The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-08-14
II Duet in Cwo Flats.
BY AMY F. LAWRENCE.
TIE HAD been living there for a yea,


She moved in the list of March, in
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 ST.
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-m e-fal-sol-la- si-do, do-si-la-sol-
fa-me-ra-do," jerked the piano, with
maddening persistency; and the duet
continued for an hour.
That was the beginning. At the end
of a week the young man with the blue
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: "We might as well live
in Bedlam and be done with it. If he
plays oh, Promise Me- just once more
/ shall speak to the janitor." On the
eighth day she carried her intention
. into effect.
The janitor was diplomat. He
listened to her tale of woe with respect
full interest and scratched his head re-
fiectively. Every sorry, ma'am," he
said. 81 always like to oblige the la
dies, but j don't see what I can do
about it. Take it in reasonable hours,
say, before IL o'clock, an ther' 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 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 right to play
when We want to-" says /, "an' if ye're
bound to fight about it ye'll hev to fight
II out between ye." And the janitor
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 ap-
preaching steps; then the door opened
and she was confronted by tall young
man with fair hair neatly parted in the
middle and violin bow in his hand.
She started back ard stared at him,
clutching the side of the door for sup
port.
"Oh, it's-it's you, is it % she gasped.
''It seems to be-" he answered, with
a touch of irony. as there anything
! can do for you?"
Lucille paused for moment, wonder
ing what was the most dignified course
to pursue. When you have parted from
n young man with the solemn VOW that
you will never, never speak to him again
and have sent back his ring and his
trinkets it is rather embarrassing to
find yourself standing opposite to him
in an apartment hall at IL o'clock at
night and to realize, too, that the meet
ing has been brought about by your
self.
AT least let me apologize for my in
trusion, Mr.. Hammond" she began,
with cold formality. 81 had no idea
who my neighbor was, and when /
spoke to the janitor about your violin
he said you had also complained of my
piano. am very sorry that it troubled
you"
Don't mention it. AS you also have
been annoyed by the violin"
"Not me. l 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,
"Are you speaking of your Aunt Hen
rietta?"
Eyes. You have met herr" (resolute-
ly ignoring their former intimacy.
II have" he answered, gravely.
"Will you kindly convey to her my con-
gratulations upon the recovery of her
hearing?"
The corners of Lucile's mouth
twitched-but it would never do to
burst out laughing like schoolgirl.
She turned her head to regain her COM
posture, and through the open door
caught glimpse of a charming room;
the walls picturesque medley of rugs