Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-07-05

=1SAtH that he snapped and
 AA l ~ snarled but because
 @5NM he was unsociable,
 MA and the habits of the
 -ET,%r recluse grew upon
 |YSY% Hj him, and each year
 $: : 5 5; 5
 .@1 W of the ten he had
 E-A rX lived alone in his
 XVI A. MM modest fiat in Nor
 NI " NTN dicamp mansions he
 i1 JDW had withdrawn more
 N and more from so-
 ciety, and the few friends who really loved and admired him were sad at heart, for the clever hair ought not to be turning gray so rap idly and there was @ look in his beauti- full keen eyes sometimes that made sen- timental women when they caught 1t, which was not often, say he had "a story"
 And 80 he had, but the book wherein 1t was written down was closed and put away ten years ago before he became famous-before he came to Mordicamp Mansions. One or two old friends, such as Tom Teesdale and his wife. knew the story, and willingly would they have written the chapter, which was still un- told, in their own way. But the doctor stoutly declared that 1t would never be written-while he 1ved-and what could the kindest friend do or say, but just listen to him and submit2
 When the story began, as stories so often do, with tender and even roman tic love passage, Marmaduke Gray had not reached the professors chair which he now so ably filed, but 1t was we'll known that honors and distinctions were before him. Indeed, for his age, he was one of the most gifted among many able compeers, and a most delightful compan- ion if only you could get him away from his microscope and his specimens, wet and dry-livfng and dead. He was just on the point of perfecting the deducti ons made from the discoveries that folio wed the patient labor of years-how his fine eyes sparkled and how the words poured from his eloquent lips as he talked of his work !-when the flat above his Own was let, and every nerve quivered when he heard @ pianO-tuner at work in the room over his study.
 For days and days, before the profes- sor spoke of his grievance, the Tees dales knew that something had gone wrong.
 Then 1t came out, bit by bit, and 1t had to do with the tenant on the third floor.
 ''She plays the plano from morning till night" he said one evening as he walked up and down Mrs. Teesdale's drawing room. It was then about o'clock.
 "But with padded ceiling surely the sound Is muffled?"
 intensified, you mean! The padding Is fraud! Why did she take that fiat?" routed up his hair. It was cropped close so he could not do much harm.
 "You are sure 1t Is a woman?"
 "Yes. read her name on the indi- cator in the hall-Mrs. Vernon. And she is always at home."
 Silence for a few seconds, then he added, with a f..lny little break in his voice-not the sort of sound one would expect from 8 professor: "I should not music. It seems like retribution that I should be condemned to listen to it every day, and yet not-not from-Margery."
 MT. and Mrs. Teesdale exchanged a rapid glance. It was the first time the professor had uttered that name for years
 "How used to abominate Chopin and all his works ? the clear voice, with now 8 pathetic note in 1t, went on, and the professors eyes sparkled almost as If they were wet. AS he reached the far end of the room in his walk he was seen to take out his handkerchief, but when he passed once more into the circle of light the man of science was himself again.
 II am not going to bear 1t much longer, he said, in cool, matter-of-fact tone. ''1f she insists upon playing all driven from a comfortable home by hnkling piano!'
 "Do not be in a hurry. You will get accustomed to 1t in time."
 Accustomed! :The professor was getting cross. II have done my best" Mrs. Teesdale smiled; she knew what his best was. II set my will to work to force myself not to listen, and l might have succeeded f."
 .'If she had not played like Margery."
 The professor started as If he had been struck by a bullet. "You must not speak of her!" he cried out.
 "But you said her name yourself this moment, you inconsistent mortalr'
 "Very likely; but that Is no reason for supposing that I can bear to hear 1t fro you"
 "But you ought to boar 1t; and what Is more, you ought to put an end to this estrangement. I believe you are just as fond of her as you were ten years ago."
 Fond of her! What put that into your head? am not the man I was ten years ago. I have no time for love and nonsense"
 "Please answer my question"
 ''You did not ask one."
 Pardon me. l asked you if you were not in love. Therel I wonder if any one ever saw professor blushing before?"
 ''Pish! Rubbish! You make me look like fool r the professor grumbled; i; and he flung himself into a chair and took up newspaper wherewith he screened his face.
 "You cannot deny that she was avery pretty woman" he was heard to mutter as. The presently turned the sheet. Mrs. Teesdale knew her man. She let him alone ten minutes, and then chal- lenged him to game of chess. As they arranged the pieces the professor Said: II sent polite message the day before yesterday, stating the hours at which I am out every day; and asked, as great favor, that she would practice during my absence" ..-- "A very sensible suggestion. What did she say?"
 The professor laughed his celebrated sardonic laugh. ''She was very rude-said she never received messages through servants, and that if had any request to