Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-18


the three and ten sheet posters. The
papers are kind to us, giving our agent
desk room always while he writes the
criticism OF our performance, and so
suburban and outlying towns at times
get the impression from our air, and not
from anything we state at all, that we
carry thirty people and stud Of fine
horses which we introduce at each per-
fornance.
So these young people residing at the
cheese town had somehow got to think
ing that we had an "opry." They came
arm in arm from the train with bright,
expectant faces to the opera house. Their
eyes just danced with expectation. Our
manager is TO blame for this, for his bills
are alive with pictorial action. He for
gets that people who are not profound
expect that the attraction" is going to
place himself in all these attitudes.
The young people put up at the hotel
for tea and sat in the parlor and con-
versed till the meal was ready.
'Play something, Madeline" said
Grace, who was a large, powerful girl,
with tight shoes and slight stoop In the
back, but one could SEQ by her muscular
frame that she stoops to conquer, for l
| thought when saw her that she was the
, village blacksmith, VINO meath the
spreading chestnut stands, with strong
and brawny arms, God wot, and whisk-
srs ON his hands.
''Play something, Madeline" again
came the pleading, yet deep, rich, manly
voice of Grace.
~Oh, shet upr' exclaimed Madeline.
~rd druther talk or play some game till
supper's ready. Give Us a restr' she
added petulantly, for one could see that
she was the spoiled darling Of the cheese
town and wore nauve suspenders over
[. draddy tay CAMP.
"Oh, play something for me, Maddie!"
said tall, 1.-the young man with a knob
on his throat, which rose and fell like
the price of wheat when he swallowed.
play something for me- ne said, swal-
lowing something with sound that re-
minded one strangely Of the hanging
Of Mrs. Surratt. "Play 'Bonapartc's
| March, Maadie.'
There was wistful look in his eye,
and he leaned forward toward her till
she could almost feel his hot Bermuda
onion breath ON her cheek.
/ He was Of o deep, passionate nature,
inclined TO the sanguine bilious. His
{ father owned the livery stable under
; whose auspices they had come.
! play something for me, Maddie.
I Play 'Bonaparte's March," exclaimed
the tall. young man, leaning sill farther
! toward her and regarding her with a
look of heart hunger in his eye that re-
minded one in spite Of himself of ono
7 who had been searching for the open
polar sea and boarding himself.
Yes, do" said Grace. ''play some
thing for Leonard. even il you sour on
u.s. She then rose and escorted Maddie
Z 20 the piano as Sandrow would have
escorted the child wonder to the door for
q good spank. Reluctantly Maddie
went 70 the piano. and aside from the fut-
ter Of tiny mother of pearl suspender
button on tho real brussels carpet and
its low buzz SIS IL spun across the zinc
under the baseburner. there was no
sound. With Grace there was no monkey
business.
Madeline looked mp dreamily TO the
wall. trying 20 think Of the piece. She
then touched the keys with technique
HAT was ike the heavy football OF a
wounded buffalo.
MY patience" she exclaimed. looking
/ AZ her fingers suddenly, this piano amt
been swept since Adam was ye'rlin!'
Merry laughter from the delegates of
the rennes village greeted this sally.
The piano was peer. IL was not what
e had once been. and il never was much.
lt had been taken cut Of four burning
hotels within fifteen years 10y misguided
people who thought that q piano ought
- be preserved. Il may be rs well per-
maps right here for me to admit shat
believe the tirnefs coming when pianos
viii be sold as one sells good horse, for
whatever il viii bring. There are gen.
sraliy two OF three people in a century
who can get music out Of piano. IS
khara a n mas. r-ho <~,.x wafr ,x~rce.