The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1895-01-04
A MUSICAL BEAR.
The Novel Experience OF a Cali
fornia Girl.
Her Piano Playing Attracts the Atten-
tion OF Bruin, and He Falls in Love
with the Young Lady and
the Instrument.


with the Young Lady and
the Instrument.
Mary Carter was practicing her music
and was all alone in the house. But for
some reason she was always alone when
she did so. AS soon as she struck the
first note of her exercises everybody
went outdoors and staid there regard
less of the style with which she went
over the scales. Mary, according to the
Elmira On. W Telegram, was San
Francisco girl who had gone to spend
the summer with her sister, who mar
ried rancher that lived away up in
the mountains near the headwaters OF
American river. Her brother-in-law,
Mr. Matthews, was well-to-do and fixed
the little house to which he took his
bride in fine style. Things were SO ele-
CANT it was hard to imagine that the
place was nearly fifty miles from civili-
zation. When he was buying furniture
he was persuaded to take splendid
grand piano, which in due time arrived
at the ranch, and it was on this that
Mary was practicing. She did not like
the idea of being alone Mt first, but as
she found it impossible to persuade her
sister to stay with her she had to make
the best of bad job She went over
the scales carefully every few minutes,
taking a look out into the garden to
see that her relatives did not get too far
away. After finishing ono piece she
rested a moment, thinking Of what she
would play next. Suddenly she heard
a shutting sound, and, turning around,
she saw a large, brown bear standing in
the doorway leading to the back part of
the house. She was paralyzed with
fear and could neither move from her
chair nor scream.
She saw the bear come nearer, and she
tremblcd like leaf. oh. how she
wished she could faint. But she was a
strong girl and couldn't, and the bear
kept coming closer and soon had his
paws around her. She gave herself up for
lost as she felt the grip, which she
knew was deadly, tighten around her
and thewarm breath of the creature on
her face. Looking through the window
she could sec her relatives lounging
around peacefully in the shade of the
pines and tried to call them, but her
tongue would not move and she closed
her eyes, expecting to open them In
that happy land of which she had been
taught from childhood But what was
this? The bear was not hurting her.
He held her gently but firmly in his
naws, and was actually licking her
face, like pet dog. She opened her
ewes, and the world was the same as
usual. She could not tell whether she
was frightened or not, but somehow
she did not try to scream. She just
kept quiet, hoping something would
happen to end the agony, which she
did not understand. The bear did not
hold her more than a second, although
it seemed ages to the girl. He did not
want to hold her, for he threw her on
the floor. She was still frightened and
expected the beast to jump on her
and devour her at his leisure. But in
stead he turned around, commenced to
claw the piano and was evidently de-
lighted with his performance, for he
kept time with his feet and looked
around approvingly. The people out
side heard the clatter but did not pay
any attention to it, as they afterward
said it was not unusual. Mary has
never forgiven them for this. The bear
began to play furiously, and Mary, see
ing way to escape, took advantage Of
it and ran away screaming from the
room. Her relations at first refused to
believe her story, but hearing the clat-
ter ran TO the window and looked in.
Bruin was still at it, and by this time
had become so enthused that he was
performing a sort of can-can to his own
accompaniment. He was in the height
of his glory and had found out where
the bass keys were, and with these he
was particularly delighted. The deep,
continuous rumble seemed to afford him
the greatest pleasure, and he would
execute q bar that sounded like the ca.
denza of "A Storm at Sea-"
He howled and jumped and whined,
and at last concluded his concert by
getting on the piano on all fours and
executing a jig. At this time Mr. Mat
thews thought he had better take a
hand, and he ran into the room
with an ak, as that was the
only weapon available. The bear
did not seem surprised, but got
out of the way, and had there been
room would have left the house He
was struck several times with the ak,
but did not show fight, and the man
thought he must have found tame
bear, although he could not imagine
where it came from. He then changed
his tactics and tried to capture it, as i
did not appear dangerous. He got holt
of it and tried to tie it in the piano
cover But at this the brute's wild ma
ture showed itself, and it got ready t
make an attack. Before the man coul(
realize what was coming he heard {
deep, angry growl, and the next mo
ment was clutched angrily by the mon
ster. The beast could have killed hin
but it did not want to. 1t just CAV,
him good squeeze and threw him VIC
lently against the wall. After looking
at him moment the bear went out tn,
door and walked leisurely into the yard
Mrs. Matthews and Mary rushed il
and soon had Mr.. Matthews back t,
consciousness. He got up and loolet
/ out of the window and saw the beal
walking quietly over the hill in the di
rection OF the mountain.
MISS CHIcAGo's BREEZY WAY
LivsnIng Things Up Among the spiritles
Guests at = Hotel.
One morning as we were having
melancholy breakfast as prelude to
melancholy day, says writer in tn