The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-10-11

cantly, as one gropes blindly In the dark
for some familiar object. She tried TO
speak, but the words refused TO come.
Something like dry sob rose and was
strangled I'm her throat. Then, without q
single word, she took her bow again and
drew IL softly across the vibrating strings.
Austin looked up in momentary surprise.
Then he sat spellbound, while she played
the weird Romance" of Svendsen's, once
heard never forgotten.
He had heard 1t played by more than
one finished musician but this was diff
ferent rendering 1t was like the despair
ing cry of lusty swimmer failing near
the shore, or the wall of a lost soul striv-
ing to escape from the sea Of torture and
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 the bitterness of her life, he saw
the vista gray and barren before her, and
when the last note died away he learned
In brief glance from Ida's eyes all the
strange discords had not confessed.
1t was but for an instant, for In the
next, overcome by the strong excitement
she had just experienced, the bow slid
helplessly from her nerveless fingers, and
she tainted.
symptoms of little moment in an or
binary 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 the present instance, as
she failed to respond readily to the GUS
tomary treatment Austin fastened 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 he answered the hasty summons. In
a brief space, however, she yielded to his
restoratiyes, and before he left the house
she had dropped into q 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 away?"
81 told her this evening"" Austin an
swered, and in some confusion, as he re-
called the way she had received the news.
Father, do you know
"Ah, that accounts for itv' said the old
man, as though speaking to himself.
"Yes do 1 know what?"
"well-I think-that is, I'm afraid
that Ida He stopped short, for the
ing. But his father, who had feared such
contingency we'll nigh from the first, un-
derstood what had been left unsaid.
Il know, Austin, know. But what is
to be dones The friendship 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 Il years
of perpetual martyrdom. Do you know
how long / give her to lives"
II suppose that when she's 21''- Aus
tin began, but the doctor cut him short.
'If she lives to see the spring." he said
grayely, 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 off your visit to the Harrisonss
l know Marian expects you, but L think
If she knew the pleasure you would be Civ
ing that poor child whose days are mum
bered she would be the first to bid you
stay. In a case like this there can be no
question of disloyalty to her. And, Aus
tin, if you can, for heavens sake let her
still believe that she has found the affec-
ton she has craved all her life. The de-
ception won't be for long, and it will COM
fort her more in her last struggles than /
or the entire college of physicians could
hope TO do with all the science that the
world has ever known"
Five weeks later, in Ida's bedroom, a
thin ribbon of spring sunshine had strug
gled through crevice 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 no fear. Perhaps she
believed that if eternity held for her worse
fortunes than she had yet endured she had
served on earth an apprenticeship to pain
long enough to fit her for it, Perhaps
Austin Marshall's companionship 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 have some music?" he asked
cheerfully, though he was panied to mark
each day how her hold on life was weak
ening. what shall play?'
"Give me mine" she said suddenly,
land we'll play together. F."
The violin lay, as usual, on the table
close by, but Austin hesitated.
IF you really feel equal to the exer-
tion," he began, and then, answering the
command in her eyes, he passed 1t to her
without another word.
With tremulous fingers she drew her
bow across the strings, and recognizing In
the opening notes her favorite, Lied" by
Schubert, Austin softly followed, and in q
moment was so 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
den apprehension. Surely her face had not
worn that strange gray shadow just be-
fore.
"Idar'
She did not move.
Ida, what Is the matter? What Is its''
She opened her eyes, but they fell on
him without CLEAN of recognition Then
she dropped them on the violin she was
still holding. A faint smile rested for a
moment on her lips. With an unsteady
hand she mechanically raised her bow.
Then, with one chord-that of the oil.
minished seventh-it dropped from her re.
laxing hold, but not before Austin had in.
voluntarily concluded the phrase, so that
ho int ba 49,