Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-13

tlyely fishing for minnows with On eye on
the distant park keeper. There was 4 unis
yeraAl rustling OF leaves ~ the sllenoeI and
sometimes, when the wind blew straight
across, the music Of the military band be.
came more distinct,
How long they remained there the young
man did not kn0wJ II was golden morning,
aud all too brief but when ~ last they did
rise 10 40 he was very nearly eaughtI for In.
stead of returning by the way they had
come, they struck weatwardl and he nudden-
ly saw with alarm that there was no time
fnr him 10 get behind one OF tho elms.
All ha could do WIS 10 turn aside.
aud lower his eyes. They passed within O
few yards OF hlaj he could dist nelly hear
tho old man singing. with q fine note Of
bravAdo In his voice, "The standard on the
brAes o. Mar. Ia up and streaming rarelyj"
then, when he was sure they were some way
on, hu made bold 10 raise bis eyes again.
Had she taken any netlee o HIN? He
hoped not. lie did not wish her ~ think
him a spyi he did not wish to be known to
her At all, He should be her constant
nelghbor, her companion almost, without
any consciousness on her part. Aud again
aud again be maryeled that the landlady In
tho little thOroughfare should have given
him those treasures Of rooms-should have
put such happiness within his reach-for so
trivial q sum. Seventeen shillings weekl
when each moment would be diamond,
aud each evening hour string Of dia-
mondsi
But nevertheless there were his studies to
be thought OF; so now he walked away down
to Grosvenor Place, gathered his books to-
gether, aud took them up in hanson to
his newly-acqured lodgings. That after
noon he Loyalty stuck to his work-or tried
to do so, though, in fact, his ears were alert
for any sound coming rom the other side OF
the way. He had lie his window open:
one OF the windows of the opposite house
was also left open. Occasionally he would
lay down Draper's Civil War in America,
and get up and stretch his legs, and from
convenient shelter send swift glance of
scrutiny across the street. There was no
sign. Perhaps they had gone out again,
shopping, or visiting, or, as likely as not,
to look at the people riding and driving in
the park. He returned to Draper, and to
President Jackson's proclamation-but with
less of interest; his annotations became
fewer. He was listening as well as reading.
Then all of a sudden there flashed into
his brain a SUGGESTIONS suggestion that
had little to do with Clay's Compromise, or
the project to arrest Mr.. Calhoun. On the
previous evening it had seemed to him as
though the unseen violinist were speaking
to him; why, then, should he not answer, in
the same language? There could be no Of
fense in that-no impertnence: it would be
merely one vague voice responding to the
other, the unknown communicating in this
feshless and bloodless way with the un-
known. And now he was abundantly CRATE
full to his aunt or having insisted on his in
cluding music among his various studies
and mplishments: u use had come for
his slight proficiency at last: most modern
languages he knew, but he had never ex-
pected to be called upon to speak in this
one. And yet what more simple, as be-
tween neighbors7 He was not thrusting his
society on any one; he was invading no
privacy; he was demanding no concession of
friendship or even acquaintance. But at
least the dreadful gulf of silence would be
bridged over by this mystic means.
1t was nearly 6 o'clock; London was busy
when he went out on this hot evening. He
walked along to a music publishers place
In Regent street; and hired piano on the
express stipulation that 1t was to be In his
rooms within one hour. Then, as he had
only had biscuit for lunch, and wished to
leave himself untrammelled later on, he
turned into O restaurant and dined there,
simply enough, and had cigarette and
look Mt the evening papers. Thereafter he
strolled back 10 his lodgings and took to his
book, though his thoughts were inclined 10
wander now and again.
Twilight had fallenj but he did not light
the gas. Once, for brief second or two, hs
had quietly run bis fingers over the keys Of
the plano, 10 learn II was tolerably In tuuej
then the room relapsed Into silence again.
Aud was there TO be silence on the other side
as we'll? He waited and listened. and
waited and listened, In vain. Perhaps, while
he was idlina away his time In the Regent
street restaurant, they had come out from
the house and gone TO some theater. The
street was 80 still now that he could almost
have heard anyone speaking 10 that room on
the other side; but there was no sound.
Then his heart leapt and his brain grew
giddy. Here was that low-breathing and
vibrating wall again-and was she alone
now?-in the gathering darkness. He
recognized the air-it was "Auld Robin
Gray"-but never before had he known that
it was SO beautiful and so inetfably sad as
we'll. Slowly she played and simply; II was
almost like a human voice-only that the
trembling strings had penetrating note ot
their own. And when she ceased, 1t seemed
to him that 1t would be pro anation to break
In upon the hushed and sacred stiffness.
And yet was he not to answer her, in the
only speech tnat cOulu NOT OueUuG was ne
to act the coward, when there offered a
chance of his establishing some subtle link
with her, OF sending message, OF declaring
his presence in this surely unobtrusive ash
ion? Quickly he sat down to the piano;
and, in rather nervous and anxious
fashion, began. He was not q brilliant per-
former-anything but that; but he had
light touch and a sensitive ear; and he
played with feeling and grace. 1t was
kathleen Mavourneen"-and sort of ap-
peal in its way, did she but remember the
words. He played the melody over only
once-slowly and as sympathetically as he
could; then he rose and retired from the
piano; and stood in the darkness, listening.
. Alas there was no response. What had
he done? He waited, wondering; but all
was still in the little street. 1t was as if
some bird, some mellow-throated thrush or
nightingale, had been warbling to itself in
the dim security of the leaves, and been
suddenly startled and silenced by an alien
sound, not knowing what that might por-
tend.
ITO be Continued Neat Sunday.1