Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-02-01

the music laid its spell upon every ear
and heart He felt his way along the
keys, like man treading uncertain
paths; but he gained confidence as he
progressed, and presently bent To his
work like master. The instrument
was not in exact tune, but the ears OF
his audience, through long disuse, did
not detect anything radically wrong.
They heard a succession OF grand
chords, a suggestion of melodies here
and there, and it was enough.
See him counter with his left"
said an old rough
He callsthe turn every time on the
upper end Of the board, " responded a
man with a stack OF chips in his hand.
The player wandered of into the
old ballads they had heard al home.
All the sad and melancholy, and touch
ing songs that came up like dreams OF
childhood, this unknown player drew
from the KEYS. His hands kneaded
their hearts like dough, and squeezed
out the tears as from a wet sponge.
As the strains flowed one upon the
other they saw their homes OF the
long ago reared again; they were play
ing once more where the apple bios
SONS sank through the soft air TO join
the violets on the green turf OF old
New England States; they saw the
glories of the Wisconsin naples and
the haze OF the Indian summer, blend
ing their hues together; they recalled
the heather of Scottish hills, the
white cliffs of Britain, and heard the
the sullen roar of the sea, as il beat
upon their memories vaguely. Then
came all the old Christmas carols,
such a. they had sung in church thir-
" wears before; the subtle music that
brings up the glimmer OF wax tapers,
the solemn shrines, the evergreen,
holly, misletoe and surpliced choirs.
Then the remorseless performer plant
ed his final stab in every heart with
Home. Sweet Home"
When the player ceased the crowd
slunk away from him. There were no
more revelry and devilment left in
his audience Each man wanted 10
sneak off 10 his cabin and write the
old folks a letter The day was break
ing as the last man left the place, and
the player, laying his head down on
the piano fell asleep.
Il say, pard' said Goskin, You
want little reSt;'
Il do feel tired, " the old man said.
Perhaps you Il let me rest here for
the matter of day or so.
He walked behind the bar where
some old blankets were lying aud
stretched himself upon them.
IL feel pretty sick. guess won't
last long. I've got borthsr down
in the ravine-his names Driscoll.
He knows I'm here. Can you get
him before morning.
Goskin started He knew Driscoll
well.
He your brother? I'll have him
here ia half an hour
Az he dashed out into the storm the
musician pressed his hand to his side
and groaned Goskin heardithe word
Hurry and sped down the ravine
to Driscoll's cabin. Ii was quite light
in the room when the two men re-
turned. DriscOll was as pale a. death.
MY God! hope he's alive! |
wronged him when we lived in Eng
land, twenty years ago
They saw the old man had drawn
the blanket over his face. The two
stood for a moment awed by the
thought that he might be dead. Cos
kin lifted the blanket and pulled it
down astonished. There was no one
there.
Gone" cried Dfiscoll wildly.
Gone! echoed GOskin, pulling out
his cash drawer. Ten thousand
dollars in the sack, too"
The next day the boys followed
horses tracks through the snow, and
lost them in the trail leading to
Phoebe.
There was a man missing from the
camp 1t was the three card monte
man, who used to deny paint blank
that he could play the scale. One
day they found wig Of white hair,
and they called TO mind when the
stranger" had pushed those locks
back and looked toward the ceiling
for inspiration on the night Of De
cember "a, 1861.