Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-01-03

weeks and the weeks into months, it
was noted that when Ida played alone
her airs were more romantic than be-
fore. And even her unmusical family
became infected with their gaiety; her
mother (who frequently alleged she
could enjoy good music as much as any
one-if she could only get it) was cheer
ed to the verge of joyful anticipation
For who knew that Ida might not at.
tain the supreme beighth of inspiring
dance music, such as her mother loved,
and abandon forever these ghoulish walls
she said were classical.
But when the old doctor noticed the
change he shook his head in apprehen-
sion, while tears of pity filed his eyes
His profession had trained him to read
the longings of the heart as we'll as the
in6rmities of the tenement it inhabited,
and if all he thought and dreaded were
true! Had things been different II
Ida had not been distinctly isolated by
nature from the sweetest gifts life can
hold
And one evening came the crisis the
buUu uOCbOT IeuTeu.
81 shall miss all this dreadfully when
I'm away" Austin said, as he turned
over a pile of music for particular
duet. Pm going North in day or
two, you know-didn't | tell you ?" hc
added, answering the unspoken quos-
ton.
Next autumn, when am back
again" he said, presently, feeling vague
ly that something was wrong, Eve shall
have some more of our pleasant even
ings together, | hope"
ida spoke not. For moment she
was conscious of naught save terrible
sense of absolute despair, and curious
buzzing in her head like the repeated
twang of the G string, Going away
and until the autumn Why, by that
time she might be dead and buried.
She looked round vacantly, as one gropes
blindly in the dark for some familiar OBJ
ject, She tried to speak, but the words
refused to come Something like dry
sob rose and was tangled in her tnroat.
Then without single word, she took
her bow again and drew it softly across
the vibrating strings, Austin looked
up in momentary surprise. Then he
sat spellbouhd. while she played the
wierd Romance of Svendsen's once heard
never forgotten.
He had heard it played by more than
one finished musician but that was n
different rendering. IL was like the de-
spairipg cry of lusty swimmer failing
near the shore, or the wall of lost soul
striving to escape from the sea of tor.
ture 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 Bit
terness Of her life; he saw the vista
gray aud 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 an instant. For in tho
next, overcome by the strong excite
ment she had just experienced, the bow
slid hclplcssly from her nervoless fin
gers, aud she tainted.
Symptoms of little moment in an or
binary person might in her case prog
nosticate the worst, and any new phase,
however slight, was at once submitted
to medical opinion. In the present in
stance, as she failed to respond readily
to the customary treatment, Austin has
ed for his father while she was car
ried to her room, She had over-exerted
herself with her music was the general
of the seizure, and this was
what the doctor was told when he an-
swercd tho basty summons. In brief
space, however, she yielded to his rcstor-
atives, and before he left the house she
had dropped into a sleep quiet and
For some time father and son went
in silence. Then the doctor
asked abruptly:
"DoeS Ida know you are going
away ?"
81 told her this evening"" Austin an
swered, and in some confusion, as he
recalled the way she had received the
news. Father, do you know-W
"Ah That accounts for it" said the
old man, as though speaking to him
Bull I0h' III KNOW WuhJ
"Wel--I think--that is, I'm afraid
that Ida" He stopped short, for the
confession was alike tender and humili-
ating. But his father, who had feared
such contingency well-nigh from the
first, understood what had been left un-
said
II know, Austin, know. But what
is to be done ? 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 seventeen years of perpetual mar
tyrdom. DO you know how long ! give
her to live :"
81 suppose that when she is twenty
one" Austin began, but the doctor
cut him short.
"If she lives to see the spring." he
said gravely, 81 shall be surprised"
There was silence between them for a
few moments. Then the doctor said,
with hesitation
"Austiu, | suppose you would not
think Of putting off your visit to the
Harrisons know Marian expects you,
but | think If she knew the pleasure you
would be giving that poor child whose
days are numbered she would be the
first to bid you stay. In a case like
this, there can be no question of dis
loyalty to her. And, Austin-if you
cantor heavens sake let her still be-
lieve that she has found the affection
she has craved all her life. The de-
ception won't be for long, and it will
comfort her more in her last struggles
than Tor the entire College Of Physi-
cians-could hope to do with all the
science that the world has ever known J"