Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-04-27

snail we go oVerY'' said L. lie is
very probably an accompanist, stranded
hero with his engagement ended. Per-
haps he even plays well. These things
happen in books" Tho Nice Boy shook
his head.
well go. by all MEANS" he said,
"but don't hope. He's not touched a
piano this long time"
So we gathered some shawls and
cushions and went over, The building
was all dusty and smelled of pine. As
wo stumbled in,,gthe sound Of piano
met us | own / was a bit excited.
For one doubtful second ] listened,
ready to adore. Then l laughed
nervously. We were not people in q
book. 1t was Mendelssohn's "Spring
Song" played rather slowly and with
a mournful correctness. | could feel
the players fingers thudding down on
the Keys one played it SO when it was
necessary to use the notes. The Nice
Boy smiled consolingly.
TOO bad" he whispered. "Shall
we 90 out now?'
II should like to view the fragments
Of the idol! - | whispered back. Let's
end tho illusion by seeing him!" So
we tip-toed up to the benches, and
looked at the platform where the Stein
way stood. Twirling on the stool sat a
girl of II or 80, peering out into the
gloom at us. 1t was very startling.
Now felt that the strain was yet to
come. As sank into one Of the chairs
man rose slowly from seat under
the platform. 1t was the stranger. He
nodded iauntily at us.
GOOD thing you come, he an
nounced cheerfully, 81 don't know how
long l could stand that girl. / guess
she's related to the other," and no
shambled up the steps. His unsteady
walk, his shaking hand, as he clumsily
pushed the chairs out OF the way, told
their disagreeable story. He walked
straight up to the girl, and looking
beyond her said easily, Excuse me,
miss, but I'm goin' to play a little for
some friends o. mine, an I'll have to
ask you to quit for % WHILE" The girl
looked undoubtedly from him to us, but
we had nothing to say. Come, come, :"
he added, impatiently, you can bang
oil you want in few minutes, with
nobody to disturb you. JUS now I'm
goin' to do my own turn."
His assurance was SO perfect, his in
| tention to command obedience so evil
dent, that the child got up and went
slowly down the stairs, more curious
than angry. The man swept the music
from the rack, and lifted the top of the
piano to its full height. Then with an
| impatient twitch he spun the music
stool few inches lower, and pulled it
out. The Nice Boy leaned over to me.
"The preparations are imposing,
anyhow" he whispered. But |
did not laugh. l felt nervous. To
be disappointed again would be
too cruel l watched the soiled, untidy
figure collapse on to the stool. Then
shut my eyes, to hear without prejudice
of sight the opening triplo-octave scale
Of the professional pianist. For with
such assurance as he showed he should
at least be able to play the scales.
III.
The hall seemed so large and dim,
was so alone--I was glad Of the Nice
Boy. Suppose it should all be a hbr.
rible plot, and the tramp should rush
down with revolver? Suppose--and
then stopped thinking. For from
PARKWAY somewhere came the softest,
sweetest song. A woman was singing.
Nearer and nearer she came, over the
hills, in the lovely, early morning
louder and louder she sang and it was
the ''Spring SongH' Now she wa'
with us--young, clear-eyed. happy
bursting into delicious flights. o
laughter between the bars. Her eyes
/ know, were gray. She did not run
nor leap--she came steadily on, with ;
swift, strong, swayine, lifting motion
She was all odorous of the morning
all vocal with the spring. Her voic,
laughed even while she sang, and tn
perfect, smooth succession of TIL
separate sounds was unlike any effec
| have ever heard. Now she passed
she was gone by. Softer, fainter, ah
she was gone No; she turned he
head, tossed us flowers, and sang again
turned, and, singing, left us. On
, moment Of soft echo--and then 1t wa
still.
| breathed-for the first time since
heard hor, I thought. opened m
eyes. 1t was all black before them
! they had been closed so long. | dir
not dare look at the Nice Boy. Their
, was absolutely nothing for him to say
but was afraid he would try to say il
: lie was staring at the platform. Hi
mouth was open, his eyes very large
Without turning his face towards me
he said solemnly, And l gave him l
cents for sandwiches Ten cents 10
sandwiches"
Suddenly l heard sobs : heavy
J awkward sobs. / looked behind me
] The eirl had dropped forward on t
. the chair in front and was hystericall
. chattering into her handkerchief 8
0 PLAYED that! l played thatn' sh
t walled. "Oh he heard me- he did
he did, felt suddenly, bitterly, hoi
, ribly ashamed for her. How she mus
t feell A child can suffer so.
But the man at the piano gave
0 little chuckle Of satisfaction, and ra
0 his hands up and down the keys in
: delirium of scales and arpeggios. The
he hit heavily deep, low note. 1t wa
!, like a great, bass trumpet A crashin
d chordSand then the love-soDg of Gel
:. many, and musicians caught me up
heaven, or wherever people go VIII
love to that tune--perhaps it is
Gern,any-and heard a great. magn
g ficent man. singing in great magnit
! cent baritone, the song that won ClaI
!, Schumann's heart.
II Schubert sang sweetly, wonderful.
IS / cry like baby when ono sings IL
d seyanade even fairly we'll. And def
y Franz Abt has made most loving mel
n dies. But they were musicians singir
!. this was man. ''Du meine Lieb
n du !''-that was no piano; it was
n voice. And yet no human voice cou
|. be at once SO limpid and so rich,
10 thrilling and so cloar. And now
q crashed out in chords heavy. broke
/, harmony. Possession, rapture, absolut
It glowing, pulsing ioy-but these are a.