Morris tribune., 1900-05-19

|
twisted and rubbed the shiny bowl 81
metal. A rough cloth succeeded the
sanded one and in turn made way fol
one of soft texture Then the bell
was hung on little metal frame some,
! what like galloWs in construction
| A drawer was opened and bundle of
| cloth produced from it's recess and
| swiftly unrolled to reveal a highly pol
| ished and properly wrought little clap
| per, which the young mechanic deftly
| fitted in the inverted bowl Of the bell.
A piece Of Irvine was attached to a
little knob on the bulb of the clapper
A gentle pull and a subdued silvery
tone filed the narrow confines of the
shop. The tone swelled until it fairly
rang. reverberating from wall to wall,
from rafter to rafter. seeking out every
nook, and Granny Of the shop. dying
away at last in little shudder Of de-
light. The young Genoan had clasped
his hands together and listened with an
agony of Intensity, straining his ears
for scintilla of a flaw in the tones.
and when the silvery naturalization
had died away he leaned back with a
sigh of ecstatic relief
Day after day and long into the
nights Giuseppe toiled with a fervor
and energy almost fanatical He ate
but little and slept only when natural
fatigue compelled him. He became thin
and emaciated, and his eyes shone with
a feverish Iuster, but not for single
day did he give up his work One by
one his bells grew into the size and
form he desired, and he gave to each
it's proper tone. TO him they were
things animate, He talked to them,
caressed, petted and scolded, and each
night when be ceased his labor he put
them away in their allotted places
with a paternal care and solicitude,
One beautiful August day Giuseppe
sat al his bench giving the finishing
touches to the last of his set of chimes
Nearly two years had passed since he
began his work: two years. but
great change had taken place in the
appearance Of the young man. His
face was pale and wan. and his high
cheek bones and sunken cheeks gave
him a deathly look.
Finally he hung the last bell on the
little metal stand, fitted in his clap
per and gave it a gentle swing. The
tone that followed began like the sigh
of a man. worn and wearied by a life
of hopeless disappointment 1t grew
iD deep crescendo until it became a
knell, a plant for the dead, then died
away in a broken sob. The GenOan
followed the tone from it's inception
until it's last vibration ceased with an
earnestness that made the veins in his
forehead stand out and drew every
bugle, blow" time. They arrived at
the stile. They turned to look bach
down the long and leafy avenue
through which they had come. 1t was
all irradiated with the long, level glow
of the sunset. A tiny black figure at
the far end, which seemed to be NOV
ing toward them, gave the scene just
that little necessary note Of human
contrast which made it perfect.
They said good night, and the GirtOr
girl strolled away into the purpling
shadows, where she was destined to
hear what she had never suspected
that love is, after all, the only higher
mathematics worth the attention of
girl with soft hands and wavy hair.
Miss Bremmil walked slowly bacE.
thinking placidly of their little TO
nance. Suddenly she heard footsteps
oiI
from the trees and was paging with