The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-12-29

Joy. He used to know Joe IetefSen |
but he supposed he wouldn't see much |
of him, as Joe was away from home all |
the week. There were the children too. |
He was fond of children, even if he
was an old bachelor. Then he remem-
bered that the children must be nearly |
grown up by this time. Well, young
people We're almost as good as children.
1t was the next day, while he was
out taking his constitutional, that Ev
erson saw him and crossed the street
to speak to him. so you have got the
PetersensT he said after they had
walked few blocks. We'll, there's
only one thing about them that you
won't like"
What is that?' questioned Mr.. Theo-
dore
''Their piano."
"Oh. don't mind piano practice as
some do" said Mr. Theodore easily.
"In fact, rather like it,
you haven't lived over the Peter
sens yet" said Eversou sententiously.
You wait little. It's an old piano
that came over in the Mayfiower-that
is, if any pianos did come over then
music out of brass kettles and tin pans.
It's all out of tune, too, and, worst of
all, they keep banging away on it all
the time. In vacation it's something
awful. There are three girls that take
lessons, and they are bound to be play
ing, so they keep the old thing going
about nine hours day"
Mr.. TheoGore's face had heightened
during this description. "What makes
them keep such an old trap?" he asked.
well, you see, they're kind of poor,
| and they can't afford a new one"
Mr.. Theodore walked moodily along
| after his friend left him. Then sud-
denly his face frightened. 81 can fix
it all right" he said and went ON more
| briskly.
The next morning there was consid-
cradle grumbling from the two men
who moved the Petersens because Mr..
| Theodore Foster insisted on helping.
| He was especially troublesome about
the placing of the piano. He insisted
on having it on the very end of the load
and tied it with his own hands. When
| the team started, he trotted along be-
side it, and they reached the house at
| the same time.
| 1t was a raw morning, and the men
| were putting blankets on the horses,
when suddenly there came a jangling
crash. They hurried to the back of the
| wagon and found Mr.. Theodore looking
in horror and dismay at very badly
SMASHED piano. "It's all my fault
was all he managed to say before tor
rent of abuse and curses loud and deep
overwhelmed him.
Mr.. Theodore went and told Mrs. Pc
tersen about the accident and after he
had gone a loud wall arose from the
three girls, but when the household ef-
fects were all moved and the Petersens
themselves went to their new home
there, in the parlor, was a beautiful
brand new piano.
They all stood in the doorway and
stared in amaZement.
''NIr. Foster had it sent" Aunt Sarah
Petersen explained. She had been
there attending to that end of the NOV
ing HE said that as it was due to his
carelessness that the other was wreck
ed he should take the liberty Of sending
for this one.'
Maud, the oldest girl, went and tried
the instrument. isn't it beautiful?' 2
she cried rapturously.
Time went on. and the girls practice6
diligently. Their aunt also took advan
tage of the Glance to play, SO that Mr.
Theodore had all the music he wanted
The Petersens had been there tive
months, when one day Mr.. Theodore
asked Maud to go with him to the plan
rooms.
81 want you to try them all,' he said
"and see if there is one you like bette
\ than the one at home"
Maud tried them. NO" she declaI
ed, there isn't one so nice"
"Are Isabel and Katherine satisfe
with it?'
"Why, yes, indeed they are"
by the way, won't you play tina
new waltz for meY
She seated herself at the nearest il
strument and began to play. Whe
} she had finished, she looked around
( but Mr.. Theodore was not beside he
as she had supposed. Instead she SAY
Z him at the far end of the room, comm
! toward her with piece of paper in hi
C hand. When he reached her, he passe
G her the paper. "A birthday prcsCn
my dear l believe it is your birthda
: today"
= Maud looked at the paper blank,
I. Then it dawned upon her that it was
\ bill of sale of the piano at home, mad
I. out il: her name.
!: Maud never would tell her sister
s what she did at that moment, bl
4 when she came home and told the
= about it they all declared that NJ
!; Theodore was "a dear"
d: Don't you think it would be bett,
Ia for you to go out of doors more, Nil
n Sarah?" Mr. Theodore asked her OF
day. II would be greatly honored
81 you would accompany me on my dai
walks. 1t is rather tedious goil
/ alone."
III And so it became the custom for Il
n old bachelor and the maiden aunt
50 walk out every day together.
Dt But after a year of this Miss Sarf
ID told him one day that she was goil
,o away for a six months visit.
Mr. Theodore was filed with conste
;. nation at this and begged her to reco
slider. He pleaded so earnestly al
,r eloquently that she finally promised
~ stay away only two weeks and whit
~ she came back to ''sct the day"
:, That was the longest walk they h;
-, taken, and toward the end of il n
Theodore said: MY dear, there
H., something | have wanted to tell Y
ever since | have known you. 1t
90 about the piano"