Evening star., 1896-12-26

deavored to lull the inward monitor well
knowing while they did so the sophlstry of
their excuses. The consciousness of deceit
told on Langly's manner he cringed before
the rector and those in authority. Never
Gid one Of the kindly but deluded men ac-
cost their organist without causing a
timorous fear to spring up in his heart that
the hour of his dismissal had arrived.
Yet let moralists say what they will, the
wicked do prosper sometimes on this earth
when they shouldn't, while the innocent
suffer for the misdeeds done by others.
There was the case of Belcher. for exam
pie. and. although 1t must in justice be ad-
mitted that Beichers nard luck CAUSED the
organist many twinges of conscience, still,
of what avail are twinges Of conscience
when the harm Is wrought? II, In our
selfshness. We bring disaster on a fellow
creature, after regret can scarcely be called
reparation.
Belcher was the hard-working, industri-
Gus man who pumped the organ in st. Mar
tyrs, and, besides laboring during the regu-
lar service, it was also his duty to attend
when the organist wished to practice the
selections which afterward delighted the
ance. Langly had no ''mussy." as the
overworked pumper told his sympathizing
comrades at the Rose and Crown" He
would rather follow the vestry cart all day
with shovel. would Belcher, than suffer
the slavery he was called upon to endure
my the unthinking organist, who never
considered that bending the back to a
lever was harder work than crooking the
fingers to tte keys. Besides, Langly could
sit down to his labor. such as it was, while
Belcher couldn't. Naturally the put-upon
man complained. and Langly at once admit
ted the justice Of the complaint. at the
same time exhibiting a craven fear that n
rumor Of his unjustifiable conduct might
reach the ears Of the church authorities
The honest Belcher now regretted that he
had borne his burden so long. for the repre-
hensible organist Immediately offered to
compound with the blower by paying him
something extra each week, If he would
say nothing about the additional labor. It
was Beicners misfortune rather than his
fault that mathematical computation was
not one Of his requirements, and he failed
to appreciate the fact that there was a
limit to the musicians income a limit very
speedily reached. He was an ill-used man.
and he knew 1t. SO he struck oftener for
h1gher pay, and got 1t. up to the point
where Langly insisted that there was not
enough left to keep body and soul together.
not to speak Of the purchase of music.
Bclcher yearned for the tail of the yestry
cart, and threatened to complain to the
rector. which at last he did. not mentioning
however, that he had received extra re-
muneratton, because he did not wish to
exhibit the organist's culpability in all its
responsiveness. He told the rector that he
in it's rounds than accompany an orpanst
who had no mussy' on pore" man
He was always ready to pump a reason
able quantity OF air. but If an organist
practice SO much, 1t was hard that the man
at the lever should bear the brunt OF his
incompetence. The rector thanked Belcher
for his musical criticism, and said he would
see about 1t.
White the virtuous Belcher took b,s
walks abroad with his chin in the air. as
beffts one who has done his duty the trans
gressor crept along byways, and scarcely
dared to enter the silent church. He lodged
the rector as long as he could but was at
length run to EARTH The kindly old man
put hts hand on the culprtt's shoulder anc
said: "'io
hear"
Il shall be more thoughtful in future
SIR murmured the nervous organist in ex.
cuse I'm afraid I've been playing too
much but 1t IL q difficult art
"Of course 1t is." interrupted the clergy
man. have made arrangements to sat
fsfy the ambition of Belcher which an
pears to tend in the direction of a yesfrv
cart. and we are putting in a hydraulic
blower. which we should have put In years
ago. You viii find It q great convenience
In your practice. Mr.. Langly, for 1t is al
ways ready and never complains"
The organist to1d to thank the rector
but his throat seemed not at his Command
for other effort than a gulp or two The
good man smiled at the grofes,Iue twistings
OF Langly's mouth and the rapid winking
OF his eyelids; then the organist turned
abruptly and walked away. tortured after
ward with the fear that the rector might
have thought him rude and uhgrateful: but
the old man knew the musician much bet
ter than the musician knew himself
After that, when Langiy chanced upon
the indignant and gravely wronged Belcher
at the tail Of his aforementioned but entirely