Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-12-04

entertainments. Contrary to expecta-
ton he turned out to be the most eulo-
CYSTIC auditor that Beatrix had ever had
and he wound up his praises by declar-
ing that she must be provided with
master to bring her voice out. The most
indulgent of fathers was gratifed by
this tribute of admiration from such
source to his favorite child, and week
or so afterward the master was sent for.
This was an elderly Engkshman Of
respectable antecedents, who, twenty
years before, had begun his musical
career with what was considered the
finest tenor voice of the age. and whose
knowledge or the principles or music
was as profound as his proficiency was
remarkable. But before he had been
year on the operate stage the theatre in
which he was singing caught fire, and
he was burned about the throat in such
a way as forever to destroy the voice
which would have made him rich and
famous enoughto satisfy ambition Itself.
Professor Dorimar, as he afterward came
to be called, had some small private
means which rendered him in humble
way Independent, and with philO-
sophical serenity which rarely char
acterizes the musical temperament
he settled quietly down to be writer
On the art and science Of whose highest
'riumphs he could never more hope 20
partake. For the last eight years ne
had lived in New York, but he was
known to very few. He sat with Lis
piano and his manuscripts, and lis
visions of divine harmonies, in retired
little room few blocks west of Wash
ington square, and seldom went forth
save to listen for half an hour to one
or other Of the very few singers WAC
in his judgment were greSA enough to
sing. He never was known to have IL
dertaken the personal instruction If
pupils, though he might undoubted ?
have derived a large income from .
doing. But he was of opinion that the
right to use the voice in music is Civ n
to but two or three in an age, and the
chance that the training of one so GIFTED
should fall to him was too remote to 0e
considered. To the myriad chances Of
failure he preferred his comparative p'v-
erty and his peace of mind.
What arguments JOcelyn employed to
WOO him from his reserve cannot be
known. But Mr.. Randolph received a
note from the professor, mentioning ne
day and hour of his arrival, and reque t.
ing Mr.. Randolph to meet him and dr. We
him up from the railway station alone.
This was done, and on the way the pro-
fessor stipulated that he should be
enabled to hear Miss Randolph's voice
before she was aware of his presen e.
''There is train back to the city { lis
evening, sir" he remarked, "and, i /
should conclude to take it, it would be
well to have spared the young lady me
annoyance of an interview" The II It
ter was readily managed. Beatrix s. ng
with the unembarrassed freedom Of
supposed solitude, and the Pro. s.
sor listened. When the young |. iy
had finished her selection, whate er
it was, she rose from the piano and
passed out through the open window Of
the room to the veranda. Here she vas
surprised by the appearance of a mea .er
and pallid parsonage, of gentlemaily
bearing and aspect, with a broad scar
on the right side of his face and throat,
and many thoughtful lines and wrinkles
on his brow and around his eyes, who
advanced toward her with bow and
took her hand. AS she looked at linn
she fancied there were tears in his eyes.
"Miss Randolph" he said, in Il low and
very pleasant voice, 81 am to have he
honor of being your instructor; lny
name is Dorimar" He said no more at
that time, but raised her soft fingers TO
his lips. and with another bow els
appeared. He did not take the even. Gg
train back to the city, but on
the contrary took up his abode IN
the Randolphs' house, and being, IN
to his musical attainments a
man of cultivation, and of a singular
naive charm of character, he was nee y
as much of an acquisition to Mr.. r IL
dolph as to his daughter, and they all
became very good friends AS to MS
it was a matter between lis
pupil and himself, and was not often e.
ferred to outside. 1t seemed to aff I'd
him especial pleasure to think that L "a
trix was singing for music's sake, and
without any purpose of publishing or
profting by her requirements. Emusic
is a sacred thing, my child" he would
often say to her, land like all sacred
things it is shamefully and almost Uni
desecrated. It is not a n ere
question of voice and ear, but of purity
and loftiness of soul. Great music ne yer
was greatly sung by a charlatan, o.
libertine, or fortune hunter. l, for ~
part, thank God that you are what GU
are, and that you will never be obi ID
to weigh your music against gold. he
world may listen to you if it can, ut
you shall be spared the insult of rec "
ing for it what it dares to call rec n
pensep
Beatrice acquiesced in all this wisd' n, |
but somewhere in her secret soul he |
may have cherished the germ of an NJ |
bition to meet great multitudes of er |
fellow creatures, to test herself on |
them, perhaps to delight and ms ire |
them, if there were power in her sc to |
do. Three years passed, and then ed |
went 10 Europe. 1nere was some re-
text about his attending lectures 1t a
of mining engineering in
Saxony, but it was a tolerably tra1s-
parent pretext. That he should crme |
back at the end of two or three Irs
somewhat toned down was the best Ir.
hoped. AS to the questio. of |
funds, after good deal of medita on
Mr.. Randolph came to the follow ng
rather eccentric determination: Ed