The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-10-09

'lalAtl71~: St:
HE GULPEp pows An EXCLAMATION OF
SURPRISE.
and as the congregation was fling out
Of the church, Jack sought convenient
corner, where he would not be liable to
pass through the awful ordeal OF re-
proach on the part Of some good Chris
tian for the unpardonable Sin Of laugh
ing during service.
Soon the churchyard was deserted,
save for the presence OF 9 small boy
and him Jack accosted familiarly:
Say, sonny, was you in church,"
Yep"
Know where that organist livesf"
yep. Hopkins, on the hill yonder. y
Much obliged" And tossing the as
tonished urchin five-dollar gold piece,
he entered a neighboring saloon, or
dered four fingers Of whisky to give
him courage, and, passing again into
the street, walked briskly in the direc-
ton Of the organist's abode.
Arriving at the door, he rang the
bell with an air of reverential awe.
He felt that in standing before the
shelter Of any one whose fingers could
conjure an organ into pouring out such
enhancing sounds as those he had just
listened to must be supernatural.
The door was opened by what seemed
to him the only beautiful woman he had
ever met. If an angel had appeared
to him from out Of the gates OF
Heaven, he could not have been so en-
tranced as he was then by the sim
pie, radiant beauty Of the fair young
creature who stood before him. He
eulped down an exclamation Of sur
prise, removed his hat, and stammered
out:
my names Bowdoin-I-Tm nothin'
but a gambler, but I'd like to see the
organist O. the new church"
Both his assertion and the accom-
panying request seemed to startle her
for a moment, but recovering her
equanimity she answered modestly:
Il am the organist.
He started in surprise.
@You, Missp Can you play like that2"
Il hope to play better when l become
more accustomed to the instrument. :"
us it a good one, Miss?"
@The best of it's size I ever played
upon.
Miss, I'll give you a thousand dollars
for ten lessons.
why, a hundred lessons would not
amount to half that sum-"
well, they'll have to for me. A hun
dred lesson or it don't go. What DO
yer say-eh?"
She looked at him nervously for mo-
ment. and he read her thoughts, but
awaited her reply.
We'll, IL hardly know what to say.
I hope to get my living by teaching
music, but"
But you don't think you could afford
to teach man like me. Is that it?"
A moments hesitation, blush, and
she replied: Frankly, then, yes. But
I'll consult our pastor and let you
know"
do, Miss; please do" And here he
evinced a tenderness and earnestness
that was quite new to him. Tell him
I'm a gambler, and the worst O my
kind, for I deal brace game. But
feel, Miss, there's somethinr inside thi'
here tough hide O. Iill;;...o ..hhat music like
yours can bring out. Tell him heard
him say to-day, Seek, and you'll find
knock. and it'll de opened to yer And
I'm knockin' at your door to-day, seekin
for somethin' that'll make a better mar
O. me. Will yer tell him this?"
yes"
And when'll hear from yer?"
Tonight"
Then good-mornin', Miss, and I'm
obliged to yer for wastin' so much time
on me. Send yer note to The Little
Casino That's the name Of my place.
Very we'll. Sir" And the door closed
shutting cut his first glimpse OF para
disc.
That evening q note came to him,
worded as follows:
DEAR SIRi After consulting with tho pas.
tor, am forced to the conclusion that 1t
will be unadvisable for me to give you the
organ lessons spoken OF this morning, and
l must confess to you that am truly sorry.
Yours, HELEN CHARLES.
II thought so, no said, with sigh.
Il was afraid that 'ud be the answer.
But she's sorry, and there's some sun
shine in that. I'll start in tonight and
try to turn square. Maybe that'll make
the parson change his mind. It'll take
some time, though, and, as I can't wait
for them lessons. I'll send for an organ
rlgnU away, ana learn the darned thing
myself.
A duplicate Of the order for the church
organ Was sent to Chicago by the first
mail, and that night JACK took his first
step toward turning square by dealing
an honest game Of faro, and losing five
thousand dollars.