Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31
"Af'M COIN MAD"

want a dirge, don't you know
The lady who had spoken in praise OF
Langly's music laid 4 OBTAINING hand on Bar
ney's arm.
Hush" she said gently, the glimmer of
tears in her eyes, don't stop him. Listen.
That man Is inspired. | never heard Chopin
played like that before"
Obi it's Chopin, is it?" murmured Barney,
alphabetically, as if, had he known it, he
would not have interfered.
The throng dissolved rapidly, with the
unwelcome chords ringing in their ears,
leaving 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?"
asked Barney.
NO, not now"
The lady stole softly out, Barney following
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"
an do it," said Barney, enthusiastically.
THAT will be awfully jolly"
mo, 1t won't be jolly, MIR. Hope, but Wen
hear some enchanting music. Good-by."
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.
You must nave SOllSthlhS W uiiHh,
cried Barney. cordially. you look tagged
out, and no wonder. l never heard Chopin
so well rendered before. l tell you, my boy,
you get all out of a piano that's in it, don't
you know. Now, will you have whisky or
brandy?"
Langly thanked him, but refused either
beverage. He had a long walk before him
and was anxious to get away, he said.
Walk" cried Barney. Nonsense. Why
should you walk and thus insult every self
respecting cabby you meet? i. see about
the walking; l hope l know my duty toward
the hanson industry
Barney touched an electric bell, and when
his man appeared, said to him:
"Just send Buttons to the Kings road for
a hanson. When it comes give the cdbDy
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 meanwhile bring
in some whisky and soda. Now, Mr.. Organ
ist-I always forget names-ah, Langley,
here 1t is on the card, of course. Have you
ever composed any music yourself? !
thought so. Ever published any? ! thought
not. Well, my boy, We must remedy all
that. You're too modest; l can see that.
Now, modesty doesn't pay in London. |
know, because | suffer from 1t myself.
Heavens! Ii l only had the cheek of some
men, l would be the most famous painter in
Europe. If you bring a few of your com
positions to me, I'll get a publisher for yOil.
Will you promise? Nonsense. 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 l
should not improve on him? Not a bit OF 1t.
You and ! will be old masters in painting
and music some few centuries hence-you
just wait and see. The great point Is to
realize that you're an old master while
you're young and can do something. II
you don't recognize 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 comforting as the advertisements say.
Well, here's to you"
81 came to see you, Mr.. Hope" stammercd
Langley diffidently, because Marsten--one of
your fathers employes--told me he thought
you might-that you were good 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
Such a man is sure to be. How much is
the fne?'
His only daughter died yesterday"
on, I'm very sorry to hear livery sorry,
ii has no money. and none OF the men
have any. Braunt would ask no one for help,
but | know that he fears there will have to
be "a He doesn't want her to be buried as
q pauPti- duu 4 Thought
"Of course, OF course. ! see II all. never
could understand the feeling OF the poor OH
that subject. They seem TO like a fine flu
neral. as II that mattered. ! confess that IL
you give me good company while I'm alive,
you may do what you please with me with
I'm dead. ! would Just as soon lie beside
a pauper as a prince, but ! prefer the prince
when I'm above ground, Now, how much
will be needed? OF course, you don't know;
no more do l. Let us say f15; Il more is
wanted, just telegraph ME and I'll send 1t
by messenger at once, don't you know. No,
you mustn't think OF sending any OF ii back.
Use the surplus, If there is a surplus. for
some charity or another. But you must
come back yourself and Wen have a talk
on music. Dropin any time-there's no cere-
mony here, And just write your address on
this card, SO that | may communicate with
you. ] promised a lady to have you here
some day to play for a few friends. You
won't disappoint me, will you? Thanks,
I'm ever so much obliged"
THE hanson Is here. sir" said the man,
entering.
"All right. I'll just see you into your cab.
Mr.-er-Langiy. No trouble At ALI: don't