The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-06-04

seemed to inspire her. But she still con-
tinued to stand.
"Thinkp' murmured the elder physi-
clan. "Why, she doesn't even know
enough to sit down when she is tired"
In truth, at that moment the girl be-
gan to sway violently, and had not the
foremost physician gone promptly to her
assistance she would have fallen.
Her limbs are too weak to stand so
long" said the younger man. But
don't put her to bed yet. want to try
an experiment"
"Of what ~nature?"
"Simply to see what effect music will
have. l have known downright idiots,
who responded to scarce another provo
cation than the sight of food, to have
their interest visibly aroused by the
sound Of a musical instrument. Miss
Maxey will favor us with a few selec-
tons. I'll speak to her"
He raped at the door Of an adjoining
chamber and exchanged a few words
with the person who responded. In a
few minutes a pretty young lady with
black eyebrows and a damask color in
her cheeks had taken her seat at the
piano. The two physicians had retired
to their former position behind the bed
curtains, and the patient, as before, sat
on the edge Of her bed.
"What shall l play?" the young lady
asked.
Something loud and energetic"
There was a rustling of leaves, and
then the drastic opening chords Of a
Liszt rhaspody made the vases SILVER on
the mantel. The sounds startled the pa
tent rs a blow might have done. The
dark eyes seemed to grow darker, the
pale lips quivered more perceptibly with
the utterance Of that plaintive cry. the
pitiful all that was left to her of voice
and speech. But she seemed to realize
the origin of her fright. Her glance
went Immediately in the direction of
the piano and remained there, fasci-
mated, asst she m~omentarily expected an
unknown horror to rise up out Of the
cheerful red cover which adorned the
case of the instrument. Never for an in
slant was the forlorn monotony Of the
moving hands interrupted. Nevertheless
the younger physician seemed satisfied.
We've got her attention. Now let us
change our humor. No more Of that
kind, please, Miss Maxey. Something
quietcr and more soothing"
Miss MaXey chose a volume of Bee
thoven and began u favorito sonata. The
clasping hands still moved; the dark
eyes still watched for the coming of the
unknown horror, but there was q change
in the indescribable details that went to
make up the dominant expression Of the
patients face-slight, gradual, scarcely
perceptible except to practiced eyes ex-
pecting it-but still a change.
The younger man whispered energet-
ically, "She's listening!"
Slowly, so slowly that it seemed an
ag8 to those who hoped to see the end,
tho clinging fingers forgot to separate
themselves and take up new positions;
the heretofore inCessant motion of the
nervous hands became less and less;
ceased altogether; the palms rested
against each other, quite still.
The younger physicians growing ex-
element could restrain itself no longer.
"Sce!' he cried. ''She sits quite mo-
tionless! 1t is tho first time in days. And
there is another means which we have
not yet tried. Won't you sing to us,
Miss MaXey? Sing us the most tender
and pathetic thing you know"
The sound Of the piano stopped abrupt
ly. But the patient did not change her
attitude, III all the many minutes, while
Miss Maxey was searching for the song,
she sat, seemingly inthralled, as if she
listened still. The men of science felt
themselves in the presence Of something
of which their learning told them moth
ing. Gradually, rs the music went on,
she had inclined her head a little to one
side i IL the poise Of a listener. So she still
remained, now that the instrument was
mute. 1t was hardly the posture Of eX-
p%ectancy.
No, it seemed moro as though the fee
BILE responses Of the mysterious faculty
that could rise up in mind quite blank
at the sound Of a tender melody had not
ceased to vibrate, as if the mournful ca
dences were still echoing through the
vacant chambers whence thought had
flown. There was fear in the dark eyes
still, but it no longer seemed the sum
and substance Of her life. In the very
midst Of her abstraction a sound escaped
her lips that caused the listeners to start.
'That was a sigh!' the younger man
whispered.
"Ah," murmured his colleague, $50
l thought. There may be something in
your medicine after ALL"
Miss Maxcy had nov made her selec-
ton. 1t was Schubert's wonderful ave
Maria, "a song hat has more depth and
power OF tenderness Ill 1t than the soul
which feels it can express. Miss Maxey
had q sweet voice, and she sang as
though the music had q meaning.
Suddenly both physicians uttered a
cry and sprang forward.
With q changing face and trembling
limbs and reaching outward with her
hands, like II cropping in the dark, the
patient had arisen, had essayed even to
walk. The attempt was far beyond her
strength. She falterod, swayed, uttered
the plaintive cry and fell like lead into
the arms of one of tho men. She had
tainted.
What q very curious casel' thought
the gray haired physician as he took his
departure. 1T is unlike anything in my
experience"
All the way through the city streets
which led to tho hospital he walked
with his head bent down and his brow
contracted. He was dissatisfied and I'M
decided.
He had taken leave of the younger