The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-11
Stories of an inland State.

Van Brunt was such a charming hostess
What was It today? Almost as If Mrs. Var
Brunt had requested 1t herself those who
were into the secret lost no time in con-
fding II 10 the later arrivals. The secret
whatever il vas, was in every instance
received with uplifted hands as much as to
say: 81 would never have guessed that
Ard when does he come?
Where is the piano?
And how long will he play?
Is there a printed program?
And what does she pay?
Do you believe the newspaper rumor that
his mind is affected?
Have you heard MIN?
Did you hear that he is misanthrope?
wonder If he was once very poor? What
DO you think?
Did YOU read how he goes out into the
heaviest storms in order to be inspired?
Isn't his rhapsody lovely?
Have you noticed his hands?
Hasn't he queer little bow?
AS stories of the kind will sometimes, ii
was presently whispered about that Alger-
non Burr the virtucso, was an old friend
of Mrs. Van Brunt, and that he himself had
asked to play at her reception.
Ills Fu-SDtEtu was 6iCClCC
By storm of sbilant ''Ohs"
The guests had all arrived. Mrs. Var
Rrunt absented herself moment from the
the street
A carriage drove up.
HE is herew said Mrs. Van Brunt audi
bly,.
But the carriage whirled on the instant
and was gone.
Mrs. Van Brunt put her hand to her head
Would he disappoint her? Why had he
gone away?
She went back to the guests, as pale as
death.
Algernon Burr, half reclining in the seat
at the side of Agnes, asked as the carriage
stopped:
What o'clock"
Five minutes until two"
1--WE are five minutes too early. Let me
have a cigarette. Let him drive around a
square or two
Presently the carriage came back. Agnes
aEghted and helped Burr out.
Remember he said. "At three on the
dot"
He walked up under the canopy Every
IcCh was SlEetCItn dS lie tilltIcu
He disappeared in a room to the side. Mrs.
Van Brunt preceding him. A servant re-
moved his cloak.
Now Mr.. Burr. A glass of wine-some-
thing -"
Il do not use wine" he said. Where is
the piano?'
81 do not use tea. Will you show me to
the piano? play an hour-no longer. Your
time is going. And -"
'Just sip of tea, Mr. Burr -"
Mrs. Van Brunt by her diappearance with
the artist was effectively feeding her guest
agony.
''The check?" asked Burr.
''Wait until you are through, Mr. Burr"
NO. said Burr impetuously.
Mrs. Van Brunt disappeared from the
room. The guests saw her and engaged in
a general futter of movement and purr of
murmurs.
Returning she gave the check to Burr.
He looked at it critically and thumbed 1t
down into his vest pocket.
They are waiting" said Mrs. Van Brunt
nervousy affable.
"Who?'
'"The guests"
ooh"
Burr passed out and through an avenue
of fiuttering skirts to the piano, his nose
well up his eyes oblivious.
He sat down at the piano and began idly;
then intensely. The fair guests crowded
close upon him, jostling genteelly but none
the less jostling at his elbows, against his
back gently.
He stopped-not on the dominant-in the
midst of an incomplete phrase.
The fair women gazed enraptured upon
his silent figure.
He pushed his body back and stretched
out his arms.
Then he said, looking at the wall above
the piano:
You must move back Do you not see
you crush me? You must move back"
The women nearest flushed scarlet The
others behind nodded in approval. There
was a rustling, scattering from him.
He did not continue.
Mrs. Van Brunt came to the rescue.
MIR. Burr" she began apprehensively.
81 am quite disconnected"
Several women among the guests drop
ped their eyes at others indignant glances.
Quite disconnected" drawled Burr idly.
Have you a cigarette?'
Mrs VanBrunt turned to the guests. They
had all heard. A hundred women each
wished she had a cigarette. If they had
only known. Each would have brought one
along. What boon-to give the great Burr
L cigarette, There was scattering of SER
wants. There was not a cigarette in the
house.
Burr sighed heavily and began again.
At the end of his first number there was
he widest clapping. When the guests had
ceased the applause they noticed with cha
grin that the performer had forthwith be-
gan a second, disregarding entirely their
Burr presently stopped and turned to the
guests. scanning their faces curousiy.
He smiled and arose and pushed his way
gently through the sstins and silks and
anne to a weman with blue eyes and golden
lair.
He took her by the hand and led her to
he piano.
The other guests stood aghast. The gol-
ien-haired woman. thus singled out, blush
d crimson.
Turn the music" he whispered 10 her.
This is a rhapsody, you see. There is a
Srl by a brook here You will see her"
A jealous agony shook the hearts OF the
,ther guests. What could the artist be
to her?
Now" he whispered. Dream with the
music"
The magic OF the music bound the guests
n a spell The below OF the strings ceased
md the tinkle Of s. landscape perspective
which less acute ears call silence waited
rom the strings
Burr smiled.
See" he said 10 himself. she Is not
urnsug the leaves She is iost,''
He concluded.