The Republican journal., 1900-06-21
the recognition came another thought
she hurried to the door

the recognition came another thought
she hurried to the door.
Here Melton" she called, Melton
Hatch." He wheeled in surprise.
Did you call. Mis- Pomfret?"
Yes, l did: you come here a minute. ;"
He came readily enough, but at the door
stopped and shifted uneasily from one
foot to the other He knew what Mrs.
Pomfret thought Of genuises. She took
him by the arm purposefully and drew
him into the house
Melton" she said Il want you to do
some work for me. | -
But | can't tonight" he replied,
pulling back little. I'm going to
practice"
You can practice all you want here, ;"
she retorted mmOved, leading him into
the sitting room and seating him before
the machine.
I've got some sewing that's got to be
done, and l can't do it myself on ac-
count of the rheumatism. You sit right
can foot it OH the piano pedals" she
concluded grimly, land | guess you can
keep this treadle going
She passed the end of a long. gray
seam under the needle and started the
machine. Young Melton kept his eye on
the seam. fascinated with amazement,
while his feet worked mechanically. As
soon as one seam was completed, an
other was started and there was no
sound except the whir of the machine,
OF the ticking of the clock when seam
was run out. How long Melton sat there
he could never Say-hiS remembrance of
it being dimmed by what followed. He
could recall being taken again by the
arm after certain period and led into
another room where there was a black,
square piano in one dark corner. Here
he was again seated before an inStru-
ment and told to act as motive power.
But this time no one sat by him to share
the work. He was free and alone. and
ah. how he loved the feeling of those
smooth, white keys that rose and fell to
his touch so unfailingly, and the soft,
rich tones that he could hear even be-
fore he pressed the KEYS and then could
make heard in fulfillment of expecta-
ton. 1t was like 40 music he had ever
made before. Ee had not known there
was music SO different from that of the
little cabinet organ at home or the Opera
House piano. which he had only touch
ed twice. He played on and on, and
then there was little while, he remenl-
bered when the music stopped, and he
drank something sweet and spicy and
ate something sweet and delicate: and
after that there was more playing and
more. SO that the room was full of sound
that trembled and swelled and died away
until, for the third time'that evening a
hand was laid on his arm and voice
that he had never heard before was tell
ing him that he was to come back to
make that music as often as he would,
and never forget to thank God that lie
had the spirit of heavenly harmony in
his heart
He passed ont slowly into the warm,
dusky night. Mrs Pomfret stood in the
doorway, long after he had disappeared,
smiling quietly and looking down the
way he had gone. until her gaze was lost
IN the soft, summer gloom. With the
same still smile on her face she went
back into the house and made all Sc
cure for the night. Finally, taking up
the gray skirt. she folded it carefully
and laid it down smoothly on top of the
piano. With her hand resting there she
stood for a minute or So then turned to
go to bed, ready for the morrow \ ina
T. Poor, 1900, i'll The Wellesley Maya
zine.