The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-25
DR.. SANDEN ELECTRIC CO.,
Russsn BundInt. 1877 Fourth Street, Portland. ".

Yes said Judith, seising the oppor-
tunity and attempting to cover her retreat.
PLAY the waits"
Il viii der beautiful Blue Danube
blay. You viii all dance den."
He played with great zeal. The pleas
ures Of other years, when he had played
that waits for the parents Of the young
people before him, came crowding back
upon his memory. His cheek was loving
ly laid against the violin. There were tears
In his eyes, But the young folks saw them
not They were rebellious. Judith and
William had the floor alone Then William
stopped.
The boys were grinnins at him. Apron
strings" he heard them say.
The old musician was dreaming. He
saw crowded dance hall. He was play
Ing that same Beautiful Blue Danube"
His wife-to-be was there, and that other
woman who, In his mellow manhood. he
had loved in vain. with these old-tims
memories stamped upon HIS face In low
ing smile. the old musician lifted his head.
He saw the empty floor; noted the atti-
tude of the young folks lined sallenly
against the wall and full realization OF
the whole changed conditions broke upon
his mind. The smile faded. His rudy
cheeks paled. The light went out OF hts
eyes, and they grew dim with sad tears.
You don't care for my moosic; you don't
love my Beautiful Blue Danube any
more"
He had placed his violin and bow into
the case, and had pulled on his coat, fas.
tened his scarf and placed his hat upon his
head
Even der Beautiful Blue Danbus. no
longer bleases you'll will go!'
He walked to the door. his violin care
under his arm. his hand upon his heart
His face was very pale. At the door he
spoke to Judith. and proudly refused tho
money she would have forced into his
hand.
II dank YOU" he said. "Tou are soon
to be married, Is It not so?" And you go
to Oconoville to LII. no longer haf you,
and / cannot hat your mother. am all
alone--Ime and my wife In her shurchyard."
He opened the door and passed out The
cold air chilled the dancers.
"Glad amt going to Cooney tonight"
said William. It'll be cold enough getting
home, as 1t Isl
Tom ironically started to play the Beau
tiful Blue Danube" and the thoughtless
ones, with laughter. began to dance. Ju-
dith prepared to go home.
Outside in the cold and snow the little
old musician listened to Toms playing
They are dancing to his playing und
my velse," he said brokenly. Then he
cried, for he was so cold and SO broken.
hearted.
1t was the last straw.
The stragglers from the inn were Shout
ing last good night 'and merry Christi
mas to the host as they stumbled across
the sill, when they halted suddenly to lis.
ten to the strains OF violin.
"Its old Nittach," they said. mo one
else could play the Blue Danube like that.
But why is he playing outside here? He
ought to be in the school,
Maybe he's serenading his GIRL" sug-
gested one.
They went their way with loud laugh.
ter
But the innkeeper braved the terrible
cold and listened.
az never heard him play 1t like that :"
he said aloud Seems as though he's
In the churchyard."
At that point where the waltz grows
most tender the music stopped abruptly.
S"Guess he found II too cold to play"
thought the innkeeper, almost regretfui-
ly. as he went indoors. and drank two
hot whiskys one after the other, ito the
memory of other days"
In the morning Judith and william. on
their way to service through the church