The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-12-22

L
across this common, and - she'll catch
| you"
| Davy threw back his head and laughed
"A genuine boys laugh--sweet to hear.
| Draxy and the baroness were great fun
always, but the last notion struck him M
more droll than usual and quite bcRuiled
him from the trouble that lay at his heart
till they reached Music Hall place and
turned into the court
Here was hallowed ground. The very
| paving stones were like old friends tC
Davy, but at sight Of them down sank his
head again, and his eyes clouded with q
desperate look that was pitiful to see.
/ Those were the days before the great
city conservatory had gathorcd under one
ample roof that mass of musical life
students, teachers directors and what
not--whlch now constitutes little world
| within four walls
Then most of the young music study
Ing population was dispersed about the
homes and lodgings OF the city. the dill.
genoe OF eternal piano playing announc.
ing their whereabouts, and the old quar-.
terlies" In the Music hall serving to dis
play the results thereof to the interested
public.
The old storm doors croaked as they
swunE In, bright fire In tho darkness OF
tho lower hall winked cheerily through
the gloom, and from tho gaslighted win.
dow of the box office somebody leaned out
to say pleasantly
"Ah, Herr Won Weber That your Go.
ing up to practiceS"
Davy took off his hat In an absontmind.
cd way and answered drearily enough:
Eyes, sir. Is Schwartz's time up yot2''
Schwartz just left. Coast is clear.
Going to astonish us this time, eh, Davy2"
Dovy's features quiyered. 81 am moro
likely to break down altogether, +" he sal d,
turning away quickly with Draxy and
dashing his sleeve across his eyes MS soon
as they wero out Of sight on the landing.
who's thnt?' demanded the gruff voice
Of sharp old gentleman who had been
talking to tho pleasant man in the box
| Office.
THAT, slrf That boy Is genius"
"Humph - genius Well, what's the
other name you onlledP"
"Oh, with laugh, 1--WE call him that
because he lunks 80 much like tho pictures
| of Weber. And there are more than my.
self who tbiuk that there Is in that young
man the making Of such another COM
poser"
Nblli III JIbie ~ llC III HlHhb
"No chance now," said the other
"They have just lost their father. The
mother is an invalid, and there is brood
Of young shayers to look out for Poor
chap has got TO drop music now and roll
up his sleeves to support the family. This
Is TO be his last concert. Mighty shame
tool"
In the old Music hall an upper light en-
tering through hidden windows far aloft
CLEANS softly over balcony and niche and
bust and flashes back from the glass panels
Of the gallery doors, girdling the walls
twice round.
But 1t was not that pearly brightness
far and soft or the fine cheerful plan and
lines Of beauty in the noble hall that gave
1t character of old and breathed the spell,
long vanished now, but haunting us for
ever with its loss.
A mighty presence then abode therein
that filled the eye and mind and made a
very sanctuary of the place.
1t was the majesty Of the great organ,
looming from stage to dome like black
cliff with tbundery gloom about its head
and all its dusky heights and dim recesses
filled with cathedral shade.
How solemnly that hush and shadow
fell on that brooding statue Of Beethoven,
standing, dark sentinel, before the organ
mouth.
Davy uncovered his head reverently as
he passed under the grave face of the great
master, and Draxy, whose littlo boot heels
soon came clicking over the stage, cast one
furtiye glance up toward the statue and
then skipped behind the pedestal In
great hurry, trotting up step or two to-
ward the organ mouth and cuddling into
familiar nook out of Davy's way.
"Oh, Davyl" she crooned, with a little
shiver, "hes as bad as the baronessW
"Who isS" said Davy absently, unrolling
his music on projection of the pedestal.
"Ughl That old black Beethoven, all
wrapped up in his cloak and scowling and
listening and thinking awayl"
Davy looked over at her and smiled.
Then he gazed up with love and wist
fulness into the bending face above him.
1t made a touching picture, the dark
master on the pedestal, immortal, pulse
less In bronze, the beautiful lad at his
feet, ambitious, desperate, In living flesh
and youth.
"Davy," whispered Draxy from her
shadowy nook, let's play this is dark
cavern, and the banks of organ keys are
the dragons teeth gnashing at me. am
princess chained to tho wall, and you
must come In with your sword and save
me"
I'm come and make the dragon sing to
you instead, said Davy, 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 the steam on, have theyp"
Of all ..l.x
the domestic habits Of the great organ
Davy, reaching to press knob that rang
| bell far In some lower region, smiled
down at her bright little face, and then
sat waiting dreamily. "Do you know, I"
she prattlcd on, when I'm out In the au-
| dience, at concerts, and the hall Is full of
people, and the gas is lighted, and the or
gan looks SO black and big, never can
believe l am so we'll acquainted with 1t
and dare 10 cuddle up like this against
| it,
"ShH' said DHvy, catching the first
whisper Of beloved, Inspiring sound
the wind beginning tO I'll the giant pipes
1t comes Ia low, mUrmuIing rush, as
| II from underground, now nearer nearer,
louder, faster, till II swolls and rises with
a painting sweep up the huge boles In
that great forest of braZen pipes aud fills
their mighty sides ss If to burst them.
Davy sat motionless and rapt, lost in
the great eolian rsAr. "Hear It breathel"
he whispered; "hear it breather'
His fingers ripple down across the
keys. Far above, in some high tree top OF
the forest pipes, voice awakes In answer
to his touch that fingers on the ear awhile,
so soft, SO sweet, so pleading, and then
| sinks again into its nest of silence.