Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1895-09-12

" that shout. start and lool; quickly
tround the room. Then there c11nc
nto his face the expression OF wild
lnimal. That shout Of Tlorv for bis
laughter was a shout Of failure for
himself. His look of hatred and furv
vas so intense that Torn rose from his
hair and started toward them, while
iuilia still played maeuidccntly, now
pale as death again,
Tom fastened and in an instant
stood close behind the musicians. 1t
was Just as he reached them that the
second shout Of Bravo" came The
old man did not wait to lool; about the
room this time. Tom Watching him as
n cat might watch a mouse, saw
quick motion OF his hand and then saw
what was in il. With a spring he
caught the pistol barrel and forced it
down toward the floor. There was q
r2port-partly drowned Wy the crash of
the last fcar-forccd chord on Guilia's
mandolin and mrficd by the table
cloth which had in tho struggle been
punched about the pistols muzzlc.
Guilia's instrument fell thing to the
floor rs She dropped back unconscious
in her chair. Tom despite his bullet
puncturcd, bleeding hand, still held
Old pizzi's now nervous fingers and
with the other hand pressed firmly but
soothiuGly on the old mans shoulders.
"Si"nm," he said. quietly, his Eng
fish calmncss now helping him, YOU
ere excited. Do not be Frightened We
I'll understand. Ii was an accident.
II hNe harmod no one very much"
Poor old Pizzi! With the elimination
Of his mad anger he had broken There
was no ficrccncss lcft-thcrc was no
anything lett except the Hrctchcl old
she'll OF what had once been a great
artist. In moment he rallied. though,
and it was evident that his mind was
wandering along pleasant paths. Il
had left the tcnpcgtuous ways of the
mountains OF his anger and turned TO
the peaceful valley, sunwrapt and srail-
ing. He looked up at Tom with the
smile of baby on his face
"Guila! Guilia, my daughter! Did
You hear her play he whispered
slowly.
Yes" said Tom gently and thinl,
he was unconscious OF his wound. At
least he paid no attention toit, although
it dropped blood on the carpet and
dyed the tablccloth. Yes, l heard
her" he repeated.
The old mans face was contortcd with
strange twitchnrs when he cssaycd t.
reply. One syllable only could be
speak. Mag" he uttered twice
with lips that trcmblcd and tongue that
rolled indefinitely and would not do his
bidding. Mag" Mag -" Mag"
he repeated, bat could 60 no farther.
No one called the police. The guests
OF the restaurant who had gathered
about the group or three in inquisi;iye
excitement did not understand The muf,
fed report and Toms wound, but they
did understand that the Old musicians
hand, had been stricken with some
thing that would bind them tighter
than rheumatism had
After Guilin revived they carried Inn
away. Constantly he nuttercd Mag"
Mag" Mag. Ii was midnight
before he could complete the word, and
with its completion came that of old
pizzi's life. But it was pleasant
ending for them both. Tom ard
Guilia were watching over him and the
doctor, realizing, stepped away. Piaai
started again at the beginning o. the
tribute which had been stopped
by the paralysis Before he passed
ont of the sunshine into the shadow
of the valley, he was warmed into COR
recting the error he had made
"Guila" he whispered, Did you hear
my daughter Guilia play?'
YES, yes" whispered Tom, bending
close to him.
The wrinkles in the poor, contortcd
old face smoothed out into smile.
Mag -nif-i-ccnt!" came the I'M
finished acknowledgement. "Magnif-
cent. -grcat-artist."
And with this final tribute TO tho
great artist whose day was coming, the
great artist whose day was past
breathed deeply, and his words, like his