Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-09-07

sSring. 6oing Away--And until the an.
tumnl Why, by thai time she might bs
dead and buried She looked round va
csntly, ~ ono gropes blindly In tho dark
Tor some familiar object. She tried 10
speak, but tho worNs refused to come.
Soinething like dry sob rose and wsa
strangled In ker throat. Then, without
single word, she took her bow again and
drew 10 softly across tho vibrating strings.
austin looked up In momentary surprise.
Then he sat spcllbonnd, while sho played
the weird Romance" OF Sycndscn's, onco
heard never forgotten.
He had heard IL played by more than
one finished musician, but this was a diff
ferent rendering. It was like tho despair
Ing cry OF IA lusty SKINNER falling near
tho shore, or the wlleof a lost soul striy-
Ing to escape from tho sea OF tsrture ana
driven back by host Of fallen angels. In
those strains he read her heart as plainly
as though speech had passed between them.
He knew tho bitterness Of her life, he saw
the vista gray and barren before her, and
when the last note died away he learned
In "A brief glance from Ida's eyes all tho
strange discords had Dot confessed.
1t WAS but for an instant, for In tho
next, overcome by the strong excitement
she had just experienced the bow slid
helplessly from her neryeless fingers, and
she tainted.
Symptoms Of little moment I'm an or
dinary person might In her case prognos-
ticate the worst, and any new phase how
ever slight, was at once submitted to med.
ical opinion. In tho present instance, as
she failed to respond readily to the GUS
tonary trcatment, Austin hastened for his
father while she was carried to her room.
She had overexerted herself with her music
was the general explanation Of the seizure,
and this was what the doctor was told
when no answered the hasty summons. In
a brief space however, she yielded to his
rostoratives, and before he left the house
she had dropped into sleep quiet and
natural.
For some time father and son went
homeward In silence. Then the doctor
asked abruptly:
docs Ida know you are going aways
II told her this evening"" Austin an
swered, and In some confusion, a. no re-
called the way she had received the news.
Father, do you know''-
"Ah, that accounts for tt" said the old
man, as though speaking TO himself
Eyes; do know whasf"
"Well-I think-that Is, I'm afraid
that Ida he stopped short, for the
confession was alike tender and humilat-
ing. But his fa&hss. who had feared such
aoontingenoy well nigh from tho first un-
derstood what had been left upsaid.
II know, Austin, know. But what Is
TO be donei The frisndship that you have
felt for her-that she believes she has felt
for you-has been the one bright spot In
her life. Seventeen years old and II years
~ ~ A
how long I give her 70 liver'
IT suppose that when she's 0i"-- Aus
tin began, bat the doctor cut him shoxt
If she lives b 500 the spring." be said
gravely, II shall be surprised"
The young man was startled, even
shocked. There was silence between them
for few moments; then the doctor said,
with hesitation:
Austin, suppose you would not think
Of putting of your visit to the Harrisonsi
I know Marian expects you, but think
II she knew the pleasure you would be CIV
Ing that poor child whose days are num-
bered she would be the first to bid you
stay. In case like this there oan be nc
question Of disloyalty to her. And, Aus
tin, II you can, for heavens sake lot her
still believe that she has found tho affec-
tion she has oraved all her life. The de-
ception won't be for long, and 1t will COM
fort her more In her last struggles than I
or the entire college of physicians could
hope to do with all tho science that the
world has over known"
Five weeks later, In Ida's bedroom, q
thin ribbon Of spring sunshine had strug-
gled through crevioe Of the window
blind and lay bright streak across the
floor. Outside the garden was cheerful
with the song OF birds and the rustling Of
leaves inside sat the little cripple propped
up with pillows, her pitiful Vitality burn
ing itself slowly away.
She knew she was dying, but the knowl-
edge brought her DO fear. Perhaps she
believed that II eternity held for her worse
fortunes than she bad yet endured she had
served on earth an Apprenticeship 10 pain
long enough to at her for IL. Perhaps
Austin Marshall's oompanionship and
sympathy during the last few weeks were
making the end comparatively easy. AT
any rate, when the door was opened quiet
ly and he looked In, violin In hand, she
greeted him with grateful smile.
Like to havo some music9" he asked
ohee1fully, though he was panied TO mark
each day how her hold on life was weak
ening. What shall playp"
"Give me MINE" she said suddenly,
"and we'll play together"
Tho violin lay, as usual, on tho table
close by, but Austin hesitated.
IF you really feel equal 10 the exer-
tion," no began, and then, answering the
command In her oyes he passed 1t to her
without another word
With tremulous fingers she drew her
bow across tho strings, and recognizing in
tho opening notes hen favorite, Lied" by
Schubert, Austin softly followed, and In a
moment was 30 absorbed he scarce noticed
how her bowling became gradually weaker,
until it faltered and stopped just before
the concluding bars He looked up In sud-
don apprehension Surely her face had not
worn that strange gray shadow just be-
fore.
"Idap'
She did not move
"Ida, what is tho matterP What Is ftf'
Sho opened her eyes, but they fell on