Middletown transcript., 1894-07-21

: dame to give them some milk. The.
sat in the tube, and the little cir
+ looked about and admired the spinning
wheel, and the quaint chairs, ard th'
queer old jugs, and the pictures on th'
wall.
"Ah, but you shall see the othel
, room," the old peasant woman said
and she led them into small apart
ment, which was evidently INTENDED
for study. 1t bore evidence of un-
usual taste and care, and one could SCI
that some loving hand had been trying
to make it real sanctum of refine
ment. There was even small piano
A carved book rack was fastened tt
the WALL
The old dame did not speak at first
she gave her guests time to recover
from the astonishment which she fell
they must be experiencing, then she
pointed TO the piano.
81 bought that for my daughters, .
she said, with a stange mixture.of sad
ness and triumph. 81 wanted to keeI
them at home with me, and L saved
and saved, and got enough money to
buy the piano. They had always
wanted is have one, and thought they
would then stay with me. They liked
music and books, and l knew they
would be glad to have room of their
own where they might read and play
and study, and so l gave them this
corner"
''Well, MOTHER" asked the lutte
girl, land where are they this after
noon?n
"Ahl" she answered, sadly, "they
did not care to stay. But it was
natural enough, and l was foolish to
grieve. Besides, they come to see
me-n
add then they play to you?" asked
the little girl, gently.
"They say the piano is out of tune"
the old dame said. ~ don't know
Perhaps you can tell"
TIE ittt girl sat down to the piano
and struck few chords.
"Yes," she said. ''It is badly out of
tune. Give me the tuning-hammer. !
am sorry" she added, smiling at Os-
wald Eyerard, "but l cannot neglect
my duty. Don't wait for me.'
Il will wait ror you," he said sui
lenly; and he went into the balcony
and smoked his pipe and tried to pos
sess his soul in patience.
When she had faithfully done her
work she played few simple melodies.
such as she knew the old woman would
love and understand, and she turned
away when she saw that tie listeners
eyes were moist. -.-
''Play ONE again, the old woman
whispered. Il am dreaming of heauti-
full things"
So the little tuner touched The keys
again with all the tenderness OF an
angel,
"TelI your daughters" she said,
as she rose to say good-by, "that the
piano is now in good tune. Then they
will play to you the next time they
come"
Il shall always remember you, made
moisstlle," the old woman said; and
almost unconsciously. she, too, took
the childish face and kissed it.
OsNa d Everald was waiting for his
campanion in the bay field; and when
she apologised to him for this little |
professional intermezzo, as she called !
it, he readjusted his nerves, which the |
noise of tuning somewhat disturbed. |
1T was very good of you TO tune the
old dame's piano." he said looking at
hel with renewed interest.
''SOme one ha ! to do it, of course,n
she answered, brightly, land am glad
the chance fell to me. What a COM
fort it is to think that the next time
those daughters come to see her they
will play to her, and make her very
old dear!''
"You puzzle me greatly he said, 81
cannot, for the life of me, think what
made you chose your calling. You
must have many gifts-any one who
.alks with you must see that at once;
md you play quite nicely, too."
lam sorry that my profession sticks
n your throat" she answered. "Do
)e thankful that l am nothing worse
han tuner. For l might be some
hing worse-a snob, for instance" S
And, so speaking, she dashed after a a
and left him to recover from s
Ter words. He was conscious of hay.
ng deserved leproof, and when at !
asst he overlook her he said as much and [
!sked for her kind indulgence.
III forgive you, she said, laughing.
You and are not looking at things
rom the same point of view, but we
lave Tad splendid morning toge th +
nd have enjoyed every minute of it.
And TOMORROW l 60 On my way"
"And Tomorrow you CO." he re- y
'eated. Can it not be the day after
o morrow
II am bird of passage" she said
haking her head. "You must not
eek to detain me. l have taken my
est and If G 10 other climes." f
They had arrived at the hotel, and :
oswald Everard saw 10 more of his
until the evening, when she
;ame down rather late for table d'hote,
She hurried over her dinner aud went
nto the saloon. She closed the door
md sat down to the piano, and fingered
here without touching the keys. Once
4. y