The Press., 1898-12-22

 Oh, Davy, just imagine you -were-the ,ne. And you've walked and walked all | round the world, but at last you will walk 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 noJion 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 desperate look that was pitiful to see,
 Those were the days before the great city conservatory had gathered under one ample roof that mass of musical life students, teachers, directors and what 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 dili- 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. 2 bright fire in the darkness of the gloom, and from the gaslighted win dow of the box office somebody leaned out to say pleasantly:
 "Ah, Herr von Weber, That youf Go ing up to practice?''
 Davy took off his hat in an absentmind- ed way and answered drearily enough:
 "Yes, sir Is Schwartz's time up yets'
 Schwartz Just left. Coast is clear. Going to astonish us this time, eh, Davy?"
 Davy's features quivered. 1T am II ore likely to break down altogether" he said, turning away quickly with Draxy and dashing his sleeve across his eyes as soon as they were out of sight on the landing
 Who's that?" demanded the grutf voice of a sharp old gentleman who had been talking to the pleasant man in the box office
 That, siry That boy is genius.'
 "Humph genius We'll. what's the other name you called?'
 "Oh," with a laugh, 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.
 Well, if there is he'll make it. .
 "No chance now,'' said the other They 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 tooI''
 In the old Music hall an upper light en tering through hidden windows far aloft gleams 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 fino 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 its loss
 A mighty presence then abode therein that filled 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 cliff with tbundery gloom about its head and all its dusky heights and dim recesses filled with cathedral.shade.
 How sOlemnIy that hush and shadow fell on that breeding statue of Beethoven, standing, dark sentinel, before the organ mouth
 Davy uncovered his head reEsrently 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- ward the organ mouth and cuddling into a familiar nook out of Davy's way. "Oh, Davyr' she crooned, with a little shiver, "he's as bad as the baroness ''Who isP' said Davy absently, unrolling his music on a projection of the pedestal "Ughl That old black Beethoven, all wrapped up in his cloak and scowling and listening and thinking away" Davy looked over at her and smiled Then he gazed up with love and wist fulness into the bending face above him. It 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 a dark | cavern, and the banks of organ keys are | the dragon teeth gnashing at me. am | a princess chained to the wall, and you must come in with your sword and save me-
 ''I'Il 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 stsam on, have theyP' said Draxy, proud of knowing all about | the domestic habits of the great organ Davy, reaching to press a knob that rang | a bell far in some lower region, smiled | down at her bright little face, and then sat waiting dreamily. Do you know, '' she prattled 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, I never can believe I am so well acquainted with it | and dare to cuddle up like this against it"-
 "Shr said Davy, catching the first whisper of a beloved, inspiring sound the wind beginning to fill the giant pipes. It comes in 8 low, murmufing rush, as If from underground, now nearer, nearer, louder, faster, till it swells and rises with a panting sweep up the huge boles in that great forest of brazen pipes and fills their mighty sides US if to burst them Davy sat motionless and rapt. lost in she great eolian roar. Hear it breathei' he whispered; "hear it breather' His fingers ripple down across the keys. Far above, in some high tree top o1 the forest pipes, 8 voice awakes in answer to his touch that fingers on the ear awhile 90 soft, so sweet, so pleading, and sheI sinks again into its nest of silence,
 Now, farther still and hidden in somt deeper recess of the organ forest, another voice awakes.
 It calls back to the pleading voice with | joy and courage.
 Then another and another wakes and sings, and soon the place is full of music and fragrance and beauty, and the tree tops shake it out upon the air, like dewy drops.
 Now the echoes, murmuring the lasl | cadence over and over, to get it by heart die away themselves, and all is still That's very good, Davy," said Draxy tired of being a princess chained to the wall, and stretching her active little limb, in brisk walk up and down the stage. Suddenly she trotted of down the stems