The morning call., 1892-08-15
AGONIES OF FEAR.

Frank Hendleigh played 6rst violin In
sllverton. Colo. with picked up orchestra
1t the new opera-house.
One evening they all went I'D to Silver
Plume, another mining town about eight
miles away to play for dance.
They played until II o'clock, and then for
extra pay an hour longer.
The other fellow. stayed all night, ex-
peetlnz 10 return by the stage tile next
morning al o'clock. But Hendleigh con-
eluded to walk back. taking a footpath
down the mountHln that was about four
miles nearer.
The other boys chaffed him considerably:
be had just been married and did not want
90 leave his young Hfs alone.
He knew the path perfectly, and in spite
of the persuasl0ns of his friends aud their
warning about bears, ne struck out down
the mountain toward home.
The night was clear. starlit. November
one, but the shadows cast by the bOulders
and scraggy pines madS his way mostly
dark. But he trudged along with his in
strument In It's case hung by a strap over
his shoulder
Al first. when he got into the darkest
place, he did feel little timid. but he grew
boider, and walked rapidly, With the conf
denee OF one used to the road, down the IT.
regular mountain path.
All Of sudden Ia place where the dark
pess YVES little denser than usual. he ran
plump on TO some animal lying down In his
way.
he sprawled out over 1t, feeling It's furry
coat as he fell.
Well, be was the worst scared fellow ever
heard of. In panic OF terror he scram mbled
TO his feet, and few back the road he ad
come, until he made misgtep and fell off
shelving place about three feet deep. where
he lay Tor lew minutes, more dead than
alive.
His strength left him; he could hear his
heart beat like trip-hRmmer. Presently he
heard something else, too. The beast was
following him.
With painful distinctness he heard the
sound OF those approaching footsteps; then
flashed through his memory the stories he
had heard aud read OF the power of music
over wild animals.
With trembling fingers he took his violin
cut of Its case and began Blue Bells of
Scotland"
His first selection had q good deal Of
tremolo In t.
After he had finished, be listened for
awhile without hearing any noise, but
directly the footsteps sounded again, and
he began Blue Danube" waltzes. Again
he listened.
The spicy odor of the pines and cedars
made the chill, frosty air oppressive For a
time all was SILENT save the dropping OF an
occasional twig and the soft whisper of the
pine trees. Again he heard the steps
BE tried I'm Old Madrid" aud "Welliug-
toms March"
Every time he paused 10 listen, and al
ways, after brief interval, detected the
footsteps again. So he concluded thar his
only safety lay in the music.
Over and over, the strains OF concert and
dance music. of soft waltz, or lively polka or
stately "Lancers" rang out on the mountain
sir.
he grew so cold he could hardly hold the
bow. but dared not stop, for every time he
did he could hear those steps, now on his
left, now on his right. or in front of him.
The wonder was that all the live things
In the forest did not gather on that noun
tRinside TO hear.
At last the first faint streaks OF light be-
gan to creep in through the gloom Of the
shaded mountain path. Surely day would
bring relief
Hs could hold out no longer. As the bow
fell from his stiffened fingers he stood up
and looked about him.
In the gray OF the morning he saw the
dark form of some animal about 20. feet
distant.
Great heaveni Could 1t be? He stag
gered toward IT, filed with fierce passion
OF rage and disgust.
les, he had endured agonies Of fear. of
cold. and all the discomfort of a night on
the mountain, trying TO charm a Rocky
Mountain burro! An Insignificant little,
old scarred-up iackassi
me sun was shining over the treetopf
and the stage from Silver Plume was inSf
driving up TO the hotel when he got int
town.