Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-10-10

wagner IL was so tau Tie front part
OF his ceiling was SO low. and nt the
present moment he was IN such a hu;-
~ that he often hit his head l,ut this
didn't take much time. so he really
didn't mind IL. Far worse wis his hav-
Ing to search his attic for Thugs which
he had put away SO carefully that he
could not find them himself. He had
been two hours dressing. Ii was get
ting well on 10 { O'clock, and nj the
thought that be might be late and have
TO turn back with his compoSitiual un-
piay'eo and his love unRvOWed his heart
sank with despair. His shirt and his
collar were satisfactory. but the white
four-tn- hand necktie-deuce take it
gave Herr Wagner no end OF trouble.
He lost half an hour tying II. and the
operation left II all crumpled aud any-
thing but snow white.
At last he was ready. The second
hand frock coat which be had bought
In the morning for the great occasion
was rather too short In the sleeves-so
short, indeed. that II required constant
vigilance to keep them from catching
In his huge detachable cuffs. Still, the
coattails were long enough. and it was
the best coat Herr Wagner had ever
worn In America. so he was In good
spirits.
He had barely time TO get TO his des-
tination. yet he sat down TO his piano
for a last rehearsal OF his declaration.
Ii was a declaration without words.
love message In melody. Herr Wagner
was sure II would speak TO her heart,
that she would feel Its meaning. And
not only was II his message OF love. but
also an epitome Of his great system. the
grand total OF his life work. the sum
and substance OF new theory which
was TO revOlutionize the world OF
sound. But OF this later on. and at this
moment IL may be OF some use to know
that Herr WRgners attic was on East
Seventh street that II was a fair sized
trapcEold shaped room full OF books.
music. musical instruments and dust
He paid by the month and his dropslcaI
landlady cleaned the room on rent day.
There were plenty OF furnished rooms
where the sweeping was done every
Saturday. but this was the only place
where one was allowed TO play his
midnight. So Herr Wagner was will
Ing to do part OF the cleaning himself
He had lived there until he came TO
look upon II. sloping front wall, dust
and all. as part and parcel OF his
genius. And truth to tell. II did be-
come him well. AS ne sat lingering the
keyboard. writing or pacing the door.
now and again throwing back his long
light hair and half shutting his small
blue eyes In hazy. faroff gaze. the
piles OF dust covered books. the instru-
ments and the sioping wall seemed to
be as essential to his work as his
cigarette stained fingers or his dis
colored clerical face.
Kerr Wagner slammed the door be-
hind him and faced chilly November
night. He had no overcoRt and he
shivered. but while passing the barber
shop he saw through the window that
It was even later than he was afraid
1t was, and his terror warmed him up.
On and on he strode. crossing streets
diegonally. on the principle. which he
whispered to himself that q straight
line Is the shortest distance between
two points; jumping over boxes and
knocking down little children. diving
under horses and leaping over streams
Of coal. murmuring "Ach, pardon" to
the animals as well as to the ladies he
whisked past. running. putting for
breath. perspirlng.
"Aunchep. don't talk SO much"
Zach. mamma, don't you talk so
mach. You know I don't"
"Annehen. you can't keep a secret:
you leak like a steve"
IL leak like a sievef That's richI
You leak like our old coffee can. NAM
ma You can't keep secret half an
hour. mamma"
Sand you can't keep II ten minutes. /"
And you two minutes"
An alteration OF this kind took pIacs
nearly every day. and nearly every day
each OF them unburdened herself OF
her most private thoughts or feelings
not only to the boarders. but also to
some OF the men who came to inquire
about board.
she made up her mind to keep from heF
mother. Well. she did not giggle. nor
even smile to herself. but there must
have been something which showed
that she had a secret. after all. for
Frau Binde was restless and every
little while said:
Wont you tell II to me. Annchen1
II won't 60 any further. I assure you"
"But who says ! have anything 20
Annohan xyo,lA rof,xrx, and