The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-11-19

THINK what tDab WOmlu mean.
ooh, the very thought makes me
generals daughter ?"
"You are q musical genius, that's
what you are. Aim high, L toll you,
now that your chance is come. Pluck
takes eve cities by storm. Love, like
death, levels all and there's nothing
TO inspire love like music. Boldly
ventured is half won. Genius, like
water is bound to find its level, and
yours will rise q good deal before find
Ing IL. Follow my advice, have a shot
at the daughter, and you'll soon bid
goodbye To the wretched, colorless
life OF o petty tshinovnik, who is
driven hither and thither like o
withered leaf by the changing Winds"
Thatnight Skripkin could not sleep.
He sat for hours dreaming of the
future, Sand in his minds eye a vast
which "Hope had her spire star-high,"
and Faith her noble arches. BE saw
himself no longer poor, obscure, down
trodden, but the centre OF a gay and
appreciative circle composed OF the
very cream of society. his name on the
lips Of the world, his portraits ex-
hibited in the shops, his nocturnes
bought up by musicians. his operas
| LIE lhilo ICbouhothH bhEook hoou bbo
length and breadth Of the land.
Next evening he spent fully two
hours In "doing himself up for the
ball, and, when at last he looked as
neat and attractive as If he had just
come out of q handbook, he started off
in fear and trembling. Carriages
were driving up to the door when he
arrived, and he stopped a moment TO
collect his thoughts. Then he VEN
| frrol IN tho afoirnacn fearful nf tranl.
ing ON the velvety, brig ht.hued car
pets, and listening in ~trepidation to
the violent humping of his heart. He
halted nee more In the ante-roOm,
and m~editated a hasty retreat On the
pretext of sudden illness, for he was
overcome by the scent OF the freshly
culled flowers and fashionable per-
fumes, and dazed by the brilliantly
lighted salon, which seemed one sheet
Of blazing light. He had never in his
life beheld anything to compare with
1t. And as for the gorgeous dresses Of
the ladies-well!
Suddenly q hand was laid on his
shoulder and the general accosted him.
; Pm delighted, my dear Skripkin,
to see you. Com n let me introduce
| YOU. This is my young colleague,
was just telling you. Sit down, my
dear Skripkin, and let us hear some
4 thing of your own"
Skripkin sat down to the maniicent
piano, trembling lest he should not
q justify the generals confidence in his
q powers. And his first attempt looked
very like a failure, but he soon drew
e inspiration from the melodious notes,
t and provoked the sincere applause OF
all present.
every we'll dole, indeed. Come and
:, fortify the inner man a little before
the dances begin," said his excellency
y and taking Skripkin into the buffe,
9 poured him out two glasses OF some
kind Of delicious nectar, the very nance
q of which he never heard Of before.
a The dances were a perfect success,
= Skripkin playing mostly those of his
own composition. During one of the
Il ing ices or drinking tea, Skripkir
q having INDUCED in several additions
d glasses of nectar" wandered abou'
from to room, and at last strayet
d into the buffet. The. only person now
there vas an attractive young lady
Q simply but effectively dressed in a robe
of black velvet, with q dazzling dia
mond b~rooch-as it seemed to him-s
9 very pretty bracelet on her soft, round
. wrist. She vas seated at q table be
fore a shining, singing "samovar.
Skripkin's first Impulse was to apollo
gize for intruding and to back out
q Then he recollected that this was tn,
!, golden opportunity foretold by hi
o friend Petroff, and that it was the op
portunity to be now or never, if BIT
q wanted his genius to rise to it's proper
level.
9 This, then, is his excellency'
q daughter" he said to himself. "Bu'
why is she pouring out tea here, in
stead of enjoying herself in the sa
Q loon ?" he asked himself. But u hast,
g glance at the soft eyes that looked
IL love, at the gorgeous brooch and the
d costly bracelet, aided and allotted b,
y the nectar-bred optimism that was
p fast getting the better of his doubts
and fears, removed his misgivings, an6
Q he stood gazing at her enthusiastically
y May L offer you a glass of tea p
o she asked him, in a sweet, insinuating
8 voice, that sent the blood boiling tC
1 his heart.
Yes, if you please" he replied,
8 taking a seat neal the speaker.
U !" You have q marvellous musical
: talent. heard your playing it is
! admirable. Cream or cognac.?"
Q "~Cogn-that is, cream no cognac,
1 If you please"
: this Skripkin never knew. He was as a
man in a dream he spoke and acted
4 as if his guardian ansel or good genius
were pulling the wires and he but a
+ human automaton. He only knew
: that it was Heaven and earth. When
he left that room and returned to the
, saloon and the piano he had already
availed himself of the golden oppor-
tunity, and felt that he was now, in
!; deed, on the main line to fame and
| fortune, and was travelling by a light
ming express. For he had actually
! proposed and been accepted.
But perhaps it was merely a
dream ?" he objected. could L.
Skripkin, have had the nerve, the au-
dacity to ask for the hand and the
heart of his e~xcellency's daughter =?
Why, If | told it to my colleagues
they would conclude 1 was stark mad
all except Petrotf. But no. 1t cannot
be a dream. There's the big stain on
my trousers, made by the scalding tea
which upset during my declaration.
1t is a fact. Long live Skri2kin w
At supper the host proposed the
toast OF his young colleague, whose
musical talents surprised and delighted
us all" The hero looked down the table
and up to catch a sight OF the future
sharer OF his triumphs, but she was alb
sent.
she is too upset by her emotions; it
was so sudden" he remarked to him
self.
Then a. yOunp ladv onnos;ta HIN