Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-01-08
THE CORNET PLAYER.

y Samuel Minturn Peck In Boston Transcripts.
THE CORNET PLAYER.
"Don Basilio, play us tune on the
cornet, and we will dance. It is cool
hare under the trees. !"
eyes, yes. Don Basilio, play some-
thing"
"Bring him the cornet joaquin is
rracticing with. y
'sIt is not very good one, but you'll
play for us, will you not, Don BasilioS"
"No."
"You won't?''
.sNo.''
"But why?"
because don t know how"
"He doesn' t know how Did you ever
see such hypocrite?''
"Come, come, Don Basilio. Why. we
know you've been leader Of military
band"-
"And that nobody could play the cor
net like yourself
"And that you have pension from
the government"
"Well, yes, it's the truth. I have been
q musician in my time, and the cornet
was the instrument I played. But it is
also true that years age gave my COR
net away to poor player in need Of one
and since that time have not SO much as
hummed tune. -
"What pity!'
ooh, but this afternoon you must play
for us. -
Remember it is my birthday, grand
papa
'sAnd here is the cornet at last"
"Now let's have pretty tune. -
ga waltzr'
"No, polka''
mo, no; fandango, fandango-
our national dance -
'Don't bother me, children. Have I
not said that cannot play?"
"But why can't you?"
Because I've forgotten the way, and
because, moreover, have vowed never
to learn again.
'sTo whom did you make this vow,
father?''
s'To myself, to a dead friend and to
your poor mother, my daughter
All the bright, childish faces grew sad
upon hearing these words.
sOh, if you only knew at what cost l
learned to play the cornetl'' continued
the old man.
''The story! The story" exclaimed
the children. "Tell us the story"
well, yes, y said Don Basilio, sit is
really story worth telling. Listen, and
you shall judge for yourselves whether
can Or cannot play for you today
And seating himself under tree, sur
rounded by the wondering children, he
told them tie story of how he learned
to play the cornet. Let us listen to Don
Basilio:
Y
tits now II years ago that our below
ed Spain was shaken by civil war. Car
los and Isabel disputed the crown, and
our countrymen, divided in two fac
.tions, shed their blood in fratricidal con-
'fict.
I had in those days 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
many happy days, and together we were
ready to die for liberty. Oh. 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 honorable career,
made the cavalry lieutenant desert the
ranks of his fellow soldiers, the friend
leave his friend, the liberal abandon his
cause for that ofsa 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. It was thing decided. He
would change the helmet for the cap,
despising as he did the rebels and their
cause
At that time we found ourselves in
the principality of -, three miles
from the enemy. It was the night in
which Ramon was to desert-a cheer
less evening, cold and wet, on the eve
OF battle. At midnight Ramon enter
ed my tent. was asleep.
"Basilio, he whispered in my ear.
who's there?" asked, waking with
a start.
"It is I. Goodby."
You are going already?''
"Yes. Goodby." And he grasped nv
hand. Listen" he continued. 'sIf to-
morrow there is great hattie, as is the
rumor, and we come face to face in it,
II know, l know I interrupted.
"We are friends. -
Good. We clasp hands and fight aft
erward. shall die tomorrow surely.
but not until have fought my -way to
the side of the lieutenant colonel. AS
for you, Basilio, do not expose yourself.
Glory is but a vapor.
''And life?'
''Well said. Make yourself a COM
mandant. The pay is not ethereal
that is, not till one has smoked it away.
All, but all that has now ended for me, .,
"What melancholy thoughts p I cried.
not without sinking at the heart. ..To.
morrow we shall survive the battle. -
swell. if this be SO. let us now ap-
point meeting place
"Where?"
In the hermitage Of st. Nicholas at
! O'Clock tomorrow night. He who is
not there BY that time shall be given up
for dead by the other. Is it agreed?''
Agreed"
We'll, then, goodby."
'Goodby."
We embraced affectionately and part
ed. Ramon disappearing under shelter
Of the darkness.
AS we had expected, the rebels at
tackled US the following day. The action
was bloody one and lasted from s
o'clock in the afternoon until nightfall.
About o'clock my battalion was rough
" set upon by parsy of Alayeses led bv