The Press., 1898-12-22
UNDER TIE BUST
Or BEETHOVEN.
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1t was bright weather-cold and clear
as jewel
The sparkling promise of a perfect
Christmastide was in tie air. and the old
mall on the big common clicked and pat
tered to the tread of gay crowds crossing
either way, AL winter rosy, bundled laden
and bright eyed with exercise
JOYOUS excitement tingled in the frosty
wind, that with u keen rush swept the
bare branches overhead and buffeted the
skirts of laughing girls, who came on
leaning merrily against it and passed in q
bright whirl of petticoats, with little
shrieks of fun One group of these, q
knot of pretty schoolgirls, with their
skates, bound for the public garden, jos
tied against q tall lad with small maiden
at his side and crowded them quite off
the walk with little ceremony
The only wonder is they did not crowd
them o1t of notice, too, and out of this
story at the same time, for plain, shabby
little mouse was Draxy, trotting along at
her brother S size
Those rosy girls, sweeping by in their
bright gowns and plush and furs, looked
SO bewitching and SO brilliant near her
you could hardly help wishing the story
to be about them instead.
There were no fine feathers about Davy,
either, poor lad-poOr bonny Davy in his
threadbare clothesi
Walking along behind him, you would
have noticed how faded and thin his coat
was, and perhaps you would have smiled
at the great patch on the elbow of the
sleeve his music was tucked under. But
had you come the other way and met my
| Davy's face, believe me, you would never
think of patches or of faded clothes for
there was something in that beautiful
dark eye and brave, clear brow, prince
| might envy him.
| fear he would not thank me, though
| for choosing such time to introduce him
when his head was dropping and the
brown eyes were heavy with mist that
almost gathered into drops
"Davy, chirped Draxy at his elbow,
oh, do you see what fun the boys are
having playing football down on the pa
rade ground?'
Davy cast heavy glance toward the
lively youths, but could not muster d
word or smile to please her.
Don look so awful, Davy," pleaded
the little girl Besides, here comes that
Il Efn6SU Al2XW6lI ana I0 SECS YOU
Up went Davy's head at that, and his
eyes measured the approaching figure
steadily
Ernest Maxwell carried some music I'M
der his arm too 1t was by the same divine
composer as Days No sweeter because
it had such an expensive binding, l am
sure Neither was Ernest Maxwell, him
self, any Srander because of his own ex-
pensive binding
But he seened to think that he was,
and he gave Dayy q very patrOnizing nod
as he passed
mo use Draxy!' burst out Davy, as
soon as they were out of hearing, don
see any justice in it, and can't bear it
There's that snob, Maxwell-his father is
just coaxing him, bribing him, to go to
Germany and study. Schwarz told me SO
in the class, yesterday.
''Oh, my poor Davy! And you've got
to give up your music and go to work in
that horrid old place.
'Tisn't that! l don't think I'd be
mean enough to begrudge another fellow
his luck Butch, how can l stand it'll
The noodle doesn't want to go, and won't
CO. I'd walk through fire for that chancei
That's why don't get it!''
Draxy looked very sorry, but she could
think of nothing comforting to say just
then, so she only crept little nearer to
his side and cast her eyes around in quest
of cheer
There, behind the iron fence, was the
old cemetery with it's mounds and tombs,
| lying SO still and cold in the winter sun
light
Here and yonder, on the soldiers
graves, still waved some drabbled rem
nant of the little flags placed there, long
| he 0ofnr hn no
tender grass of spring
Draxy's eyes grew large and solemn as
she looked, and it occurred to her, in
some dismal association of ideas, to say
darby: ''Oh, Dayyi Did you know-they
say-some of the tombs go under this
mall, and there are people buried down
below these fagstones we are walking
onP
Dear little Draxy All her efforts to be
cheerful had failed to gain the least re-
Spouse from Davy. But something about
this gloomy question and her saucer eyes
and hollow tone brought quick smile
and fash of fun into his face
''Yes, have heard it, - he said, looking
down at the little face beside him with a
loving and amused expression.
| But presently he added in bitter tone
What then? 1t is no worse to he lying
l
above them, all your hopes gone ambi
ton crushed out of you.
Hie voice quivered and broke. Draxy
stole her little hand in his, and they kept
on again in doleful silence
''Drax,' said he presently in tone of
mischief that she knew full we'll
WHAT" she responded eagerly
Here is the baroness, - said Davy.
oh, my gracious Oh, Davy, please
turn off and walk the rest of the way on
fremont street. ! can't go by that awful
old woman No. ] can't
| Oh, that mysterious old woman, crouch
ing there beside the malls on the big COM
mon, grinding her old, cracked, half mute
hurdy gurdyl
Who has forgotten her? In rain and
shine, year in, year out, there she was al
ways, sullenly turning the organ crank,
scorning the charitable who dropped PEN
MES, and with her eagle eye piercing each
face that passed. as if on the eternal watch
for some one.
Lean and gaunt and brown and wrin-
killed. was she-impervious and indestruct-
ible-rained upon, blown upon. shone up
ONT was all one.
There she would be still when next you
passed. familiar as the malls themselves.
and yet forever mystery si i n
"Ugh- h -h!' chartered Draxy, who al,
ways fell into panic at the sight of her
II wonder who that awful old woman is
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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