Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-12-07
THAT OLD VIOLIN.

as she came alongside a gentleman WHIT
was walking leisurely out of Brighton OF
the London road.
"Dr. Manifold, this Is NJ. Drascovy, o
whom have told you. 1t is very lucky
our meeting now, for he only stays will
me another "a hours or so, and do wan
him to see your violins. May he do So?
with pleasure, Mrs. Vincent. 1 shall
only be too glad If he will see them ant
perhaps bring out some of the sound tha
now lies dormant in them. When will
you come, monsieur"
"At any time tomorrow that may b,
convenient to you, DR.. Manifold"
"Then say after lunch, about half pas
2; am not likely to be engaged then"
After a few minutes conversation
they said goodby, and Mrs. Vincen
whipped up her ponies and drove int
Brighton to let her lion roar, as sh'
laughingly said to Drascovy, the rising
violinist, with a great future before him
so the critics said. DR.. Manifold wa
something of a musician and had an ode
fancy for picking up stray Instrument
here and there, some of them valuable
others of no worth, for the doctor die
not really know enough about violins al
ways to judge correctly their value, con
sequently he was well pleased that M
Drascory should come and give his opin
ion and play on some of them.
The ,iolinist turned up at the appoint
ed timo, and soon DR.. Manifold brought
out the lirst---a violin in dark mahoga
ny, evidently old and well seasoned
Drascovy made some alteration in thu
stringing, and having tuned the instru
ment the room was presently flooded
with perfect volume of melody. Fol
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 WORTH"
"Three hundred pounds at least. Il
is beauty-one of the best I have eyel
played on"
Here is another that seems to mt
good. Will you try it?"
Once again there was appreciation OF
the musicians face.
"And here" said the doctor, sis one
picked up last year in France, and
don't quite know what to make of it.
Somehow or other never cared"-
There was knock at the door, and the
doctors page entered.
bad accident, sir, in the surgery; will
you conner"
"You must excuse me, monsieur. You
will be able to amuse yourself till air
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 tc
MIN. His hand trembled as he took il
up lovingly, tenderly. "Is it possible,
he murmured, 1.-The realization of my
dream, or am l still asleep? A virgin
Stradivarius! Surely this is imagination
it cannot be realityp
He could hardly string and tune it.
his hands so shook, but soon he took NJ
a bow and seemed to listen entranced al
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 il
to the window for better light. He
literally caressed 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 al
any cost.
But he was not rich; he could not pay
the money it was worth. Then he played
again, and Il thought came to him.
He would dissemble. 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 Stradivarius. Presently he rose
to go.
"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. Il have q
pupil should like it for"
"Oh, well, yes; l don't mind, if you
will fix what you consider fair pricev
Drascovy WINGED.
"Ten pounds?" he asked.
Eyes, 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 ht
sat or stood and played till Mrs. Vim
cent was quite vexed only as she sale
you never could tell what genius was
going to do next. She supposed he hat
an inspiration.
"My dear M. Drascovy! Can it be two
years since we saw you in Brighton
Are you never coming to see me again
All my friends are anxious to congratu
late you on your late phenomenal sue
cesses, so do come and dine with me OF
Tuesday or any day you like to name
Now, shall really take no refusal. BY
the bye, have you heard of poor DIR
Manfeld's sudden death-heart disease
His daughter is with me now. She wa!
left SO very poor, for he was deeply il
debt. should like you to see her. Sin
cerely yours, Mildred Vincent"
Could he meet her, Drascovy thought
the daughter of the man he had defraud
ed. MOI He would refuse, and yet al
he sat down to write the note something
made him accept.
He was not happy man. Througl
all his great success, due SO largely t
that wonderful violin, there had beel
the skeleton at the feast, and now th
doctor was dead and his daughter un
provided for, living, itseemed. on charity