Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-02-01
go Reward
To a Compliant Piano Player.

This he stuck up in the music rack,
and though the inscription glared at
| frequenters of the room until mid
night, it failed 10 draw any musician
from his shell.
So the merrymaking went on; the
hilarity grew apace. Men danced and
sang to the music of the squeaky fid
die and wornout guitar, as the jolly
crowd within tried 10 drown the howl
| ing Of the storm without. Suddenly
they became aware of a white haired
man crouching near the fireplace. His
garments, such as were left, were wet
with melting snow and he had IA half
starved. half-crazed expression. He
| held his thin, trembling hands to-
wards the fire, and the light OF the
blazing wood made them almost trans
parent, He looked about him once in
a while, as if in search of something.
and his presence east such a chill over
the place that gradually the sound OF
/ the revelry was hushed, and it seemed
that this waf of the storm had brought
in with it all of the gloom and cold
ness of the warning elements. Goskin,
mixing mp cup of hog egg nog. ad-
vanced and remarked cheerily:
Here, stranger, brace up! This is
the real stuff.
The man drained the cup, smacked
his lips and seemed more at home.
Been prospecting, hey? Out in the
mountains-caught in the storm
Lively night, this!'
Pretty bad, said the man.
Must feel pretty dry"
The man looked at his streaming
clothes and laughed, as if Goskins re
mark was sarcasm. How long out!
asked Goskin.
-Four days"
Hungry
The man rose up, and walking over
to the lunch counter fell to work up
on some roast bear devouring it like
any wild animal would have done. As
meat and drink and warmth began TO
permeate the stranger he seemed TO
expand and Tighten up. His features
lost their pallor, and he grew more
and more content with the idea that
he was not in the grave. As he un-
derwent these changes the people
about him got merrier and happier,
and threw off the feeling of depression
which he had laid upon them.
DO you always have your place
decorated like thisl' he finally asked
Of Goskin.
This is Christmas Eve, was the re-
ply
The stranger was startled.
December 24th, sure enough.
That's the way put it up, pard.
when | was in England Ialways
kept Christmas. But | had forgotten
that this was the night. I've been
wandering about in the mountains un-
til I've lost track Of the feasts Of the
church. "
Presently his eye fell upon the piano.
Where's the player" he asked.
Never had any, said Goskin, blush
ing.
Il used to play when | was young"
Gogkin almost tainted at the admis-
sion.
Stranger. do tackle it and give us
a tune. Nary man in this camp ever
had the nerve to wrestle with that
music box His pulse beat faster,
for he feared that the man would, like
all others, refuse him.
III do the best ! can" he said
There was no stool. but seizing a
candle box, he drew it up and seated
himself before the instrument. 1t on
ly required few seconds for a hush
TO come over the room.
THAT old coon is going TO give the
thing a rattle"
The sight Of a man at the piano was
something so unusual that even the
faro dealer, who was about TO take in
a fifty-dollar bet on the tray, paused
and did not reach for the money.
Men stopped drinking, with the glass
es at their lips Conversation appear
ed TO have been struck with sort Of
paralysis, and cards were no longer
shuffled.
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 single
note, yet the sound thrilled the room-
1t was the key to his improvisation,