The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1898-12-21

mon, grinding her old, cracked, half mute
hurdy gurdy
Who has forgotten her? In rain and
shine, year In, year out, there she was al
ways, sullerly turning the organ crank,
soorning the charitable who dropped pen
MES, and with her eagle eye piercing each
face that passed ms If ON the eternal watch
for some ono
Lean and gaunt and brown and wrin.
Killed. WAS shc-impcrvious and indostruot.
ihle-rained upon, blown upon, shuno up
ont was all ono.
There she would he still when next you
passed. familiar rs the malls themselves,
and yet forever a mystery
Ugh h h. ehattcrod Draxy, who al
ways fell into panic at the sight of her.
Il wonder who that awful old woman Is
looking for Whoever 1t is | pity him
oh, Davy, just imagine you were--the
one. And you've walked and walked all
round the world, but at last you will walk
across this common and ! sho'll catch
you
Dayy throw hack his head and laughed
"a genuine boys laugh--swcct TO hear.
Draxy and the baroness were great fun
always, but the last notion struck him as
more droll than usual and quito beguiled
iihlH tit iitihlllt iHtlt lily ht MS lltbItl
TIL thoy Ieaehed Music Hall place and
turned into the court
Here WAS hallowod ground. The very
paving stones were Hike old friends to
Davy, but at sight of them down sank his
head again and his eyes eloudcd with Il
desperate look that was pitiful to Soc
Those were the days before the great
city conservatory had gathered under ono
DinHln tbat of al
students, teachers, directors and whit
not-which now constitutes n little world
within four walls
Then most of tho young music study.
ing population WINS dispersed about tho
homes and lodgings of the city, the dili-
gence of eternal piano playing nnnounc-
ing their whereabouts, and the old quar-.
terlles' in the Music hall serving to dis
play the results thereof to tho interested
public
The old storm doors croakrd as they
SWUNG in, bright fro In the dark moss of
the lower hall winkod cheerlly through
the gloom, and from the gaslighted win
dow of the box Office somebody leaned out
10 say pleasantly:
All Herr Won Webcrl That your Go.
ing up to praetieef"
DaYy took oil his hat in an ahsontmind-
ed way and answered droarily enough.
Yes, sir. Is Schwarta's time up yotY'
schwartz just left Coast IL clear
Going to nstonish us this time, eh, DayyY'
Days features quivered. Il am moro
likely to break down altogether, he snid,
turning away quickly with praXy and
dashing his sleeve ncross his eyes as soan
as they were ont Of sight ON tho lpndinn
Who's That demanded thegruil voiee
of a sharp old gentleman who had heen
talking to the pleasant man in the box
office.
THAT, sirY That boy Is genius.
"llumpb - genius! Well, what's tho
other name you oallcdY'
"Oh, " with laugh, we call him TINT
because he looks So much like tho pictures
of Wober. And there ARE sIore than my
self who think that there Is III that young
man the making of such another com
poser"
we'll, II there is hen make II.
"No chance now" said the other
They have just lost their father The
mother is an invalid, and thero Is brood
chap has got To drop music now and roll
up his sleeves to support the family This
Is to DO his last concert Mighty shame
tool
In the old Music hall an upper Hight en-
toring through hidden windows far aloft
CLEANS softly over balcony and nicho and
bust aud finishes back from the 4 lass panels
OF the gallery doors, girdlinR tho walls
twice round
But 1t was not that pcarly brightness
far and soft or the fine cheerful plan and
lines of beauty in the noble hall that gave
IL character of old and breathod tho spell,
long vanished now, but haunting us for
ever with It's loss
A mighty presence then abode therein
that filled the eye and mind and mado n
very sanctuary Of tho place
1t was the majesty Of the great organ,
looming from stage to dome like blaek
cliff with thundcry gloom about its head
and all It's dusky heights and dim recesses
filled with cathedral shade
How solomnly that hush and shadow
fell on that broodlng statue OF Beethoven,
standing dark sentinel, before the organ
mouth
Dayy uncovered his head revcrently na
ho passed under tho grave faco Of the Rrent
master, and Draxy, whose little boot heels
soon came clicking over the stage, cast ono
furtive glance up toward the statue and
then skipped behind tho pedestal in n
great hurry, trottinR up IA atcp or two to.
ward the organ mouth and cuddling into
familiar nook out of Davy way.
"Oh, Davy" she croonod, with IA llttlo
SILVER, "ho's as bad as the baronessp'
who isf" said Davy absontly, unrolling
his music on u projection of the pedestal
aUghl That old bnclS Beethoven all
wrapped up In his cloak and scowlinR and
listening and thinking away"
Dayy looked over at her and smiled
Then no gazcd up with love and visit
fHlness into the bending face above him.
II made "A touching picture, the dark
master on the pedestal, immortal, pulse
less in bronze, the beautiful lad ut his
feet, ambitious, desperate, In living flesh
and youth
''Davy," whispered Droxy from her
shadowy nook, let's play this Is dark
cavern, and the banks Of organ keys aro
the dragons teeth Rnashing at me. ] am
II princess chained to tho wall, and you
must como I'm with your sword and save
mo. "
'lll come aud make the dragon sing to
you instead" said Dnyy, going to the
organ seat
He ran his fingers down the keys There
was soft rattle Of ivory, but no other
sound
Haven't got tho steam on, have they
said Draxy, proud Of knowing all about
the domestic habits Of tho great organ.
Dayy, reaching to press u knob that rang
bell far In some lower region, smiled
down at her bright little face, and then
sat waiting dreanily. DO you know, y
she prattled on, ''whcn I'm out In the utl.
dience at concerts, and the hall Is full Of
people, and the gas Is lighted, and the or
gan looks 80 black and big, ] mover can
believe ! am so well acquainted with 1t
and dare to cuddlo up Ike this against
it,
"shr said Dayy, catching the first
whisper OF n beloved, inspiring sound
the wind beginning 10 I'll tho giant pipes
1t comes In low, murmurlnR rush, as
If from Underground, now nearer, nearer,
louder faster, till IL swella and rises with
painting sweep up the hugo bolos in
that great forest Of hrnzen pipes and fills
Their mighty sides as If to burst them,
Dayy sat motionless and rapt. lost in
the great golian roar. Hear 1t breathei"
he whispered; hear II breathe !"
His hngers ripple down across tho
keys. Far above, In some high tree top Of