Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1893-07-27
THAT OLD VIOLIN.

here cOtiatsS bn6 qOcIOfs DTdScOVy.
Now ! can introduce you," said Mrs.
Vincent, pulling up her ponies sharply
as she came alongside q gentleman who
was walking leisurely out of Brighton on
the London road.
CDR. Manifold. this is NJ. Drascoyy, of
whom I have told you. 1t is very lucky,
our meeting now, for he only stays with
me another "a hours or SO. and l dowant
him to see your violins. May he do sop
with pleasure, Mrs. Vincent shall
only be too glad if he will see them and
perhaps bring out some of the sound that
now lies dormant in them When will
you come, monsieur
"At any time tomorrow that may be
convenient to you, DR.. Manifold"
.'Then say after lunch, about half past
2; am not likely to be engaged then"
After few minutes conversation
they said goodby, and Mrs. Vincent
whipped up her ponies and drove into
Brighton to let her lion roar, as she
laughingly said to Drascovy, the rising
yiolinist, with q great future before him,
so the critics said. DR.. Manifold was
something Of q musician and had an odd
fancy for picking up stray instruments
here and there, some Of them valuable,
others Of no worth, for the doctor did
not really know enough about violins al
ways to judge correctly their value, con
sequently he was well pleased that NJ
Drascovy should come and give his opin-
lon and play on some Of them
The violinist turned up at the appoint
ed time, and soon DIR. Manifold brought
out the first-a violin in dark mahoga-
ny. evidently old and well seasoned
Drascovy made some alteration in the
stringing, and having tuned the instru-
ment the room was presently flooded
with perfect volume of melody. For
some time he went on playing, then end
ed with something like sigh and put
down the violin with nod of approval
"Good, very good, :" he said.
81 thought so, monsieur. What is that
violin worthf'
"Three hundred pounds at least. It
is beauty-one of the best I have ever
played on"
Here is another that seems to me
good. VIII you try itf"
Once again there was appreciation on
the musicians face.
'sAnd here" said the doctor, sis one
picked up last year in France, and
don't quite know what to make of 1t.
Somehow or other l never cared
There was knock at the door, and the
doctors page entered.
ssBad accident. sir, in the surgery; will
you conner
You must excuse me, monsieur. You
will be able to amuse yourself till I am
able to return. hope
Drascovy did not reply, and the doctor
in his hurry did not notice that his guest
was gazing in speechless wonder at the
instrument that had just been shown to
him. His hand trembled as he took it
up lovingly, tenderly. rs it possible, =
he murmured, 1.-THE realization Of my
dream, or am | still asleep? A virgin
Stradivariusl Surely this is Imagination;
it cannot be realityr'
He could hardly string and tune it,
his hands so shook, but soon he took up
a bow and seemed to listen entranced at
his own music. Then he put down the
violin and pressed his hand to his fore
head, pacing up and down the room.
Anon he played again and then took it
to the window for a better light. He
literally caresscd it with his long, thin
fingers. He knew there was fame and
fortune in that instrument with one who
could do it Justice. He must have it at
any cost.
But he was not rich; he could not pay
the money it was worth. Then he played
again, and thought came to him.
He would disselnble. The doctor did
not know its worth, He would not tell
him, but he would hint that he would
buy it. His resolve taken, he had time
to calm himself before the doctor reap
peared, and then they went on talking,
Drascovy hardly able to take his eyes
off the Stradisarius. Presently ne rose
to 60.
YES, your two instruments are good,
very good. By the bye. would you care
to part with the third?' making des-
perate effort to appear calm. II have a
pupil should like it for
'Oh, well, yes: don't mind, if you
will fix what you consider fair pricep'
Drascovy WINGED.
Ten pounds?' he asked.
Yes, if you judge that to be its
worth. >
He took the violin home to Mrs. Vim
cent, but he did not tell her much about
it. He went to his room, and for the
next "a hours he never left it. Once
they took him something to eat, but he
sat or stood and played till Mrs. Vim
cent was quite vexed only as she said
you never could tell what genius was
going to do next She supposed he had
an inspiration.
My dear III. Draseovyl Can it be two
years since we saw you In Brightons
Are You never coming to see mo agains
All my friends are anxious to congratu-
late you on your late phenomenal sue
cesses, SO do come and dine with me on
Tuesday or any day you like to name.
Now, shall really take no refusal. By
the bye, have you heard Of poor DR..
Manield's sudden death heart disease:
His daughter is with me now. She was
left 50 very poor, for he was deeply in
debt. should ike you to see her. Sin
cerely yours, Mildred Vincent"
Could he meet her, Drascovy thought,
the daughter of the man he had defraud-
ed No! He would refuse, and yet as
be sat down to write the note something
made him accept.
He was not happy man. Through
al his great success, due SO largely to
that wonderful violin, there had been
the skeleton at the feast, and now the
doctor was dead and his daughter un-
provided for, living, it seemed, on charity.
IN. Drascovy-M Miss Manifold" said
Mrs. Vincent.
He saw a tall, queenly woman, with
lustrous brown eyes and bright, fair hair,
dressed in a deep black gown, relieved
by the least touch Of white about the
throat. Her movements were slow and