The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-02
Stories of an Inland State.

Stories Of an Inland State.
The New York Choir Company" which
was d.verting the western mind with a
mixture Of tragedy and comic opera, could
not very well explain its own name. Mana
ger Williams had selected the name for
some reason known to himself alone and
without respect for the truth, which was
that not more than one member Of the
company had ever seen inside a New York
church, much less lent their voices to its
hymns.
But the New York Choir company was
accepted by the denizens of the west as an
aggregation Of religious vocalists of New
York who had taken the stage, on pleasure
bent. When in Oliyette the women appear
ed in short skirts, this belief suffered no
rude shock, the apparent moral discrep-
ancy being explained away on the grounds
that the best people in New York are very
weak morally. The western people, how
ever would have changed their minds on
the score that the company was a mere
pleasure party If they could have heard
Manager Williams swear, in his robust way.
at the meagre receipts.
This morning 1.-THE New York Choir COM
pany' stopped at the important point of
Valley Falls. Manager Williams led the
way TO the hotel and the little procession
wound up with Algernon Burr topping in
his tracks.
Fortune had used him hard. His health
was broken. His face was wan, his eyes
hollow and restless, his legs unsteady. The
fact that the company had just picked him
up, a waif, encouraged him into the ap-
pearance of joviality, but his smiles died
a-bornin
Grimes, now studying the part of Romeo.
the man whom he had succeeded at the
piano, looked his successor over as he stag
gered along and said to Williams:
you'll have to ship that fellow or have
a funeral"
Think he's going to croak?'
HE looks it. He hasn't the strength of
a mosquito
Grimes" said the manager. agnes tells
me he can play the piano.
''She says a good many things. I didn't
get TO hear him last night, l was so taken
I'D with that part, but he doesn't look like
he could struggle through the score of
child's operetta.''
81 am going to stay with him." said VIII
iams.
well, now look at that" said Grimes.
See Agnes there holding him UP. He leans
on her like he liked it, too
Agnes is a good SOUL" said the mana
ger.
"Oh. yes. She'll do" said Grimes.
THAT afternoon Williams met Burr on
an upper floor of the hotel "Old man."
he said slapping the feeble figure on the
back. Come down stairs in the Office and
meet the boys"
Burr nodded and followed the manager
down. He met them all. They were tell
ing stories and smoking vigorously. Burr
sat back, pale collapsed and out of place
Hes a queer ONE said Grimes to the
manager. Doesn't have much TO say, does
he?"
Burr" asked the manager. Music is
a pretty tough layout in the western
isn't it?''
ut is very hard" said Burr.
But they're appreciative after all"
spoke up Grimes. They like those operas
pretty we'll The melodies seem to stir
them, I've noticed"
Yes" said Burr. Perhaps"
Stupid" said Grimes to himself Don't
seem to have any ideas. Perhaps they
don't appreciate him. believe the mana
gers got an elephant this time. He'll have
10 ship him. That's my opinion"
Some men are a drag on any conversa-
ton. The silent stranger did not please
the group and they were glad when Agnes
came and took him away.
There's a piano down in the theater,"
she said. and he's going to play for me.
narr aI4
"No," said Grimes YEARLY. ~ get enough
music in the regular business
agnes has a protege this time sure"
aid the manager. He's SO harmless, too.
Why doesn't that girl ever turn her at
entions to man.
They laughed at the emphasis on the last
word.
The theater was empty. Agnes Fitted the
,over off the piano down near the stage aud
olded the rosewood front back.
Burr sat down and began.
What is it?' she asked.
'It is a sonata he answered
But what sonata?"
''You want the opus?"
yes
81 can't recall it. It is Beethoven. He |
'dIlcu ippdSSlOLdld. L LINK II Is q |
torn. Listen"
She had grasped his hands before he had |
finished. |
Stop" she cried.
He looked at her
Your name is Burr?" he asked excited |
y.
My name is Burr. OF course it is" he
aid in reply.
And you don't know" she asked holding |
lis hands.
Il do not understand" he said.
mo one has ever told your
Told me what?"
my poor child! That you are a geniusw
The man smiled YEARLY and answered:
-es, Clara"
Clara
"You do not know her. A western girl
he said that
She said correctly whoever she is. Where
i'd you learn all this?''
You like it then?'
ut is wonderful. my child. You shall be-
ONE great. Don't you know that? Can't
on feel It? If I could play like THAR
Clara Drew had told him that. Clara
,rew's field had been restricted Here was