Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-09-16
A MUSICAL EPISODE
MAXINE WRAYBURN.

hNOME ALONG, George said a
tall, dignified looking young fell
low as he lightly pulled his friend by
the sleeve. Haven't you had enough
of that music by this time? See. those
girls are singing at us already. The
whole crowd will be looking at us in a
moment"
II don't care if they do" remon-
strated George, laughing, to the great
CONSERVATION of his friend Evans.
That girls voice is beautiful, and, hang
it, Mac. what difference does it make if
it is on street corner? I've never
heard better music than that little
bronze girl over there is getting out of
that violin"
Evans scanned his surroundings SUI
perciliously.
Il thought you had better taste than
that-to say nothing of the fact that
you pretend to be a connoisseur in mu-
sic," said Evans, who was in the habit
of judging musical affairs by the price
of admission tickets.
$50 d." protested George, "and for
that very reason know it wherever
hear it,
The cause of the disturbance was a
trio of street musicians, consisting OF
a swarthy, handsome featured Italian
harpist, and two of Italy's picturesque
daughters in native regalia. One car
ried fine old violin, and the other one
whose principal contribution was a
magnificentvoice, carried tambourine
which, when not on orchestral duty.
was used to collect money from the
crowd.
They had stationed themselves on
one corner of the park. The whole
square was dotted with admiring knots
of listeners, and together with those
Immediately surrounding them the
people numbered several hundred.
Evans and his friend were passing
close by just as the musicians had be-
gun that exquisite bit of melody and
sentiment, "Good-by, Sweet Day." and
George, who loved music next to his
lately affianced bride, Geraldine
Brooks, stopped directly in front OF
them and refused to move on.
As Evans had prophesied, the crowG
gradually began to see that the CO.
quettish signoritas were directing
their attention to one particular spot
wherein stood these two particular
young men.
'This is awful" said Evans, in tones
that sounded like the soto voce of a
polar bear. "Don't let's make spec
tacle of ourselves. Let's get away be-
fore everybody sees u.s."
But George only smiled, quiet, re-
ceipted bill sort of smile.
There isn't anything so very ter
rible about it," he protested. as he pro-
ceeded leisurely to ignite the end Of
the familiar rice paper cylinder, and
leaned up comfortably against post
as though he meant to stay.
81 want to lear some more of this
music. tell you it's fine! It puzzles
me to see why such musicians are
walking the streets. They ought to be
strung out in "oupes on their way to a
concert hall. I only wish Geraldine
and Miss Raymond were here so they
could hear them, too
Maude Raymond was guest of Miss
Geraldine Brooks, with whom the dig
nified Mr.. Evans so thoroughly be-
1ieved himself in love that he was all
ready framing the stately words for {.
solemn proposal.
care you coming?" repeated Evans.
with look of offended hauteur, as he
began to push his way through the
crowd. But just then the opening
strains from The Angels Sercnade'
lulled all other sounds to silence. and
needless to say George stayed As the
last tones melted away he stood in
blank bewilderment. 1t seemed as
though he had heard that exact rem
dering before. But his meditation
was interrupted by the singer herself
who at that moment stood in front of
hin, with the tambourine in solicitous
position. She smiled with audacious
bewitchery, and George, not yet out
of his reyery, dropped in dollar.