The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-14

Come back q minute. Ross. Wouldnt you
1t begins at half past s; but suppose you
nave long walk. eh2''
Robert needed no second invitation; so at
haH past 6. after supper in the toolhouse
ttiIat being the social position assigned 10
him by the rector's WIFE, childless ana
pnnctilious person whose Stepfather had
been married TO a lady of title), at half past
8. We say. when the supper tray had been
removed. and the shears, and the syringes,
and the netting. and the model reaping ma
chine. and the cricket bags, and the garden
lights had been hustled away, and candles
had been stuck all around upon the sillS,
distant quacks and bleats, as or a simple
creature in agony. arose beyond the SHRUB
perry. and anon there was heaVy KNOCK
at the door. and heavy young man
creaked apprehensively into the candlelight,
cleaning with soap and attired in the raj
ment of the Sabbath.
why. Ross. what be zee adding here?"
he inquired with no great cordiality.
Robert explained that he had received a
particular invitation from the rector TO at
tend on purpose to give him any hints as 10
the appearance or abilities of the band; and
Noah eyed him suspiciously, sucking glum-
ly at his clarinet. and occasionally gurglins
into the instrument obscure reflections of
his uneasineSS.
Then. from far away, sounds shrill and
plaintive fOated on the air, as OF some
spirit of the wind bemoaning the departure
of the pleasant summer time. AS these
strains drifted down the hill there was the
sound of a wOman's laugh, whereat Robert
fidgeted in his corner and Noah shifted de-
liberately. But in came the rector. fiddle in
hand, and he tuned ii and Skirled up and
down in an incidental and semi-conscious
manner which was very impressive. Then
entered younk Jakes, the flautist and
man from Crow Clump. FIVE miles away.
with a bassoOn. Still appeared no sequel to
the laugh: and at last the rector, saying,
We'll. / think, friends Wen make a start"
dOled out to each his portion of the feast of
sound contained on slips of manuscript AS
they Embossed the pent flood of musical
emotion, the door opened and revealed
Prissy Emlet in such bonnet, with pink
ribbons in the latest London fashion. Be
wildering, bewitching, but heavens and
earth, enter young Toby, with a smile
his deteStable face, q new red kerchief
around his hateful neck. and could it be?)
a rose affixed to his abominable green coat.
Oh. thou little blind god, how did thy tiny
arrows rankle as Toby laid down the new
ton thumbs unfastened the straps while the
rector smiled most knowingly upon the two,
for he had loved sweethearts and their
ways, being still young at heart. And then
Toby's own green bag-oh. Ananias, he said
he could not get the string undone! Look
see, Miss Emlet, it's this yere knot and
unite it nimbly. for Toby to shake out the
biggest fiddle of the whole band? 'Tis no
wonder that Robert, blue and bubbling,
darted glances sparky as the firework which
boys make of ink and gunpowder.
The rector played upon Prissy's fiddle.
Just to try the tone, she sitting beside him
body murmured ''Yurr, yurr," and clapped
when he concluded, saying, you've got
good fiddle there my dear: Wei soon make
a good player of you Prissy flushed pref
tily. but Robert could not catch her eye
try as he might. for Noah. and Jakes and
the man from Crow Clump were trying to
catch 1t also.
Roberts soul grew dark within him. but
the rector said, Life let us cherish" and
they cherished upon their various instru-
tongues. 1t mattered but little how loud
the cooperative sound might wax, the pre-
eminent Toby easily bored through the
-hn1 rr-ff n fnnt1A p~h~
could hear naught else, and he listened
longing grew on him for q fiddle as large
as cow. something that should make the
dwindle to a midge's song.
By and by the artists stayed for breath
and to dry their heads; and then the rector
conducted each one separately through his
part. and Toby made two mistakes. When
he crowed up on the word cherish, like a
callow rooster, Bob said. Coop, coop.
COOP" as one calls fowls to feed. Every one
laughed except crimson Toby. who. glover
ing beneath his black brows, pressed his
closed fist against his nose, and the men
grinned over their shoulders at Bob The
rector looked over, too, twinkling wickedly
and shook his head reproving, but Prissy
laughed.
They played "How Beautiful Cpon the
Mountains and the High Road to Lin
ton" and Haste to the Wedding" but
Life Let Us Cherish was what they
whistled. as they put their instruments up
after practice, because they had worked
the hardest at that tune.
said the rector to Prissy and the sharp lit
tie god whispered kindly into Bob's ear.
go thou likewise" so Bob stuck out his
elbows and protruded his thorax, and. with
an affable nod to the rest of the party. fol-
lowed his maid through the house-door into
the rectory hall.
La Mr.. Ross be that you?' said Priss
Il thought you was miles away
"Hulloi who's that?" said the rector and
Bob explained that he had been meditating
upon big fiddle. and did not the rector
think a man might make one who was main
clever with his hands? The rector thought
that perhaps such man might make some
sort OF an instrument If he had q pattern.
Then, said Robert, he would go over and
measure the fiddle at Leverell, and make
one and so he babe the rector good night
But he babe not PrSSy any good night, for
little Cupid whispered. 'Tarry thee in the
shrubbery. oh Bob, and wait for her" and
he sat him down and waited for half an
hour, and presently out came Prissy fiddle
in hand. She did not seem very startled at
BobS considerable cough, though she did
say Mercy, how you made / jump" and
she gave unto him her fiddle to bear. when
he pleaded for ii, and made him happy.
During the short walk to the inn there was
not much conversation Robert merely adj
verted to the warmth of the weather and
said that the wind a bit dampish
whereat Prissy laughed softly. and he could
not converse further. Then she took up the
conversation and asked him if he proposed
TO join the band. which he admitted TO be
possible; and then they were home. He
would not go in. for he was much too happy
TO fight. and struck off across the flank of
the hill in the moonlight. for he had eleven
miles 10 walk. All the way he was warm
and happy. and even when his mother put
her nightcap out of the window and told
him that they had all given him up for
dead and that his father would tan his
hide In theemorning, he cared not a, rap.
But his father Gid no tanning in the MORN
ing. for Bob had made good sales.
So soon as he could. he walked the thir-
teen miles to Leverell. and returned the
same day in the strength of his love with
measured drawings of his ideal. which he
stuck up in the little office above the mill
pool and pOndered over while he made out
his fathers bills The traditional design
did not admit the necessity of making
curved sides unless a man had only bllets
TO work with, so he planned his viol with
straight sides. followed squarely by the
bridge And, for that he was larger man
than Matthew Slocombe, of Leverell he
built it about nine feet high. The strings he
arranged to tighten with an invention of
his own. based upon the principle of the
null Slulce. and he designed to actuate the
three screws with Il bed key. These and
other developments cost him many sleepless
nights; and when he had perfected his de-
signs he sent To the blacksmith for the ma
chlnery and by the carrier for the timber
from Sandbury, and for five weeks he
wrought in his spare time rising early and
working late. and only once calling over at
binder for n mug of cider. The finger
board gave him the greatest trouble: but
by cutting up his cricket bat he finally won
a very fair result. on the third day of the
fifth week, when the carrier brought his
strings, he found that his sluice arrange
mentS did not provide sufficiently fine adj
jus .ment, and that unless he tuned his
strings at both ends he could not approach
within tone of the note he desired. Ac-
cordingly he put nuts at the bottom and
twisted them round with a spanner
In, he. L. Il.