The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-04-06

not notice 1t even then. he came for
ward as father might have done and
touched her brow with his lips. "'Tis
well. little one," said he. tenderly.
Thou wilt be well cared for, and
there will come time when thou wilt
need rest Now CO." and he pushed
her playfully toward the door.
"And aren't You going to congratu-
late me. Otto?"
with all my heart wish thee Joy.
little one"
She went away pouting and only
half satisfied.
The sparrows might have wept over
the infinite pathos of the melody
that poured from the windows
after that 1t was Rats cav
atina that he played and the long.
passionate notes had in them an inten-
sity and fervor that spoke of some
mighty inspiration within. Then he
played some other airs, equally touch
ing. equally tender-played on and on
until the dusk stole down and told him
it was nearly time to prepare for the
| theater.
1t was notable night too. 1t was
the hundredth night of the piece and
was to be suitably commemorated. The
theater was to be gloriously decorated,
and for this occasion only the singers
and dancers were to be permitted to
receive over the footlights the floral
offerings of their admirers. He, him.
self, was to contribute to the enjoy
ment of the occasion solo upon his
Amati, and as ne was wcll-known and
in degree famous. this latter fact was
duly announced on the bills.
Never had little Flora danced as she
danced thatnight. She was breath
of air, a dream. light. filmy thing on
wings. that flew and fiuttered and shot
here and there in a bewildering series
of leaps and bounds and glides that it
panied the eyes to follow. Triumph
ant at last. she stood there, black eyes
glittering, head thrown back and plump
hands outstretched as though to ward
off the crash of applause that greeted
her. Recalled and recalled. she
finally disappeared; and Otto. whose
deft bow and fingers had mainly
wrought the measure for her flying
footsteps. was mutely conscious of a
mellow voice from the proscenium box
to the left of him reiterating its
bravo! bravo!" in tone that be-
spoke. rs it seemed to him. an excess
of enthusiasm even for that occa-
sion.
As he drew his bow across the strings
he was conscious only of a sickening
sense of perfume-thc perfume of the
masses of roses that had been bestowed
upon the favOSite dancer. But by and
by his whole soul went into the melody
that same cayatina of Raft sand
the great audience listened entranced.
Was it fancy. or. as the last note quiv-
cred from his precious instru ment did
he really catch glimpse of Flora
standing in the wings watching him?
] He was not sure. but could almost
have sworc it was she. and that she
was holding fragile lace handkerchief
to her eyes. But that was to shield
them from the lights doubtless Any
! way. he was conscious of feeling
dreadfu!ly miserable. so miserable as
to entirely disregard the applause and
demands for repetition that were
| showered upon him.
He Owed down beneath the stage.
folded his instrument tenderly away in
its case. lighted a cigar and strolled
out into the street. Unconsciously
his course took him round to the
front of the theater. and. almost before
he realized where he was. he found
himself face to face with q group of
young men. all dressed in the height
of fashion and loudly discussing the
merits of the play. In the foremost Of
the group he recognized the youth,
who-well, as Albert He was hand
some young fellow with . superb figure
that was set off to perfection by his
evening dress and light oyercoat Otto