiration, on the night Of Deem
Der "a, 1851.