The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-05-20


few moments later her glorious voice
rang out as steady and clear as the
Ginning of bell, but to him it was
only us tho running Of the sand i'll an
hour glass, for when it ceased he must
take his stand OH the brilliantly illu-
minated stage. before tho gaze of 1000
eyes. His heart began to beat wildly
against his breast, and he found himself
tremblingly shrinking from the moment
TO which he had looked forward 30 con-
iidently. Vague thoughts of possible
hight flashed through his brain, but he
realized that it WAS too late, and vainly
SIZED to steady his nerves for the ordeal.
Again and again the applause rose
and fell as the last notes Of the wonder
ful contralto died away, and the SOLO
ist had to bow her acknowledgment re-
peatcdly; then there camo pause,
which to Hartzell seemed to last for
hours. AT length the orchestra played
tho introduction to his number, and no
started to his feet convulsively and step
ped out into the glare Of the footlights.
The audience saw an understood, gray
haired man, whose clean shaver face
was almost childish in expression as he
stood there, nervously Whiting. Hart
zell saw AZ shimmcring, changing blur,
from which half indistinguishablc
forms started out for moment, and
then faded away like phantoms in -
cleaning mist, only to reappear again
i'll different shape. 4 noise like the
shouting of an angry mob sounded in
his ears, and he rccled and took step
backward, raising his hand to his fore
head inyoluntarily. At last he caught
the eye of the conductor who nodded
encouragement, and he raised his violin
mechanically and made ready to play.
Tho smoothly flowing accompaniment
began, but Hartzell stood mt first mo-
tionlcss, his heart held i'll the grasp of
deathllko fear. He could recall 10
note of the air which he knew so we'll.
His memory, confused by fright, was mt
standstill and would not respond to
his desperate cntrcaty. Like one in
trance, he saw tho conductor give the
signal which was fatal to him and his
hopes. The accompaniment stopped alb
ruptly, and he felt the wondering hush
which came over tho great audience.
In his disappointment and hopeless
ness he could have cried aloud This
W 90 tiiO AllO1uCllU lOI WulCu uC lluu Will
ed so many cruel, long years. This was
his triumph Tho tears crept down his
withered cheeks and his lips moved
TREMENDOUSLY. Ho made no attempt to
leave the stage, but stood with bowed
head, while the hopes and dreams of
his wasted life passed i'll review before
him and crumbled away in the light of
the consciousness that no had been
found wanting.
But all this while. unbcknown to
himself, he had been drawing the bow
across the strings instinctivcly, unheed-
ingly, in unwilling disregard of his
surroundings. The accustomed, caress-
ing touch of the violin seemed to an
swer his vague longing for expression
After awhile he noticed dimly that
the members of the orchestra were bend
ing toward him with curious intentness,
and that there was breathless stiffness
throughout the house He did not know
or caro- what was tho reason, for ho
was lost i'll the distant land of memory,
draping the brightness &C every recol-
lection with the black of present hope
lcssncss; marking the vainness of every
hope and the futility of every sacrifice.
The thoughts which were flashing
through his mind found an added bitter
ness Ill the consciousness that all might
have been so different if his courage
had not failed him; if he could have
shown to the world what he knew to be
his real power. Was there yet time? If
he could only have another trial-one
little opportunity-perhaps he could re-
deem this mistake. He was suro that he
could. Was it too latc-altogether too
late? Might not
He came to himself with a start and
looked about him appealingly, mutely
asking forgiveness and sympathy from
some unknown source, then half Stun
bling turned to leave the stage.
A murmur followed him, fast grow
ing into a roar. The house seemed to
trcmble and rock again and again in a
hurricane of cheering. He heard his
namo called by many voices and faced
about i'll utter bewilderment, his veins
tlngling strangely. He saw wildly
tossing sea Of faces. The audience had
risen to its feet and was crying out to
him-to him! The orchestra, too, was
applauding madly. forgetful of disci-
pline, and the conductor was smiling at
him with shifting eyes. What did it all
mean? For Il moment he stood daZed
and uncomprehending, then suddenly
he knew the truth. Unconsciously no
had been playing the thoughts which
We're i'll his mind, and the sobbing, Vi
brating notes of the violin had told his
story to every human heart in the vast
thcatcr.-Leland Ingcrsoll in LOCKER
On.
Our cat has just had Chickens" re-