The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-07-14

row | go on my way.
'And tomorrow you go, he repeated
"Can it not be tie day after tomorrow ?"
81 am bird of passage" she said,
shaking her head ''You must not seek
to detain me. | have taken my rest, and
off | go to other climes"
/ They had arrived at the hotel, and
Oswald Everard saw no more of his COM
panion until the evening, when she came
down rather late for table d'hote. She
hurried over her dinner and went into the
salon. She closed the door and sat down
to the piano, and fingered there without
touching the keys; once or twice she raised
her hands, and then she let them rest on
the notes, and half unconsciously they
began to move and make sweet music. and
then they drifted into Schumanns "Abend-
lied, and then the little girl played some
of his "Kinderscenen, and some of his
"Fantasiestucke,p and some of his songs
Her touch and feeling were exquisite,
and her phrasing betrayed the true musi-
clan. The strains of music reached the
dining room, and one by one the guests
came creeping in, moved by the music and
anxious to see the musician.
The little girl did not look up; she was
in Schumann mood that evening, and
only the players of Schumann know what
enthralling possession he takes of their
very spirit. All the passion and pathos
and wildness and longing had found an
inspired interpreter; and those who listened
to her were held by the magic which was
her own secret, and had won for her such
honor as comes only to the few. She un-
derstood Schumanns music, and was at
her best with him.
Had she, perhaps, chosen to play his
music this evening because she wished to
be at her best? or was she merely being
impelled by an overwhelming force within
her? Perhaps it was something of both.
Was she wishing to humiliate these peo-
pie who had received her so coldly? This
little girl was only human; perhaps there
was something of that feeling too. Who
can tell? But she played as she had never
played in London, or Paris, or Berlin, or
New York, or Philadelphia.
At last she arrived at the Carneval, and
those who heard her declared afterward
that they had never listened to more
magnificent rendering. The tenderness
was so restrained; the vigdr was so refined.
When the last notes of that spirited
"Marche des Davidsbundler contre les
Philistins" had died away she glanced at
Oswald Everard, who was standing near
her, almost dazed
"And now my favorite piece of all, she
said, and she at once began the Second
Novelette,, the finest of the eight, but sell
dom played in public.
What can one say of the wild rush of
the leading theme and the pathetic longing
of the Intermezzo p
The murmuring dying notes
That fall as soft as snow on the sea-
and
The passionate strain that deeply going.
Refines the bosom it trembles through.
What can one say Of those vague aspira-
tions and finest thoughts which possess the
very dullest among us when such music as
that which the little girl had chosen catches
us and keeps us, if only for a passing
moment, but that moment of the rarest
worth and loveliness in our unlovely lives?
What can one say of the highest music,
except that, like death, it is the great lev
eller9 Itgathers us all to its tender keep
ing-and we rest.
The little girl ceased playing. There
was not sound to be heard; the magic
was still holding her listeners When at
last they had freed themselves with sigh,
they pressed forward to greet her.
"There is only one person who can play
like that cried the Major with sudden
inspiration is Miss Thyra Flower
dew"
The little girl smiled.
"That is my name" she said, simply;
and she slipped out of the room.
The next morning, at an early hour, the
Bird of Passage took her fight onward,
but she was not destined to go off unob-
served Oswald Everard saw the little
figure swinging along the road, and he
overlook her.
"You little wild bird !" he said; ''and so
this was your great idea; to have your fun
out Of us all, and then play to US and make
US feel, don't know how-and then to CO."
"You said the company wanted stirring
up, she answered. 'and l rather fancy 1
have stirred them up
"And what do you suppose you have
done for me ?" he asked.
81 hope l have proved to you that the
bellows blower and the organist are some
times identical" she answered.
But he shook his head.
'Little wild bird, he said, ''you have
given me great idea, and will tell you
what it is-to tame yoa. So good-by for
the present"
@Good-by," she said. s'But wild birds
are not SO easily tanned"
Then she waved her hand over her head,
and went on her way singing.
Teacher Ito new pupiD-what is your
last name. my little man?