The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-03-25
SELECTED STORY.
The COrnet Player.

bhlAEs
"Bring him the cornet Joaquin is
practicing with"
" 1t is not very good one, but you'll
play for us, will you not, Don Basilio9"
mo"
"You womb"
"No.n
But why?"
because | don't know how"
"He doesn't know howl Did you
ever see such a hypocrite2"
"Come, come, Don Basilo, Why,
we know you've been leader of mill
tary BAND
"And that nobody could play the
cornet like YOURSELF
And that you have pension from
the government
"Weil, yes, it's the truth. | have
been a musician in my time, and the
cornet was the instrument / played.
But it is also true that years ago | gave
my cornet away TO poor player in need
of one, and since that time have not so
much as hummed tune"
What pityl"
Goa, but this afternoon you must
play for u.s."
Remember it is my birthday, grand
papa"
"And here is the cornet at last
Now let's have pretty tune"
:" A waliz!"
" No, polkal"
"No, no; fandango, fandapgo-
our national dance"
"Don't bother me, children. Have
l not said that l cannot play?"
But why can't your"
because I've forgotten the way,
and because, moreover, l have vowed
never to learn again.
"To whom did you make this vow,
fathe1?"
"To myself, to dead friend and to
your poor mother, my daughter"
All the bright, childish faces grew
sad upon hearing these words.
"Oh, if you only knew at what cost l
learned to play the cornell continued
the old man.
"The storyl The storyl" exclaimed
the children. Tell us the story"
"Well, yes" said Don Basilio, it is
really a story worth telling. Listen, and
you shall judge for yourselves whether
l can or cannot play for you to-day"
And seating himself uoder a tree,
surrounded by the wondering children,
he told them the story of how he learned
to play the cornet. Let US listen to
Don Basilio:
1t is now seventeen years ago that
our beloved Spain was shaken by civil
war. Carlos and Isabel disputed the
crown, and our countrymen, divided in
two factions, shed their blood in fra
tricidal conflict.
/ had in those days a friend named
Ramon Gomez, cavalry lieutenant in
the same battalion, one of the best
hearted fellows have ever known. We
were educated together; together we
left college; together had we passed
nany happy days, and together we
were ready to die for liberty. Oh, l
can truly say that he was more attached
to the liberal cause than any of us, and
his loyalty was never questioned. Yet,
even so, certain injustice committed
by our chief, one of those abuses of
authority that wreck the most honor
able career, made the cavalry lieutenant
desert the ranks of his fellow soldiers,
the friend leave his friend, the liberal
abandon his cause for that OF hated
faction, the subordinate desire to kill
his superior officer.
Neither my warnings nor my entreat-
les availed to dissuade him from this
rash step. 1t was thing decided. He
would change the helmet for the cap,
despisng as he did the rebels and their
cause.
At that time we found ourselves in
the principally of -, three miles
from the enemy. 1t was the night in
which Ramon was to desert-a cheer
less evening, cold and wet, on the eve
of battle. At midnight Ramon en-
tered my tent. l was asleep.
Basilio," he whispered in my ear.
"Who's there?" asked, waking with
start.
cit is 1. Goodby."
"You are going already?"
yes. Goodby" And he grasped
my hand. Listen" he continued
eff tomorrow there is great battle
as is the rumor, and we come face tt
face in it"-
81 know, l know" 1 interrupted
We are friends"
"Good. We clasp hands and fgh
afterward. shall die tomorrow surely
but not until l have fought my way Il
the side of the lieutenant-colonel. A
for you, Basilio, do not expose yourself
Glory is but vapor."
"And lifep"
We'll said. Make yourself com
mandant. The pay is not ethereal-tha
is, not till one has smoked it away. Ah
but all that has now ended for me-"
"What melancholy thoughts!"
cried, not without a sinking at tn
heart "To-morrow We shall surviv
the battle"
point meeting place."
" Where?"
6 In the hermitage of St. Nicholas q
one O'Clock tomorrow night. He VIII
is not there by that time shall be give
up for dead by the other. Is it agreed?
Agreed"
"Well, then, good-by."
"Good-by."
We embraced affectionately an
4