The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-07-15
II Duet in CWo FLATS.
BY AMY F. LAWRENCE.


4 1 ollt ulUNtu III llO Isl u dlCll. III
company with deaf old lady whom he
called aunt. He was a tall young man
with blue eyes and an aggravating stub
bornness of disposition. She was lit
tie thing with red hair and the temper
that goes with it. He took lessons on
the violin, she on the piano.
OF course, the music confiicted. 1t
was unfortunate that the first evening
Lucille could spare from her other du-
ties to devote to her piano should have
been the one Walter had chosen for
practicing on his violin, but it only
FASTENED the inevitable result. Each
thought the other was playing out of
pure malice prepense, and each regis
tered a determination not to be 81
fenced.
"Do-me-re-me, fa-me-re-me, do-sol-fa-
sol. la-sol-fa-sol," walled the violin, in
senseless reiteration.
"Do-ra-me-fal-sol-la- do-si-la-sol-
fa-me-ra-do," ierlled the piano, with
maddening persistency; and the duet
continued for an hour.
~-~ That was the beginning. At the end
VI a N'Nh lllN y OliiS man WIN AllN bluO
eyes had learned to swear softly to him
self whenever he heard the music stool
creak, and the girl with the red hair
had for the seventh time shrieked in
her aunt's ear: eve might as well live
in Bedlam and be done with it. If he
plays oh, Promise Me- just once more
I shall speak to the ianitor." On the
%, An
into effect
The ianitor was a diplomat. He
listened to her tale of woe with respect
full interest and scratched his head re
fiectiyely, very sorry, ma'am," he
said. 81 always like to oblige the la
dies, but ! don't see what l can do
about it. Take it in reasonable hours,
say, before II o'clock, an Their amt
no rules in this house to prevent folks
playin' anything they likes. An that's
what told him when he was complain
in about your piano this morning"
Complaining about my piano-my
pianO-when he's nearly driven me
crazy with that awful violin," gasped
Lucille. But it's Just like the imper-
Thence of a newspaper man, anyhow.
/ should like to know if l haven't a
right to play the piano as much as
wish. for all of him."
That's what | told him. ma'am
we've both o We got a right to play
when We want to-" says J.. IAN if ye're
bound to fight about it yen hev to fight
it out between ye." And the ianitor
walked away.
Lucile's spirit was aroused. The
next time she heard the strains of "Oh.
Promise Me" she didn't hesitate. She
ran down the stairs and pressed the bell
of the second-story apartment,
The music ceased; there were APP
preaching steps; then the door opened
and she was confronted by a tall young
man with fair hair neatly parted in the
middle and violin bow in his hand
She started back and stared at him.
olutching the side of the door for sup
port.
ooh, it's-its you, is ito" she gasped.
1T seems to be-" he answered, with
n touch of irony. Us there anything
l can do for you?"
Luclle paused Tor a moment wonder
ing "ila' was 'he most olghlhed course
TO pursue. When You have parted from
young man with the Soleihh vow lha'
YOU VIII never, never speak TO MN again
ana nave sent back ms ring ana ms
1rlnke's 1t is rather embarrassing to
ma yourseif standing opposite 10 MN
IN an apartment hall at IL o'clock at
,'lsH. anu u reall"e' 700 .l'dl tlle meet
ing mas peeh Drought apou' p9 your
sell
At least let me apologize 1or my IN
1rusioh' Mr. hammond she began
with cola formaHty. i mad no idea
VINO my nelghnor was ana When l
spoke 10 the cantor ABOUT your VloHn
ne sald you mad also complained OF my
piano am very sorry that 1t troubled
you.
Don't mention 1t. As you also have
been annoyed by the violin
Not me. | hardly noticed it," cor
rected Lucille, with dignity. But I'M
fortunately my aunt IS subject to nerv-
Gus headaches, and on her account the
NOISE
Il see He paused moment,