Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-03-11
THE PRIZE IN must

could be done by hard practice; but
what would that avail. when Leon
March would be sr"e to practice hard
er? Leon might not get the prize,
There were three other competitors De-
sides Anthony himself; but the chances
were all in Icons favor.
Anthony began the oft-repeated pro-
cess Of looking over his music, not yet
decided as to which among his OH
solos he should play ut tie great con-
cert. While again balancing IN his
mind the merits Of two compositions.
between which his decision wavered.
there was a knock Mt the door. and In
answer to his shouted Invitation to
come in, Roy Willett opered the door
aid poked his head in before entering.
"Perlaps l can stand 1t II you're
only looking at the music and not play
ing" he said, as he pushed the door
wider and came in. Anthony tossed
the music over on the table with just
show of vexation in his manner. I'm
tired enough of it to be glad you've
come. What's the use In trying for
that miserable prize, when we all know
that Leon will get it? don't Call 1t a
fair show for the rest of u.s. We have
something else to do, and can't be prac-
ticing all the time, as he is"
You haven't heard about his violin,
have your
"No-unless you mean that old story
about his singing it to Sleep
Roy laughed. not at the story, but at
| the startled questioning on Anthonys
| face.
81 am afraid he will cry it to sleep TO-
night. and himself, too. This afternoon
lie broke hole in tn, back of it, and
you can hardly call it a violin any
| longer. He wants to give up entering
the contest, but Mandel won't hear OF
it, The rest of lis have good yiolins,
and it will be our fault if some one of
us does not win the prize"
After all. that's ardly fair" said
Anthony. n sudden sympathy for his
rival springing to life in his heart.
1T simply gives us an even chance
with him." said Roy. "The disadvant-
ages have been ours so far: but ROW
he's getting his share That's all there
Is to it,"
That night Anthony could not escape
| llle icILclllDluuSc lC Adl tIhOShCA
violin which he was not using stored
away in the little closet adjoining his
sleeping room. There was no reason
at I'LL why he should not let Leon have
it until after the concert, save that by
doing 50 he would be increasing his
rivals chances for the prize. Leon
could not afford to get a new violin.
He knew that we'll enough, and Of
what use would the old one be with Il
hole punched in it's back? OF course,
Leon deserved the prize, just as Roy,
O. right. had the honor of being cap.
tain If the ball club. Still. it was none
of his affair if he broke his violin. 1t
wcs not thing for which he should
make reparation, and why should he
trouble himself about one who had al
ready repulsed his kindness. or, at
least. had never invited it? He would
be quite sure of the prize himself if
but Anthony could not bring himself to
think Of being a party to Leon's fail
ure. The old violin in the closet
seemed to send out lament beca use
the music in it's heart had been so long
unvoiced. He could fancy that the
spirits of those who in long days
had played in it's moving tones the
joys and sorrows of vanished time.
And rhen-but Anthony could not think
of it any more. He turned his thoughts
resolutely to his next days Virgil read
ing, a topic stimulating his fancy so
slightly that he soon forgot it all in
sleep.
1t vas three days later when AnthO-
ny went into Prof. Mandel's room. be-
fore the latter had finished the lesson
he was giving Leon. Both teacher and
pupil We're aggravated by the dull
tones of the cracked violin, and at last
Mandel handed Leon his own instru-
ment, upon which no pupil had never
before been permitted to play. An
thony sat down and listened for the
remainder Of the lesson hour. At first
his heart sank within him. He could
not so much as dream of being able to
play like that. Then gradually the
music came over him with all it's pow
err. He wondered how so slight form.
SO thin and etherealize face, should
have for its soul so much strength and
mastery. Directly he forgot to think
about this, and by the time Leon had
finished he knew what he should do.
The shy boy hardly understood him
when he told him that he had an old
violin of good quality to the use of
which he was welcome for the rest Of
the term; but Anthony himself played
better that afternoon than he had for
weeks.
Anthony did not enter the contest for
tue prize. His father would be disap-
pointed, he knew: but he had not the
heart to bring his fumblng with the
bow into comparison with Icons mas
terry of his instrument. Roy laughed ut
him. and even upbraided lin little
for lending his violin, but Roy's laugh
ter and upbraidng were alike harm
less.
But after the ,ontect, wlcn the prize
had been awarded Icons mother came
to him without an Introduction.
i do not know how t, thank yoli."
SHE said, and her voice was net 50
steady as it might have been. "';ivirg
Leon the violin was more to him 1h,n
the prize
Afterward. when they had .,cur to
his room together. Anthony tod lis
father why he had not played. d
with whose instrument it wae t
Leon had won. His father see lal 10
be thinking Of other things. on' l.
ding his head slowly to show tl,; 70