Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-27


singing,-a wonderful contralto, pure
| and deep as silver bell.
"Who can it be--here ?" she asked
herself; and as the song ceased, she
tapped gently. A pale woman opened
the door. Two little boys-evidently
the musicians-sat side by side within.
Il beg your pardon, but | heard the
music and could not pass by. Are the
children yoursY"
''only this one,--he is blind, you see"
A boundless pity spoke in the
teachers eyes.
"IIe has gift that many clear-seeing
might envy. And you, child to
Sandy-"has nobody told you that you
have fortune in your voice"
The boys heard her unconJrehend-
ingly.
wont We sit down, nt..anr' asked
the mother, busting broker chair with
her apron. Miss La Chapclle took the
| offered seat, and with a few gentle
questions drew the story of the blind
| child.
No, he was not born blind. A fever,
when he was 2 years old, left him so.
Was there no help? Perhaps, but it
would cost q great deal of money, so
people said, and she had none. She
hadn't been well for long time--some
days she could not work at ALL Who
taught him to play? Nobody he picked
1t up himself Mrs. Maloney, on the
llrst floor, had melodeon, and some.
times she would let Billy 90 down. He
could play that the same--and Tom
wilkins accordion, too. 1t seemed as If
1t was born in him. But where was the
goody Bind people can't work, and
music wont keep from starving.
Miss La Chapelle sighed. The burden
OF the world seemed to sink upon her
heart. Then she remembered whose
birthday It was, and took courage.
A few weeks later, she waited with
Billy the verdict Of u famous oculist.
The child can doubtless be cured,
madam, but the treatment will be
tedious and expensive. The operation
is u very delicate one, and there must
be months in the hospital"
Miss La Chapelle was poor, with aged
parents dependent upon her, but She
had friends at court More than this,
she incarnated the persistence of pur.
pose in a cause on which she had once
set her heart.
That the great Mrs. Lntimer's draw
ingroom should have opened for u
musicale i'll which the chief performers
We're 10 he little blind harmonica-
player and street gamin whose voice
had been exercised by crying the Gl0Je
and IierdM on the crowded crossings,
seemed scarcely less than miracle.
And was it not quite AS strange that Herr
Edelmuth should have consented to as
sist, and to bring with him mis- young
violin pupil, about whom all the must
cal people were talking n
Mrs. Latlmer's invitations We're the
commands Of society queen. The
guests obeyed, curious and good.
naturedly indulgent of the new charita-
BILE whim.
The blind child stood before the gilt
terlng assemblage unabashed; but
Sandy's stout little heart quailed within
him
I'D rather IA fit a kid twicet my SIZE"
he contidcd to Miss La Chapelle after
ward, but | KEEP asayin' to myself,
Its for Billy's eyes 7"
The repertoire OF the small musicians
seemed practically ineXhaustible. Old
songs, street melodies or mission chapel
hymns-the encores were never want.
ing. No operate first night" had ever
scored u more signal triumph.
A ripple of well-bred admiration
stirred the room as Herr Edelmuth led
out his pupil, and took his own seat at
the piano. With q listening, caressing
motion, she bent her chin upon her in
strument. while the gaslight illuminated
her perfect form and face. Sandy started
erect, then sank into his place again, hot
and cold with mingled embarrassm
and ectasy.
BILLY" he whispered, "it's her-the
lady US give me the quarter!"
The tall young man at Mrs. Latimer's
right bent Slightly forward, ana the
carved sticks of her fan, with which he
had been tritling, crumbled between his
fingers.
"Sorry?" said that lady. "You are
not; you are positively radiant. | be-
lieve you broke it on purpose"
When the applause which followed
the closing hunters had subsidized, re-
placed by The murmurs of general CON.
yersation, the tall young man took
Sandy by the hand, and made his way
10 where the girl vlolinist still stood ut
her masters side.
will you present meg" he asked
Herr Edelmuth.
Miss Vivian, | have the honor to
introduce my frlend, Mr.. Fortescue."
The young man bowed.
Yet we have met befOre-we three?n
he said in IL tone so low that none but
the lady caught the words. A faint
flame of color burned in her check, and
her lavely eyes, falling, met the little
newsboy's enraptured gaze. Could it
be that those frank eyes had also known
the secret lore of the "sidewisc look Z"
True stories do sometimes end like
fairy tales, despite the reaists. So it
will net be thought incredible that in
due time Fortescuc married his beauti-
fat heien; that Sandy, released from
Mother Meg" is under their united
guardianship, on his way to grow up
a useful citizen; that billy has his eyes
again. And what of the ncwsboy,s
self-sacrilice, old Wildmar's Christmas
memories, the tender pity which light
ened Miss bankruptcies tireless feet and
opened the hearts and purses of Mrs.
Latimer's fashionable guests i? The sum
nay, rather the geometrical progress
sion-was it not all change for, a
quarter?'
A new ornament Tor the chatelaino is
n little dictionary about an inch in size,
incloscd in Il silver case that contains
magnifying lens, making il possible to
read the 5000 words that arc between
the covers.
snrEGa
II