The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-17
! mon, grinding her old, cracked, half mute

shine, year in, year out, there she was al
ways, sullenly turning the organ crank,
scorning the charitable who dropped PEN
MES, and with her eagle eye piercing each
face that passed, as if on the eternal watch
for some one.
Lean and gaunt and brown and wrin-
kled was she-impervious and indestruct-
ible-rained upon, blown upon, shone up
Ont was all one.
There she would be still when next you
passed, familiar as the malls themselves,
and vet forever a mystery.
tsTJah-h-h!" chartered Draxy, who al
WAYS fell into panic at the sight OF her.
81 wonder who that awful old woman is
looking for2 Whoever it is L pity MIN.
Oh, Davy, just imagine you were-tne
one. And you've walked and walked all
round the world, but at last you will walk
across this common, and - she'll eaton
you"
Davv 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 as
more droll than usual and quite beguiled
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 to
Davy, but at sight of them down sank his
head again, and his eyes clouded with a
desperate look that was pitiful to see.
Those were the days before the great
city.tconseryatory had gathered under one
ample roof that mass of musical life
students, teachers, directors and what
not-which 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
gence of eternal piano playing ANNOUNCE
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
swung in, bright fire in the darkness of
the lower hall winked cheerily through
the gloom, and from the gaslighted win
dow of the box Office somebody leaned out
to say pleasantly:
s'Ah, Herr Won Weber, That you? Go
ing up to practices"
Dayy took off his hat in an absentmind-
ed way and answered drearily enough:
Eyes, sir. Is Schwarsz's time up yet?''
Schwartz just left. Coast is clear.
Going to astonish US this time, eh, DavyT'
Davy's features quivered. I am more
likely to break down altogether, !" he said,
turning away quickly with Draxy and
dashirg his sleeve across his eyes as soon
as they were out of sight on the landing.
stWhos that?r demanded the gruff voice
of sharp old gentleman who had been
talking to the pleasant man in the box
office. soe
"That, sir? That boy is a genius"
"Humph = geniusl Well, what's the
other name you calledS"
.sOh,' with laugh, 1--WE call him that
because he looks so much like the pictures
of Weber And there are more than my
self who think that there is in that young
man the making of such another COM
poser.
ssWell, if there is he'll make it"
"No chance now" said the other.
eThey have just lost their father. The
mother is an invalid, and there is brood
of young shavers 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
too!''
In the old Music hall an upper light en-
/ DerlQR GQTOuRu W1nQOMo lcI oiOLu
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 it was not that pearly brightness
far and soft or the fine cheerful plan and
lines of beauty in the noble hall that gave
it character of old and breathed the spell,
long vanished now, but haunting us for
ever with it's loss.
A mighty presence then abode therein
that filed the eye and mind and made a
very sanctuary of the place.
It was the majesty of the great organ,
looming from stage to dome like black
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, a dark sentinel, before the organ
mouth.
Dayy uncovered his head reverently as
he passed under the grave face of the great
master, and Draxy, whose little boot heels
soon came clicking over the stage, cast one
furtive glance up toward the statue and
then skipped behind the pedestal in a
great hurry, trotting up step or two to-
WdTu bu0 VI ehA 1AOuoAA enAtN OoNAiAA1eo ~A-eS
a familiar nook out of DAVIS way.
"Oh, Davyl" she crooned, with little
| SILVER, "he's as bad as the baronessF'
s'Who is?" said Davy absently, unrolling
his music on projection of the pedestal.
"Ughl That old black Beethoven, all
wrapped up in his cloak and soowling and
| listening and thinking away!"
Dayy looked over at her and smiled.
Then he gazed up with love and wist'
fulness into tho bending face above him.
1t made 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.
YDaTy,' whispered Draxy from her
sfiadowy nook, "let's play this is dark
cavern, and the banks of organ keys are
| the dragon teeth crashing at me. / am
a princess chained to the wall, and you
must come in with your sword and save
/ me-
! ssI'll come and make the dragon sing to
| you instead" said Davy, going to the
organ seat.
He ran his fingers down the keys. There