Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-10-16

! Aedrt. WIN exquisite anguish She
realized that her father was getting to
oe an DID, old man, and that she soon
must inevitably lose him. Even the
knowledge that her after-life would be
spent IN the companionship of Tom
johnson, whom she also adored, could
not comfort her Often and often she
tried to imagine what life would be
after her father, with his querulous
conceited childishness and his gallant
old-time grace, had passed away; but
each effort to picture such situation
resulted only in failure and a flood of
tears.
And after the change began to come
over the old man she could see the end
approaching. Night after night she
sat beside him in the restaurant, and
there was woe in her heart as her fingers
danced merrily over the strings when
she saw that not even the applause
could rouse him from the lethargy of
age and WEAKNESS and encouragement
When to this indifference Pizzi began
to add i'll temper and sharp words, she
knew not what to make of it and that
night she wept for hours.
The first real outbreak came one
evening when Tom johnson dined with
them. He brought it about through
his clumsy kindness. AS they sat
at table after the music had ended,
Tom noticed that the old man seemed
taciturn and gloomy. Of course, he be-
lieved that the playing had wearied
him, andhe said:
why don't you stop playing, signor?
1t wearies you. Guilia alone would
please as well-why don't you rest?"
Guilia saw the blunder before it had
been fully spoken and laid warning
hand on Johnson's sleeve; but it was
too late. The damage had been done.
For an instant old Pizzi gazed at
Tom in silence. Then a red flush
slowly rose on his yellow old face and
his dull, old eyes took on the bright
ness of wounded pride and quick anger
Tom saw now, too. He quickly tried
to correct his mistake.
Il beg your pardon, signor," he began
to say, but the old man would not let
him finish. He interrupted him with
a spultering which did not Immediately
develop into speech. Eventually it be-
came the expression of one who h as
been cut to the quick. "Thats it!
That's it," he exclaimed. That's
what you've both wanted. Oh no; it's
not me, the people, want-not me. It's
Guilia. Sill 81. 81. Guilia! Not
mel"
Il really beg your pardon, signor,"
Tom interiected, while Guilia tried to
sooth her father as best she could. But
the old mans anger grew instead of
dwindled. He would not be pacifed.
His tone grew louder and his face rcd
der Finally, in wrath, which drew
the attention of everyone in the res
taurant, he rose Enthusiastically, and,
waving his hand at Tom, commanded:
"Out of my sight. Out of my sight!
You have insulted me,'
Guilia, almost beside herself, in an
undertone bcseeched Tom to say no
more, but to do he was told, and Tom
shamefacedly put on his coat and hat
and went out of the restaurant without
word.
| After he had gone the old man sank
| into his seat again, exhausted. He
would eat no more dinner, and after a
short time he silently left the restau-
rant with his daughter.
| lie said never word to her on the
way home. When they reached the
dark corridors of the studio building
she held her hand out to him as usual
to help him in the darkness, which was
full of little steps and stairs, but he re-
jected it and stumbled on independent
ly. As they passed through the gloom
toward their little rooms black figure,
which Guila knew to be the eontrite
Tom, approached and touched her
hand. She gave his a distressed press
ure and whispered to him to say moth
ing. The old man did not notice.
The week that followed was n weary
one. Not for one moment did Pizzi al
low his resentment to relax. He would
not speak of Tom, and once or twice
when that thoroughly humble young
man tried to speak of him he few into
an almost uncomfortable rage. To
Guilia, too, he showed none of the lit
tie love attentions of the past. He was
the stern parent now-he would no
longer let her lead. The effort which
he made to keep his lettering footsteps
and bis trembling mind in advance of
her strong, young vigor was tremen-
dous.
At the restaurant they played as
usual. One afternoon before they went
there. Guilia noticed queer, cunning
expression fit across the old mans
face, and as they rode down in the
horse car saw sly smile lowering
around his lips. Of late there had often
been wild expression in his eyes
which had worried Guilia greatly. Con-
stantly she watched the old man as
mother might watch sick child, puz-
zling over each expression of his face,
each. infection of his voice. This new
loosEshe could not understand. i
Ii the midst of their music she
learned what it had meant. Pizzi's
slow old mind had concocted plan for
undoing what he thought was her un-
holy pride. In the midst of one of
their most difficult numbers he stopped