The Lambertville record., 1898-11-16

again read your thought, mon
sieur, and | honor You for il. You arc
saying to yourself that her real rank
was as far above mine as your Bohemia
was n happier land to dwell in than
let us say Russiar'
1t was after dinner when tho women
/ were grouped in knots i'll the long draw.
ing room that the princess managed to
learn what she wanted to know of her
j neighbor Mt the table.
Van Ronsselacr-oh, yes !" said the
/ hostess. 1--WE call him Fortunatus he's
such lucky dog. He's the last of an
impoverished old American fnmily-if
there Is such thing as an old family
Ill SO young II country-and was quito
out of sorts with fortune when he met
his wife | believe he was knocking
about Europe consorting with all sorts
of shabby musical people, studying to be
II pianist. She fell so desperately in
love with him that her father was
Obliged TO allow the marriage. She had
always had her whims gratitied, and
she threatened to kill herself if denied
this one. There was some delay about
1t, and then tho wedding took place,
with the compact---so | have been told
that be was to give up his profession
l fancy that was no great hardship, !"
she laughed. las the price was SO, 600, =
600 down and the hand of the richest
heiress III America Ii is not IL difficult
metier to be Iich, princessl'
Il think it is sometimes very dinl
| rult - Nvas fhu epvpy;yfn,, nns.u,,
II WAS at the bidding of scented
note with II coronot on it that Van Rens
selaor found himself few days later
entering the apartments of the Russian.
Its laundering annoying sort Of
thing having your mind read, and
hope she won't be up to it again. he
grumbled.
She WAS clad in flowing red garments,
ornamented with gold tligrCo, and II
finely wrought gold girdle hung down
from the clasp to the hem Van Rens.
selaer felt the costume to be so bar bar
ic as to be ont of good form-too theat.
rioal-and yet her manner was simple
enough
We were speaking that night, 4" sho
music, Hungarian music, or were we
only thinking of IT. was hoping you
would plny for me today ="
II never play, never touch piano
any more 3" And he felt thrill Of an
nayance. as if soma one had pushed
against him roughly
Tho princess arose and crossed tho
room. taking up violin that lay ON
The open piano. "Then you will listen
To me?" she said
1t was Schubert, and She played with
such mastery of the instrument, such
sympathy and love of the work, that
! Van Rensselaer, was moved out uf his
reserve. lie laid aside his hat and
gloves and snt down by the piano. Once
moro he threaded through exquisite
harmonies and filled the st heme with
the piano accompaniment he knew 20
wtn For more than an hour they play.
ed with no words favc; "Do you re
member this" on "Anuthur composer
has solved that problem thus-you know
it, " leading and following by turns
through those paths whore only mus
clans may walk IN happy knowledge.
''And now. said the princess mt last,
"do you remembori" She stood straight
ana tall in her harburic Iods, the gold
ornaments cleaning in the late slaniing
| light and Van Rensselaer, had no need
to wnit for tho strains that were com
ing. He WAS back again in student days
and through the cigar smoke Of tho mu-
sic hall in Prague he could SEQ the gita
ana, moro slim and girlish but with
tho same strange eyes and tho blue
black hair. while above the clink Of tho
beer glasses and the soft shutllinB OF
the walters feet he could hear tho
witchcry Of her gypsy music-that half
remembered strain that had tcased him
80 often through the intervening years
Back and forth flashed the bow while
her figure swaycd to the mad motions.
and then came the sad cadence with tho
heartbreak in il that often chaIactcri2es
the Hungarian music Here she broke
off and laid the violin ON the piano
Then she came and put her hand on
Van Rensselaer's shoulder
You know mo now. l also was
bohemian and also sold my birthright
for mess Of pottage! All, comrado, it
is grand country, that Bohemia But
we were not worthy Of it, and there il no
going backi But it Is still left to ny to
be true-true to a compact, and ono dis
honor is cnoughW
The princess held out her hand i'll
farewell and dismissal, and Van Rens.
selaer kissed it revercntly. He felt un-
steady on his feet as If he had been
drinking.
"Goodby!" sho said Lrokenly. II
shall not see you again, for am going
away tomorrow to my Darby in
Russia. shall think Of you sometimes
when | dream of Bohemia, and shall
pray that you be not too unhappy in your
exile. Be good to your Joan "-Annio
Il J. Soaring in Short Stories