The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-04
A MUSICAL BEAR.
The Novel Experience Of Cali
fornla Girl
Her Piano Playing Attracts the Atten-
ton of Bruin. and He Falls in Love
with The Young Lady and
the Instrument.

! the 1DsIIuIntnCs
Mary Carter was practicing her mus
and was all alone in the house But 70
some reason she was always alone whe1
she did So AS soon as she struck III
first note of her exercises everybod-
went outdoors and staid there regard
less OF the style with which she wen
over the scales. Mary, according to th,
Elmira On W Telegram. was a SAL
Francisco girl who had gone to spenc
the summer with her sister, who mar
ried rancher that lived away ND il
the mountains near the headwaters O.
American river. Her brother-in-law
Mr. Matthews, was well-to-do and fixed
the little house to which he took his
bride in fine style. Things We're so ele-
giant it was hard to imagine that the
zation- When he was buying furniture
he was persuaded to take a splendid
/ grand piano, which in due time arrived
at the ranch, and it was on this that
Mary was practicing. She did not like
the idea of being alone at first. but as
she found it impossible TO persuade her
sister to stay with her she had to make
the best of bad job. She went over
the scales carefully every few minutes,
taking look out into the garden to
see that her relatives did not get too far
away. After finishing one piece she
rested moment, thinking of what she
would play next. Suddenly she heard
shutting sound. and, turning around,
she saw large, brown bear standing in
the doorway leading 10 the back part of
the house. She was paralyzed with
fear and could neither move from her
chair nor scream.
She saw the bear come nearer, and she
trenbled like leaf. Oh, how she
wished she could faint But she was a
strong girl and couldn't. and the bear
kept coming closer, and soon had his
paws around her. She gave herself up for
lost as she felt the grip, which she
knew was deadly, tighten around her
and the warm breath of the creature on
her face. Looking through the window
she could see her relatives lounging
pines and tried to call them, but her
tongue would not move and she closed
her eyes, expecting to open them in
that happy land of which she had been
taught from childhood. But what was
this? The bear was not hurting her |
He held her gently but firmly in his |
paws. and was actually licking her |
face, like a pet dog. She opened her
eyes, and the world was the same as
Ill
was frightened or not, but somehow
she did not try to scream. She just
kept quiet, hoping something would
happen to end the agony, which she
lid not understand The bear did not
hold her more than second, although
Il seemed ages to the girl. He did not
want to hold her, for he threw her on
he floor. She was still frightened and
the beast to jump on her
Ind devour her at his leisure. But in
tead he turned around, commenced to
law the piano and was evidently de-
lighted with his performance, for he
;ept time with his feet and looked |
'round approvingly. The people out
ide heard the chatter but did not pay
ny attention to it, as they afterward
aid it was not unusual. Mary has ,
lever forgiven them for this. The bear
egan to play furiously, and Mary, see
1g a way to escape, took advantage of !
, and ran away screaming from the :
DOM. Her relations at first refused to :
elieve her story, but hearing the clat- 6
Pr ran to the window and looked in. q
ruin was still at it, and by this time @
ed become SO enthused that he was +
a sort of can-can to his own -
compartment. He was in the height
his glory and had found out where (
lie bass keys were, and with these he .
as particularly delighted. The deep, \
)ltinuous rumble seemed to afford him r
lie greatest pleasure, and he would +
zecute 4 bar that sounded like the ca E,
enza OF ga Storm at Sea- l,
He hOwled and jumped and whined,
nd at last concluded his concert by
citing on the piano on all tours and
jig. At this time Mr. Mat
Jews thought he had better take a I
and, and he ran into the room -
it'll an AK, as that was the -
lily weapon available The bear -
d not seem surprised, but got -
It of the way. and had there been :,
ON would have left the house He "
as struck several times with the ak. :
1t did not show fight, and the man =
ought he must have found a tame "-
ar. although he could not imagine a
here it came from. He ther changed
5 tactics and tried to capture it as it I1I
j not appear dangerous. He got hold y
it and tried to tie it in the piano q
yer. But at this the brutes wild ma ~
re showed itself, and il got ready to y
IKE an attack Before the man could
alize what was coming he heard a - -
ep, angry growl. and the next mo- "
mt was clutched angrily by the mon -. 20
er. The beast could have killed him - -
I it did not want 10. 1t Just gave =
n a good squeeze and threw him vio- VI
lily against the wall After looking
him moment the bear went out the
Or and walked Ieisurely into the yard
= Matthews and Mary rushed in ",
soon had Mr. Matthews back TO
He got M and looked
. Of the window and saw the bear IN,
liking quietly over the hill in the di-
ton of the mountain
Twice Elected by One Vote.
My one man was ever twice elected