Evening star., 1897-01-30

measured tOu OF q passing DELL Inc me- |
tallic clangor OF the instrument gave VI |
brant thrill to the somber music, which |
was lacking In the smooth, round tones of |
the organ. Lang1y played like man en-
tranced. his head thrown back. his pale |
face turned upward. looking as If life had |
left it. An instantaneous chilling hush fell |
on the assemblage, If an icy wind had !
swept through the room. freezing into ST. |
lence the animated stream of conversation.
Some shivered where they stood, and one !
girl, clasping her cloak at her throat |
paused and said. half hysterically:
don't like it, |
Cursed bad taste, If you ask me-" NUT |
tered one man, hurrying away.
"Oh, / say" cried Barney, as much |
shocked as any one at the inopportune in
cident, and striding toward the performer. I,
as soon as his wits came to him, 1--WE didn't
want dirge, don't you know
The lady who had spoken in praise of
Lansly's music laid a OBTAINING hand on
Barney's arm.
Hush she said, gently. the giimmer of
tears in her eyes, don't stop him Listen
That man is inspired. 1 never heard Cho-
pin played like that before"
"Oh. it's Chopin. is it?' murmured Bar
ney, apologetically as If, had he known it,
he would not have interfered.
The throng dissolved rapidly with the un-
welcome chords ringing in their ears, leav-
ing Barney and his guest standing there
alone Langly, on finishing the march, sat
where he was, his long arms dropping by
his side:
Wouldn't you like to speak to him 2"
asked Barney
NO, not now
The lady stole softly out. Barney follow
ing her to the landing at the head of the
stairs.
please don't lose sight of him." she said.
giving Barney her hand. 81 want YOU to
ask him here again and let me invite the
guests
-. I'll do IT, said Barney enthusiastically.
That will be awfully jolly"
NO. 1t won't be jolly, Mr.. Hope, but well
hear some enchanting music Good bye"
Barney re-entered the room and found
Langly standing beside the piano like a
man awakened from a dream. apparently
not quite knowing where he was.
lou must nave something to drink,
cried Barney. cordially. You look tagged
cut and no wonder. 1 never heard Chopin
SO well rendered before. l tell you, my
Roy: you get all out of piano that's in it,
cont you know. Now, will you have whIs-
ky or brandy?"
Langly thanked him, but refused either
beverage He mad long walk before him
al d was anxious to get away. he said.
should you walk and thus insult every self
respecting cabby you meet? I'll see about
the walking; 1 hope 1 know my duty to-
ward the hanson industry
Barney touched electric bell, and when
bis man appeared said to him:
Just send Buttons to the Kings Road
Tor a hanson. When 1t comes give the
cabby ten shillings and tell him he belongs
| to his fare for four hours. ASK him to
wait at the door till his fare comes. and
n:eanwhlle. bring in some whisky and soda
Now, Mr.. Organist-I always forget names
-ah, Langly, here it is the card of
course. Have you ever composed any mu-
sic yourself? I thought so. Ever published
any? 1 thought not. Well. my boy, We
l can see that Now. modesty doesn't pay
| In London. l know. because 1 suffer from
| it myself. Heavens, If 1 only had the
cheek of some men. I would be the most
4 for in Q lr;,,
| fcv of your compositions to me. I'll get a
| publisher for you. win you promise? Non
| sense. Not worthy? Bosh! Compared with
the great composers? My dear fellow. the
great composers were all very well in their
| way. I've no doubt. but they were once poor
| devils like you. Because Raphael painted.
| Is that any reason why / should not i'm
prove on him? Net bit of it. You and I
| Will be old masters in painting and music
| some few centuries herce-you just walt
and see. The great point is to realize that
you're an Odd master while you're young
and can do something. If you don't rec
! ognize the fact yourself, you may be Jolly
| well sure no one else will-at least not in
| time to do you any good here below. Do
have some whisky; it's cheering and com
fcrting,' as the advertisements say. Well,
| here's to you
mered Langly diffidently. because Mar
sten-one Of your fathers employes-toid
me he thought you might-that you were
geoi enough to help once"
| "Oh, yes, remember Marsten. He was
| here about some fellow knocking down a
few policemen Well-has he knocked down
| some more?'
mo, but he is in great trouble, Mr..
Hope"
the fine?"
His only daughter died yesterday"
| ON, I'm very sorry to hear livery sor-
| ry. indeed"
He has no money. and none OF the men
have any. Braunt would ask no one for
hllf knn hot 1a
have to be a He does not want her
buried as pauper-and thought"
| 'Of course, OF course. / see 1t all.
never could understand the feelings of the
poor on that subject. They seem to like a
fine funeral. as If that mattered. 1 confess
that II you give me good company while
I'm alive, you may do what you please
with NE when I'm dead. I would Just as
soon lie beside a pauper as a prince. but I
prefer the prince when I'm above ground.
Now, how much will be. needed? OF
course, you don't know: no more do 1. Let
us say f15; If more is wanted, tust tel
egraph me, and I'll send it by messenger
at once. don't you know. No, you mustn't
think of sending any OF it back. Use the
surplus If there is surplus. for some
charity or another. But you must come
back yourself. and we'll have a talk on
music. Drop in any time-theres no GER
emony here. And just write your address
on This card, so that 1 may communicate te
with you. l promised a lady to have you
IA here some day to play for a few friends.
= You won't disappont me, will you?
Thanks, I'm ever SO much obliged"
The hanson is here. SIR" said the
| man, entering.
. IAN right I'll just see you into your
cab, Mr.--er-Langley. No trouble at all
; don't mention 1t. You can make this fell
low drive you around for four hours, II you
want to. He'd take you to Brighton In
: that time, SO l suppose hem land you any
where in London in short order. Well
+ goodbye, my dear fellow, and thank you
ever so much for your exquisite music"
Chapter Xxx.
: After the burial of his daughter Braunt
, sat in his lonely room and pondered bit
terly upon the failure his life had beer
ever since ne could remember. Hard ant
! incessant toll he did not complain Of; tina
] was his lot. and it had been the lot of hi:
: fathers. He was able to work and willing
the work was there. waiting to be done
n yet, through the action of men over whom
d he had not the slightest control he wa.
g doomed TO idleness and starvation unit
: the capricious minds Of others changed
: and the signal was given to pick up tn.
r tools that had been so heedlessly dropped