The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-27

s JlnnttAiNasi a. iul talth, rncn, per
haps that is II. | scroob the flures and
stairs beyant outside, and pick the stool
they throw down in here.
Draxy looked at her thoughtfully.
THAT rs too hard" she said at length in
a decisive little tone. "What ails your
poor back"
God bless ye, darrlin, and kape ye
long from the same. 'Tis rhumatiz, dear,
and me ould bones are crackin wild It,
livery toimo | rise meself from pickin up
these little carrds''-
Poor woman Who makes you DO
such hard work." said Draxy, beginning
in another aisle to pick up torn checks
and programmes.
"Nlc ould man Is bedrid this five year,
and the little childther--the grandchild-
ther, darrlin, wild tho poor mother In
hlvcn-God be nerciful 10 her swate soul
Il works TO kape the little childther."
"Oh, I'm real sorry for You" said
Draxy, coming back 10 the basket, with
her skirt held up like an apron and filed
with scraps
"Ah God bless her! What's this, at all?
Is IL pickin up the cards 20 aro darrlin?
Look at that now. All, go and sit down
wild We, miss, dear. Shure, ye mustn't be
dom the lDlkcs or that.
mo, I'm just going TO help you.
was here last night, and so you see made
part of this litter, said Draxy.
"Whyl she exclaimed again directly
"They stick into this mating So And
it's miles and miles up and down these
rows of seats. "
And away went Draxy, picking up
scraps for dear lifo and saying to herself
that she would never tear up and scatter
checks or programmes again as long as
she lived.
so tho poor charwoman and the little
maid went up and down, hard at work,
while the soft Christmas twilight fell
without, and the great fugue rolled and
thundered from the organ.
Oh, what thing IL was 10 hear the
mighty rumble of that giant bass You
could feel IL shake the floor beneath your
feet. IL made the balconies vibrate and
tremble. and sometimes the great hall
seemed almost to rock and roll with sound
Then, when It ended, there was such
silence that the slow ticking OF tho great
clock seemed ike the heart beats Of the
place, which you could hear because IL
was so still.
Dsvy had finished practicing, and his
little sister, half way down the hall, was
wondering why he did not come out and
call her. She began TO look often toward
the stage and then az the great clock face
on the balcony.
Hark Could that have been n strain Of
music. or was IL the sad, sad voice of sorlc
one grievingy
Draxy and the old woman turned at the
first sound and looked toward the organ.
They had scarcely listened while tho
great fugue was rolling through the hall
But something drew them nearer to this
magical strain, and they crcpt toward 1t
step by step.
What is Davy playing? oh, what IL
this that IL making tears fall fast on tho
tho faces II has drawn 10 nearf
10 was music that wos never written
music that was never heard before and
will not be heard again, for Davy Is In
spired. He u playing from his own soul.
This is his farewell 90 music and to all his
hopes and dreams. The organ Rrieves for
him. Tho master on his pedestal listens
sadly aud seems almost To stir with pitys
At last there comes "a piteous strain,
then a wild crash across the keys, and
Davy has flung his head down on his
arms. The music Is ended.
"Goodby, goodbyv 20 ho whispered. Kiss
Ing th. yellow Keys where his face Icy hid
asA.lratfseEu agvnFUr-as q