The times., 1899-04-09
when I die shall hear the Bereeuse echo

when I die shall hear the Berceuse echo
Il think it may be so.
Well, we got them all together. Theirs
must have been a thousand. They came
from across the bay and all along the inlet
The piano was tuned, and the people were
seated, and I was just where We were that
night and Mr.. Decker was walking behind
the little curtain in new dress suit He
had shaken hands with me Just before. His
hands were cold as ice and they tremoled
in mine. | congratulated him on the pres
ence of Herr H from Leipsie. who had
been mfraculously discovered just across
the bay; and Mr.. j of New York, who
could place him musically in the most de-
sirable fashion: and asked him not to for
get me his first audience, and his most
sincere friend and admirer.
In his eyes could swear l saw fright
Not nervousness. not stage fear. but sheer
appalling terror. 1t could not be. | Thought
and nv brother in-law told me TO go down.
Then he stepped to the front and told
them all how pleased, how proud and de
lighted he was to be the means of intro
ducing to them one whom he confidently
trusted would leave this stage tonight one
of the recognized pianists of the world
He described briefly the mans eXtraordl-
nary effect upon two of his friends, who
were not he was good enough TO say Ike
" to be mistaken in their musical estl-
mates. He hoped that they all appreciat-
ed their goood fortune in being the first
people in this part of the world TO hear Mr.
Decker, and he took great pleasure in in
Producing him.
AT this point Mr.. Decker should have
come forward As he did not, my brother
in-law stepped back to get him. He found
the Nice Boy alone in the room behind tbs
stage looking distinctly nervous He eN-
planned that Mr.. Decker had gone out for
a moment to get the air-he was naturally
bit excited. and the room was close. My
brother-in-law said nothing. and they
waited a few moments in strained silence.
Finally they walked about the room look
ing at each other.
DO you think it was quite wise to let
| him go2" said my brother-in-law. with
compressed lips. The Nice Boy is horribly
afraid of my brother-in-law.
'I'll-rll go out and-and get him" he
gasped, and dashed out into the dark, ours
ing himself for fool. This was unfortun-
nate. for in five seconds more. Mr.. Decker
had reeIed into the room. He explained in
very thick voice that he had never been
able to play without the drink; that a lit
tie brandy set his fingers free, but that he
had taken too much and must rest
When the Nice Boy got back-he had
brought two great pals OF cold water and
a fresh dress shirt-it was too late. The
man Law in a heap on the floor. and my
brother-in-Iaw stood white and raging
talking to the heap. The man was drunk
enIy. horribly asleep. The Boy said that
the worst five minutes he ever spent were
those in which he poured water over the
heap on the floor and shook it. my broth
er-in-law watching with an absolutely in
describable expression,
Then he got out on the platform and said
| something. Mr.. Decker had met with an
accident-would some one get a doctor?
| Was there perhaps a doctor in the au-
| dience? They could realize his position
| and more of that sort.
| knew well enough. When the doctor
went in he found the Boy shaking the
drunken brute on the floor, and they told
| the doctor all about il ard he went out
| by the other door. And they got carriage
and took Decker to the hotel.
I don't know-it seemed not wholly his
fault. And his face showed that he had
suffered But the men would hear moth
| ing of that My brother-in-law says than
| for woman who is really as hard as nails
| have more apparent and aesthetic sym
pathy than any one he ever knew. And
| that may be so.
The people took 1t very nicely. They
| cleared the floor, and the younger ones
| danced and the older ones talked and the
manager sent over ices and coffee. and it
| turned out the affair Of the season. And