The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-18
A MUSICAL MOUSE

IL,
hieh-eeuraged child, aud PERTAINS rather
epuneu one into the bargain was
i ,lSeu 10 tears of indignation by this art.
,ess account OF the brutali,ies of a drrnken
a ,a.neI anu OF the desperate WEAKNESS en-
gehueTeo by what, to the outer world
inlght nave looked like series of brilliant
"Iusuc triumphs, bet what reused her ire
Iaore man all the rest put together was
rtalt1 mattsr-of-course statement that he
never practiced less than eight hours a
day. That, it seemed to her ravaa1aS
state OF Things not TO be borne BY man mr.
mouse. she has never been whipped in her
ne, ana probably thought she was brave
en- en- uga 10 put up with physical pain nut
9 bouu ria hnow what praeticing scales for an
hour day meant, and she hated it. AS far
eain9 through that terrible drudgery du RING
eight mortar hours-not while there WERE
Jaws IN the land and determined persons
reany 20 set them in notion
Now, II was evident that sha be off h
ing still of tender wears. thouph NOT Iari,in,
an discrimination, was hardly the proper
person TO invoke the aid CT the law In
iact, rs matter Of detail, she did not ouite
hhow now 10 set about It, Consequently
She LOST no time in appealing 10 one in
whose power to do anything and everything
that justice nNght require she felt almost
% hnoounded confidence as she did in tbe
queens. In the course OF their talk the
cllluren had stroiied into the rose garden,
where Lady Ninchcombe was at that mo.
ment wandering about with basket and a
pair OF scissors, and before Franz could
check his companion she had rushed M To
her mother and had poured forth rapid
resume of his wrongs. not forg-tfIno n
mention his proposed fight and ms project
oil turning himself into a stable-boy.
Good gracious mel" calculated the good-
natured lady. "a stabe-bov, indeedI |
never heard of such thing! Bat nv dear
child, you don't dislike music, do vou?"
mo-" answered Franz; AZ don't dislike
It. l used 10 love it once" he added visit
fully.
''of course you did. and so you will again
when you have had little rest. Rests
what YOU want, and resi- you shall baya I
promise you Now go into The house with
ella, and don't talk any more about run
ming away. Yon are going TO stay the night
here, and presently i Will send down TO the
hotel Tor your things. Then | will see your
Ii will be all right, so don't bother your
head about it until tell you what has been
settled"
Lady Winchcombe was mpusive and
authoritative. This was what her ladyship's
local lawyer give her to understand. in re.
spectful and circuitous language, when she
sent for him and Informed him that she had
made up her mind TO adopt the musical
mouse. The lawyer thought that there
would be difficulties and considerable
expenses attendant upon the proposed
transaction; he also ventured 10 hint
that there would be responsibilities
which might at q future date be
found inconvenient. But Lady Winch
connie did not wish for advice; she only
wanted legal information aud an interview
with Mr.. Robinson. The former was at her
service; The lattar she could not have. for
the excellent reason that Mr.. Robinson,
when summoned, was discovered in an pn-
preSentabie state of intuxication Franz's
clothes, however, were procured, and in
the morning up came Mr.. Robinson, sober
and alert, as we'll as fully prepared 10 vim
dicate his right to the custody of his Off
spring.
Your ladyship means well. no doubt"
said he; "but my son is nv son, and don't
care to part with him. Added to which the
loss OF his professional services would
mean the loss of many hundreds year
10 me-"
''lf you come 20 that" replied LADY
Winehcome, there are. believe, s. cieties
Tor the prevention OF cruelty TO children.
and means for carving out their objpct.
L 0u ought TO be ashamed OF yourself; but,
OF course, You are not ashamed, and | shall
not waste time in trying to make you so.
1t IS mere matter Of business: name your
price. please"
She was entitled to talk in that maenifi
cent style, for she was immensely rich. be-
ing not only in the enjoyment of an ample
Jolntnre, but having also been the daughter
and sole heirsss OF a great banker She
might II II had so pleased her. have adopted
all the musical mice in Europe without any
appreciate diminution of her annual iu-
cume. The upshot of a prolonged discus
sion was that Dir. Robinson made capital
bargain with her, which would probably
have been an even better one had not a
lawyer CHANGED TO be present. 1t was
agreed thai, in consideration of a formid-
able indemnity, Franz should be handed
over, body and bones, to Lady Winchcombe
to % what she liked with until he should
attain his majority; that his fat er should
not interfere with him. directly or indirect
ly. and should not be permitted to see him,
unless by the boys express wish This
treaty having been duly ratified, Mr.. Robin
son went gayly of and was gloriously drunk
for three consecutive days; and thus. as by
magic, the present and future life of Franz
OsteImann passed suddenly from darkness
into light
Wei, at any rate, he thought so, and
what any man or boy thinks about himself
must be so, as far as he is concerned that
Is: To be persuaded that YOU have head
ache is to have a headache. notwthstand-
ing all proofs that may be adduced 10 the
contrary. Franz. poor fellow. often had
headaches, for his brain had been exerted
beyond its natural strength. but it was not
until some tine after be had been adopted
by Lady Winchcombe that he began to have
occasional headaches, and these, as he
would have been the first TO acknowledge,
we're not due to any fault on the part of bis
kind protectress.
At the outset. anyhow. he was as happy
the first time in his recollection he had
complete and absolute holiday; all that was
asked or him WAS 10 amuse himself and
grow fat, and he did the one II h. could not
cOmpliSh the other. he was such queer
little oid-fasbioned crea ture that the whole
household became imbued with compass
sionate sort of affection for him. Lady
Ella, as often she could escape from her
governess. took him out sailing on
sunny, breezy afternoons, when the wind
fist
enough on 10 disturb an unedncated diges-
ton; the Ted-faced coacbman put him upon
one Of the carriage horses and trotted him
up and down the road outside Wnchcombe
Towers, the butler exhibited the family
plate to him and favored him with long,
leisurely anecdotes abb ut he splendid en-
TREATMENTS which had taken place In Lon
don "afore his lordsbip died" 1t was all
very delightful while it lasted but of course
it could not last indefinitely.
His future career had been mapped out
for him, and he was far from rebeling
against the decision which bad been ken
on his behalf. He possessed talent which
providence had obviously intended for him
to utilize; he must, sooner or later, make
his living by il, and very good and kind it
was of Lady WiDchcombe To furnish him
with facilities which. but for her. must have
remained ont of his reach. So. holiday
time being over, and her iadyship having
betaken herself 10 her country residence in
Warwickshire for the winter he departed.
not so very unwillipgly, for the town house
in CuTZon street, where be was to be placed
under the care of Mrs. Markham, the su-
perannuated bousekeeper, while he pur-
sued his musical studies.
His education In the art of which he was
so strangely ignorant, Notwithstanding his
extraordinary technical skill. was conducted
by the best teachers and with a noble dis
regard of expense. Week after week and
month after month he worked al harmony
and counterpoint fresh horizons opened
themselves out before him. and the pas
sonate love OF music which had displayed
Itself IN his early childhood came back to
him In some degree. Yet il did not return
N fGriflaI fraS htaas l..