The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-07-11
THE DEMON VIOLIN.

.-"NJ p"N 80 sssticu MIN, wine,
whisky, little food and nights lodging
constituted his hire at Hooley's TO bang
the miserable piano and play his violin
the violin SO carefully locked In his case.
He had finished narrowing popular air
at the piano for the twentieth consecutive
time and stopped to take u drink from
tho glass at his elbow. Three or four big,
hulking mon noar by stood looking at him
stupidity from under their broad felt hats.
Tho poker chips clicked at the gaming Ia.
bles. Reagan, In response to an order,
brought in tray Of liquors and cigars
Paolo reached for his case and almost
reyerently took out his violin. A little
preliminary tuning, and 1t went to his
shoulder. Tho bow was drawn over the
strings, but SO softly that none save him.
self heard tho sound. Again ii glided over
the instrument, and then Ii began to wan
der back and forth-now slowly, now
swiftly, now tromulously.
As the truant bars of favorite oreras,
sad nocturnes and gay gavottes poured in
to his yearning ear, his face lit up with
strange joy. Tho vacant stare of the men
near him changed to dull curiosity. But
tho music was all for himself. 1t was only a
moments delicious communion with his
violin he was having. Too we'll he knew
that the next would bring q command to
play some horrible song or dance. But the
poker chips still clicked, the men about
him said nothing, and Paolo continued to
play for the single auditor-himself
With the music his thoughts uncon-
sciously went back to Italy He and the
violin had never parted since leaving the
little Palermo home. The old mother and
father had gone long ago; the father had
left him all he had-the wonderful violin.
All, that was good of the old father, but
Giovanni did not think So Where was
Giovanni? A wild boy was Giovanni He
did not like the fathers violin. 1t was the
demon of the family; Giovanni said 1t had
brought and would bring nothing but mis-
fortune to them. The old father had done
nothing but play it, and he had lived in
distress, died in poverty. 1t would have
been better had he left Paolo his curse
than his violin.
AS for Giovanni, no would have mono of
music, He would go away anywhere,
and no would become rich somehow. Yes,
that was what he said. But Giovanni was
not musician-nnd complacent smile
stole over the lips of the pitiful wreck.
DemonP Misfortunep ISLANDERS on his dear
violinl Had no not played to applauding
thousands in Rome-in London-in New
York; She had como to hear him 1t WAS
true, but was 1t the dear violins fault that
the dark eyed actress whom he married,
deceived him and ruined his lifep
"Herel Paolo, you dago Wake up
there and play us something lively" came
rough, good naturod voice from behind
tho clouds of tobacco smoke.
Just then man came swaying into the
room, reckless, drunken determination
on his face to assert himself In some bois-
ferrous way. He heard the command,
looked sullenly toward tho piano. Sudden
ly he seized tho violin, tore it from the
players hands, and swinging 1t about his
head brought 1t down upon the piano,
smashing it to pieces. With shrek like
that of n wild and wounded animal Paolo
gave bound and caught tho man by the
throat. 1t was all over In a moment
They were graphing on the floor together;
the man, drunk though he was, felt the
hands strangling him were those of u ma
MAC. He managed to reach his pistol
No one saw exactly how it was done, but
tho pistol was discharged, and Paolo arose
to his feet. The other was deadl
The pistol shot, not the struggle on the
flood, instantly brought every ono in the
room up standing. They gathered excited
ly around, but Paolo, with wall of
grief, flung himself upon the piano and
pressed the shattered violin to his heart.
He kissed 1t and talked to it caressingly
plcadingly. 1t did not seem that he knew
he had killed man. He only knew that
his violin was dead; that it would speak
to him no more.
Soon the room was crowded, for the
news had spread quickly The dead man
lay stretched upon the floor, and the crowd
gazed morbidly at him and then at Crazy
Paolo hugHing his violin. Presently the
sheriff hustled in, and all made way for
him Ho picked up tho pistol and laid it