The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-09-13

ior Soinc lanllllur OBJECT. Shc tried to
speak, but tho words refused to come.
something like dry sob rose and was
stranglcd in her throat. Then, without u
single word, shc took her bow again and
drew it softly across the vibrating strings.
Austin looked up in momcntary surprise.
Then he sat spcllbound, while she played
the weird Romance of Svcndscn's, once
heard never forgotten
He had heard it played by moro than
Dne finished musician, but this was n diff
ferent rendering. 1t was like tho despair
ing cry of ~ lusty swimmer failing near
the shore, or the wall of lost soul striv-
ing to escape from tho sea of torture and
driven back by II host of fallen angels. In
those strains he read her heart rs plainly
rs though speech had passed between thcm.
He knew the bitterness of her life. no saw
tho vista gray and barren boforo her, and
when tho last note died away he learned
III u brief glance from Ida's eyes all tho
strange discords had not confessed.
1t was but for an instant, for in tho
next, overcome by tho strong excitement
she had just experienced, tho bow slid
helplcssly from her ncrvclcss fingers. and
she tainted
symptoms OF littlo moment in an Or
binary person might in her case prognos-
ticato tho worst and any new phase, how
W. 'Airii'' VAS fit OilCt submitted to med
1cal opinion. In tho present instance. MS
she failed TO respond readily to the Gus
tomary treatment, Austin fastened for his
1athcr while she was carried to her room.
she had ovcrcXcrtcd herself with her music
WAS the general explanation of the seizure.
ana this was what the doctor was told
when he answered the hasty summons In
u brief space, however, she yielded to his
rcstorativcS, and before he left tho house
sho had dropped into sleep quiet and
natural.
For some time father and son went
homcward in silence. Then the doctor
asked abruptly:
DOCS Ida know you arc going away?"
Il told her this evening" Austin an
swcrcd, and i'll some confusion, rs no re-
called the way she had received tho news.
Father, do you know
All, that accounts for it'll" said the old
man, ms though speaking to himself.
Yes; do 1 know what?''
"Wcll-I think-that is, I'm afraid
that Ida IIo stopped short, for the
confession was alike tender and humilut-
ing. But his father, who had feared such
contingency we'll nigh from tho first, un-
dcrstood what had been left unsaid.
know, Austin, 1 know. But what is
to be done! The friendship that You have
1clt Tor hcr-that she believes she has felt
for you-has been the one bright spot in
her llfe Seventeen years old and II wears
OF perpetual martyrdom Do YOU know
how long give her to live?"
~ suppose that when she's 21''- Aus
tin began, but the doctor cut him short.
III she lives Ia see the spring." he said
grnvcly, Il shall nc surprised
Inc young man was startled, even
shocked. There WAS silence between them
Tor few moments; then the doctor said,
with hesitation:
Austin, L suppose you would not think
OF putting off your visit to the Harrisonss
know Marian expects you, but l think
II she know the pleasure you would be Civ
ing that poor child whose days are num-
bcred she would be the first to bid YOU
stay. In IA case like this there can DO no
question of disloyalty to hcr And, Aus
tin, if you can, for heavens sake let her
still believe that she has found tho affcc.
ton she has craved all her life The de-
ccptlon won't be for long, and it will COM
fort her more i'll her last struggles than L
or tho entire college of physicians could
hope to do with all tho science that the
world has ever KNOWN
Five weeks later, in Ida's bedroom. a
thin ribbon of spring sunshine had struc-
glcd through crcvicc of the window
blind and lay Il bright streak across tho
lloor Outside, the garden was cheerful
With tho song OF birds and the rustling of
leaves. Inside sat the little cripple proppcd
up with pillows, her pitiful vitality burn
ing itself slowly away.
Sho knew she was dying, but the llnowl
edge brought her no fear Perhaps she
believed that if eternity held for her worse
fortunes than she had yet endured she had
served on earth an apprenticeship to pain
long enough to fit her for it. Perhaps
Austin Marshali's companionship and
sympathy during the last few weeks were
making the end comparatively easy. AT
any rate, when tho door was opened quiet
~ and he looked III, violin in hand, she
greeted him with IA grateful smile.
Like to have some music?'' he asked
chccrfully, though he was panied to mark
each day how her hold on life was weak
ening "What shall play"
Give me mine" sho said suddenly.
"and we'll play together
Tho violin lay as usual, on tho table
close by, but Austin hcsitatcd.
"If you really feel equal to the excr-
tion," he began, and then, answering the
command i'll her eyes, he passed it to her
without another word.
With trcmulouS fingers sho drew her
bow across the strings, and recognizing in
the opening notes her favoritc, "Licd,' by
Schubert, Austin softly followed, and in a
moment was so absorbed he scarce noticed
how her bowling became gradually weaker,
until it faltcrcd and stopped just before
tho concluding bars He looked up in sud
den apprehension. Surely her faco had not
worn that strange gray shadow just be-
fore.
"Idnn'
She did not move.
''Ida, what is tho mattcrp What is Its"
She opened her eyes, but they foil on
him without II gleam Of recognition. Then
sho drOppCd them on the violin sha Una