The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1897-08-28
HVhv didn't Won Stav old mani

"Why didn't you stay, old mani
It's grand-she's a genius-it will
hauos. YOU when you hear it. Oh,
and Two persuaded her to take a
rest and then write the second fiddle
part That'll be all right, won't it,
WILL" he whispered, "why didn't
you tell me?'
keep her, I said icily, land the
solo too There!"
He drew deep breath. Another
soft word from him and l should
have given way, but he had turned
away and picked up letter that
had arrived for him by the last
post. Absolute silence for a time
Then I glanced up to see Chris star
ing at me, his face a study in in
credulous wonder.
"Heavens! Willr' he breathed.
my names madel Here's an invi
tation from the manager of the
Grand hall to play there tomorrow
night and name my own fee. One
of their artists is indisposed. Will,
did you hear9 At the Grand hall,
Kensington, tomorrow night. Me-
me! What can he have heard of
me9 Why, it's the chance of my
lifetime! Will, aren't you going to
grip my handa'
He was so overcome that he hard
~ noticed I sat like a stone. He
went on whispering rapturously to
himself:
Tomorrow night! I must write
and tell her this. Why, the solo-1
can play it. She must be there!
Will, listen-you must hear it! It
goes like this!''
He caught up his violin. I see
him now as he stood that night,
hear that downward sweep of his
bow across the strings, full of con-
scious triumph-that one quivering
chord, no more. Twas on my feet,
a terrible passion passing through
me. Every word of his had been a
stab. Each seemed to carry Lottie
farther and farther from me. I
struck out at him-at Chris, the
man who had made me love him
like brother-and the savage blow
caught the rim of his beloved in
strument and sent it spinning across
the room. Near the door it fell
with a sickening crash and lay
there-wrecked!
Yes. Next minute, when realiz.
ed and would have given years of
my life to spare Chris that blow, I
crept across and picked up the VIC
lin. The finger board had snapped
in two, and the body of it was stove
in like an eggshell.
"Oh, Chris!" l whimpered, one
shaking hand put out. But he did
not stir. His body was stiff. Only his
face worked convulsive]y. "Take
mine-take everything I've got!" I
said in an agony Of apprehension
then. --..
One dry sob came, then a SILVER,
then he CROPPED his way past me like
blind man. Listening as for my
life, I heard him mount slowly up
to our bedroom and lock the door
on the inside. Then one stifled
moan and no more.
All that night I sat in fever of
shame and suspense, and the door
above had not opened. Several
times I had crept up and implored
him to let me in, but not sound
had come. What was he doingf
Save myself, no one on earth knew
how he had priced that old violin
what it's loss meant for him. What
would happens When morning
came, could do nothing but ask
our landlady not to disturb him and
wait on. Afternoon came, and still
the same silence overhead. And
then, just about 6 o'clock, I went
hot at the recollection of that con-
cert at the Grand hall. The chance
of his lifetime he had called it. If
he failed-no, he should not fail!
The widest of ideas had flashed
across me. Chris and I were not so
unlike in appearance, and, heaven
helping me, Knight
Invent up and knocked once again.
No answer. Clearly if it was to be
done there was no time to hesitate.
Seven O'Clock, no Chris Half past
z. had dressed carefully, chosen
an effective solo that I knew by
heart, taken one of Chris cards and
stood waiting on the last chance. A
quarter to s, and that door remained
locked. Five minutes later I had
called q cab and was on my way to
the Grand hall.
recollect asking for the manager
and handing him that card, but the
rest seemed afterward like dream.
Scores of times I had played in pub
lie, but always with nervousness