The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-29
A MUSICAL VICTORY.


fefed serious relapse that mightvpt any
momena prove fatal. Sympathy, 40 far as
he was concerned was withercd as the leaf
of autumn and he talked of the weather
and away from music
But let il be said the Algernon McCurry
was n young man Of resource. His cx-
pedients TO reach given end were great,
and though he still loved Madeline Nc
Grogor with an undiminishcd loyc.. when
he thought of the night past and OF possible
other nights yet To como his heart grew
sick within him, his face took hard, set
look, and his handsome gray eyes seemed
to fire with resolution. All next day from
his high stool he thought, and his thoughts
were those OF youth-long. long thoughts
When Algernon McCurry went home
that evening, he carried under his arm a
mysterious looking stiff leather bag. large
Mt one end, smaller at the other, white In
his hand he grasped short, round bundle.
Mother, he said, fought you not stay
with Mrs. Jones tonights"
II have been thinking oft, Algy, dear,
but ] had almost decided TO stay at home
and do some mending for you.
Never mind the mendng, mother.
tn worry along. Go stay with the poor
woman"
And then Algernon was alone with his
thoughts, and his bag, and his short,
round bundle.
The September night wore on. From
the westward came the great, l1ud note OF
the curfews warning. Lcssening, fading,
the last echo dies away to the east. Then
ont upon the air, hardly yet stilied, there
creeps an indistinguisbablc, indeflnable
something. IL Is not natural of anything
OH earth, nor Is IL supernatural. Now it
is blast, clear and resonant, penetrat-
ing, all pervading buglc note coming from
space, ending In it's birthplace. Now IL Is
n moan, n low, dull monotone telling OF
anguish and grief, Of heartbreaking sad
ness, and now fitfully dying away il be-
comes n slow dragging, piercing note, like
the cry of wild beast in pain. 1t gathers
strength, and now, in weird minor
louder and ever louder, IL tells of infinite
suffering, Of the rack and pnion and
stake Of martyrs aud the wall of soul
eternally damned. Now it partakes OF
the melody of rusted wire, and now of
blunt steel scraping human bones. Now
II Is tho din and crash, the cannonade,
muskctry, saber clashing drum roll
charge, double quick. advance, retreat Of
n thousand battlcfields, and now it dies
away into the feeble wall of poor dying
kitten.
Minutes grow into hours and hours into
the lapse OF ages Again the long, creep
ing cable stops Again the watchdog bays
the moon. Again the distant, suburban
cock crows the waking light. At last all
Is still. Algernon McCurry has finished
his first music lesson.
On Friday night when dark haired
Algernon calls on fair haired Madeline he
hears something that makes his heart to
beat faster in his bosom. Madeline has de-
cded that, after all, she does not care 10
go in SO much for music, and the new
piano has been sent back TO the install
inent house. She intends 20 buy bicycle.
And now when Algernon McCury and
Madeline McGregor coast down the asphalt
streets they talk Of bikes and bearings, OF
narrow treads and rams horn handle
bars, while inelody and the old masters
are far, far off. Algernon is no longer
limited To three nights In the week. for
Madeline and Madcline's mamma have
heard an old, old story.
Among Algernon McCurry's treasures
there is q pale green ticket. Far down on
North Main street, almost to ancient Bat
tie row, there Is dingy window, over
which hang three golden spheres In the
window Is n silver bell cornct labeled For
Sale. "-Kansas City Times.