, 1898-11-10
AN EXPERIMENT.

Arthur Wilson awoke with a vague
sense of positive distress. What was it:
He knew now. From the room beneath
came the tink tink of a piano played
10. not played, thumped in a most
atrociously crude fashion.
1t was dreadful, awful, unendurablel
1t would have been bad enough if the
tune had been played correctly, for to a
man brought up OH Boston symphony
concerts the tunes of Mr.. Sankey are
not the most inspiring and satisfactory
music, but this performance outrivaled
anything Wilson could have dreamed
in the way of imperfections. Moreover,
there was n certain insistence in the
humping that foretold frequent appli-
cation to the instrument. The racket
would probably be kept up for hours at
a time and many times during the day.
What should be done about it?
Wilson poked his head from beneath
the clothes and looked around. There
was his baggage, there was the table
especially put in by kind Mrs. Hapgood
in order that he might have ample ac-
commodation for his literary work. He
might go elsewhere, but he knew that
at this one house his needs could be
satisfied, and as for going to another
town, hadn't his physician told him
with great emphasis that Boston wa
the one spot, by reason of its climatic
conditions, where he could hope to &C
complish his task without breaking
down? Here, then, he must stay, and if
he found that he positively could not
stand the pounding of that piano he
must find a way to stop it.
All through his preparations for
breakfast the nerve wrecking attempt
at music continued. There was a pause
when he opened the door to 90 down.
"probably hunting another tune, "
thought Wilson-and he FASTENED his
steps that he might look into the parlor
and see who it was that was apparently
destined to torment him. Just as he
laid his hand on the knob Of the parlor
door there was one solitary thump, as
II the performer had unwittiugly drop
ped a book on the keys. Next instant
b door was open and wilson beheld a
sight that filled his heart with pcr'ur-
bations quite as exciting but far pleas.
anter than those that had been caused
by the execrabie playing.
Upon the piano stool, swinging
around to face him and with the Moody
and Sankey book in her hand, was "a
young woman whose fresh radiant
loneliness sent a thrill straight through
his breast to the lhherlnost core Oh
his spinal column. So Tar as wilson
was concerned 1t was n case OF love at
sight. How else VIII you explain the
lamentable confusion that beset MIN:
How account for his suddeh access OF
color and his subsequent behavior
Excuse me, he staliihefe"' trying
to withdraw, but rooted to the spot.
"Good morning, Mr.. Wilson, she
responded, rising with admirable COM
posure and simplicity. WASH nome
when you came last evening" put' oi
course, l knew about 1t. am Lucy
dapgood, ana mai saves nIa'i'iha 'ne
trouble OF Introducing us. am aira'u
b piano you.
mo, no. Not at all! NOT IN 'he
least, l assure you. ia%prlca,e" "iison,
with alarming emphasis What iurther
perjury he might have commi.'eu may
be left to the Imagination, 1or JUST 'heii
Mrs. Hapgood appeared II announced
that breakfast was ready. u.,
All through tha' poun.,l" .ii n";so nc
son reflected. He hardly dared raise MS
eyes from his plate and Tor ina matter
he did not need to, because where he
should have seen hot huokwheats he De-
held the lustrous orbs OF Lucy hnpsoou'
who sat demurely opposite. ne an,
swered the commonplace OIL MI ana
Mrs. Hapgood in monosyliapies anu
looked up only toward .n' ehu ..o. nt
meal when Molly. a 6,Sear-old sister o,
Lucy, came running i'll from the YARD
with voluble excuses Tor oeins ia'e.
Now, Wilson did not for IL ihstans
realize what was the matter: lie la,i.a