The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-16
THE DEMON VIOLIN.

Crazy Paolo they called him. 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 a narrowing popular air
at the piano for the twentieth consecutive
time and stopped to take a drink from
the glass at his elbow. Three or four big,
hulking men near by stood looking at him
stupidity from under their broad felt hats.
The 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
reverently took out his violin. A little
preliminary tuning, and it went to his
shoulder. The bow was drawn over the
strings, but so softly that none save him
self heard the sound. Again it glfded over
the instrument, and then it began to wan
der back and forth-now slowly, now
swiftly, now TREMENDOUSLY.
As the truant bars of favorite operas,
sad nocturnes and gay gavottes poured in
to his yearning ear. his face lit up with
strange Joy. The vacant stare of the men
near him changed to a duh curiosity. But
the music was all for himself. It was only a
moments delicious communion with his
violin he was having. Too well he knew
that the next would bring command to
play some horrible song or dance. But the
poker chips still clicked, the men about
him said nothing, and PABLO continued to
play for the single auditor-himseR
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, bus
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 it 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, he would have none of
music. He would go away, anywhere,
and he would become rich somehow. Yes,
that was what he said. But Giovanni was
not a musician-and q complacent smile
! stole over the lips of the pitiful wreck.
i Demon? Misfortune? ISLANDERS on his dear
violinl Had he not played to applauding
| thousands in Rome-in London-in New
! York? She had come to hear him, it was
| true, but was it the dear violin fault that
| the dark eyed actress, whom he married,
| deceived him and ruined his life?
'sHere! Paolo, you dago Wake up
/
| there and play US something lively, came
| O rough, good natured voice from behind
the clouds of tobacco smoke.
Just then a man came swaying into the
room, a reckless, drunken determination
on his face to assert himself in some bois-
ferrous way. He heard the command,
looked sulenly toward the piano Sudden
" he seized the violin, tore it from the
players hands, and swinging it about his
head broug ht it down upon the piano,
smashing st to pieces. With a shrek like
that OF wild and wounded animal Paolo
gave bound and caught the man by the
throat t. was all over in n moment.
They were graphing on the floor together;
the man, drunk though he was, felt the
hands straugling him were those of a ma
MAC He managed to reach his pistol
No one saw exactly how it was done, but
the pistol was discharged and Paolo arose
to his feet. The other was dead
| The pistol shot, not the struggle on the
food instantly brought every one in the
room up standing. They gathered excited
ly around but Paolo, with a wall OF
grief flung himself upon the piano and
pressed the shattered violin to his heart.
He kissed il and talked to it caressingiys
p1eadingly. 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 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 hugging his violin. Presently the
sheriff hustled in, and all made way for
him. He picked up the pistol and laid it
aside. Jim Reagan was the first to speak:
"Crazy Paolo killed him, but in self de-
Tense"
CHATS what he did, sheriff, came the
popular western phrase in unison from the
! crowd.
'Who is he?" asked the sheriff, bending
over the promo figure.
1 Stranger, - some one volunteered.
J The sheriff threw back the dead man
coat and started to search his pockets. He
soon held up an envelope and read alous
the name in the address:
Giovanni Legardi'-
, Paolo stood beside him and snatc]led the
envelope from his hand. One glance al
the name and a wild glare at the GROVE
that seemed to last a minute. The nsx1
| instant he was on his knees, holding thS
face of his brother close to his own and
seeming to look through it. Slowly h
rose to his feet with despairing moan
Suddenly his eyes became riveted upon al
object. Before even one of the spellbount
crowd OWNED his intention the forgotteE
pistol was in his hand, and another bulle
had elaine life. Crazy PaoID fell heav
lily to the floor, his thrown about hi
victim.
The fall shook the fragile building. Hi
ruined violin dropped from the piano AM
lay beside the MISUNDERSTANDING