The Delta independent., 1899-09-01

wOun0-Ouiy Ii tuuultooc " Rlh
But that of yesterday was the broad
blade that kills at one stroke
And again. as il brosdened and
deepened and faded. like moonbeani.
away. That Of yesterday. he lpur-
INJURED. twas remuneration: with its
battle. its victory. its sublime triumph.
its transient peace: today's Is resigna-
tion-a submittance which Aas naught
of battle. Of victory. Of triumph. but
only pain Todsy's is the end. AN end
that has no end
Bet as he lay there. hands clasped be-
hind his tired head. lips parted in a
smile-a smile unlike his, for il had
naught of scorn in it-there broke upon
the silence the opening bars of u little
prelude. dainty and sweet in itself. but
the mariner Of its playing veritable
triumph in mediocrity. 1t walled and
cried laboriously above the Poets head
and echoed about the window. 1t broke
into painful snatchcs and indifferent
rhythm
The Poet sprang to his feet with an
exclamation OF impatience, ITO spoil
that with this!" he cried "Oh how
can ahcl'' He bit his lips wrathfully.
but he did not intend TO have his dream
altogether spoiled and. his anger con-
auering his weariness. he ran lightly Up
the narrow stair.
He burst into the Ioom Of the stranger
without preface or prelude. and began
in high pitched. womanish voice.
What in the world Then he
paused. for he found she was crying. A
little. middle aged woman. with a
wrinkled face and funny elfin locks that
fell in n cloud about it. She was stand
ing in the middle Of the room with her
music stretched ont fatty ON the table
and her violin and bow in her hands
standing. tho tears running thickly
down her pale cheeks. without making
any attempt to wipe them away
The Poet felt even angrier than be-
fore. Women Of that ago Ind no right
to cry SO openly. he thought Il went
against all his theories. He was angry.
too that he had imagined her to -
young.
what an abo,ninable rowi'' he said
savagely. ''And what are you crying
about Bat it is enough to make any
one c-y," Ee was not far from tears
himself with vocation.
She looked mp ut him wistfully-sh
was but little thing-and without
any apparent surprise ut his presence
or abrupt entrance. "Ahi should not
have played ns;..:n = she sobbed. ''after
-sftcr I had given it Up"
"Thcn hgd g-:cssed arighti' cried
the Poet. YESTERDAY Il was renuncin-
ton and today resignation Bet what
had you given upf What have yen re
nouEcedf To what arc you resigned =
Il don't understand you. she said
ncomprehcndingly. She laid her violin
on the table. hanging over Il rs . moth
/ Or docs over her child
"whca yo. played ysueerday''-
''But ! dsdn't play yesterday" shs.
qisa II wanted to-oA. - IDLY. Jbs
spea<3p1 - M. ths win1 ssSs1'aad
ths rca cried. and heard them all
took fny violin In my hand bat could
tell rothing of what heard Oh. how
unhappy wasi Then drew the bow
backward and forward across the
serinys bit without touching them.
and imagined IL all caught the sob
bing Of tho tea sod on the end Of my
bow. sent out the cry Of the gulls'-
"And the spray Of the seal" cried the
Poet.
"And the eddy and gathering Of the
foam
"And the mutter Of tho waves
"And I Thought Of how might knvc
played had not sorncthing-something
been wanting. Oh. cried to God TO
give mo tho power TO play ns-as my
soul could play but for this thing-this
me that cannot.
1.-THE cry for the unattainablc. the
Poet whispered 10 himself. but she did
not hear or heed him
II made resolution. She dried her
tears briefly at the recollection Of IL
''God would not give me my desire. 10
I gave mp my semblsnce Of It. for
wanted 20 keep my ideal Then. when
had quite made mp my mind. how
could have played thcni But IL would
not coma
..Ths triumph. ' said the Poet He
smiled impsrccptibly 70 himself
.'But today it WINS all No dreary. II
was all oves. and there was nothing
left And after ! had thought how IL
wns all over and my last note played
Thought would again say goodby TO
my eddie And ] fetched it ont and
played sucdby. bus without making =
sound And felt not bit sorry. but
only q strange feeling here" She put
her hand on her heart $50 ! played q
real littIs bit % SEQ II it would take il
away
He did rot rpeak. His dream hsd
come hack TO him. and his thoughts.
like white clozds. nostcsi far. FAR away.
Black and White