The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-08-17
STORY OF A VIOLIN.

It was a mad, a shameful, thing,
bs realized just a moment too late.
Enough I did my utmost to atone
Dor the part played in that tragedy,
$he white agony on Chris Carew's
3oyish face that night haunts me as
sividly now as if ! had seen it there
Yesterday, and it is years since he
last bent his head over his precious
i iolin.
a I suppose that two friends fred
fith the same burning ambition
. Sere never more genuinely attached
e each other than he and I, perhaps
Because, if I searched the world, I
night never find a more lovable.
&ore unselfish and thorough fellow
%han Chris Carew. To become great
3folinists- that was the life dream
Seshared. Living together, we had
33rachced together for years and
S|reamed of triumphs to come. True.
@ore than once I recollect having a
EpaSm of envy because, as time went
"a, Chris unconsciously developed
8 delicacy of touch and purity of
8pne that l could not seem to reach
Fd was more often given the solo
q l)arts when we played together in
auahe, but nothing more. Chris
pvariably turned it's edge in his
3qlet, convincing way:
q will, it's nonsense. NV instru-
Rent happens to be an older and
elter one than yours; that's all.
ut any other fiddle into my hands,
Pa could never get half the effect.
3oa know it; we have proved it."
! and so in those dear days we al
Rays placed it down to the subtle
gmpathy that had grown between
fn and his exquisite old violin,
i 1early black with age. AS I say,
IL mad struggled and dreamed to-
flaer for years, and then-then
Pat shadow Of a woman came be-
feen us. Then
Ihey say that every woman mus
PINE kind of beauty in some men's
yes but Lottie Arnold-we she
Semed to be one of the women who
consciously set longing the heart
eVery man they meet. She had
U. lo'ned as pianiste the orchestral
ae1y to which Chris and I belongs
Il ana know that experienced a
5rser thrill the very first moment
i aSaw her-on a concert night, when
u noated across the platform
give the overture--and again
aen she stood bowling to the ap-
z.u,e' z{ause' a slight. indescribably be-
53Acn,ng figure in soft, white even
u dress. with a mass of deep
o"n hair and clear, calm eyes
IL, snone even at that distance.
9au CHRIS, when 7 happened to
luce "a at him-his lips were parted,
H. !. n ne stood as If lost in an ecstasy.
I me moment, though, ] eet it
E" E"n 10 his deep appreciation Of her
i L 1t had ended therei Bnt prac-
Ia i, nights came twice a week and
|,.a 1hem opportunities Of turning
'ue . MUSIC, re begging her &c
SS.upaniment, even Of Whispering !
!. T.. nothings, until / understood
Ia1 sne had too intense q nature to
fepreciate y them. In q month I was
!. tauly IN love with her and could
i i realize a future without her.
!. ||a.sn-when :, I graspsd Of q sudden
Is. I.a, !ae same thrill had commune
|sso l..a leself to Chris. and that we
s,e i. secretly running q race to-
I;as Iaef for Lottie's heart, the mis-
F,sl Fas began. Before I lnew,it that
"a e mreasoning jealousy of him /
= j nis chances had sprung up in
az ne was handsome. More. g ii.
osensiy seemed TO 4 me that che
';na Tuent more Of his playing than OF
s t.as, a calling danger in itself.
- - on practice nights I watched