Evening journal., 1901-04-06
HIS SACRIFICE

sirous Of obtaining a thorough musical
education, have come to Paris to pursue
their studies and, being students at the
same conservatory, have been brought to-
gether in bond of friendship.
One Of them, Howard Grayson, is re-
served, serious young man, full of ambi-
ton, but, being thrown upon his own re-
sources, subsists by writing articles for
magazines and papers. The other,
George Harper, is a handsome, joyial
young fellow who has been sent abroad
to cultivate his passionate love for the
"divine art"
1t is the night before the compositions
are to be turned over to the judges, and
George and Howard are sitting together
in their little room. Howard is giving
the finishing touches to his composition,
which he fondly hopes will carry of the
prize and place him on the road to fame
and fortune rs a musician, the goal to-
ward which his ambitions have centered
since the night he found himself friend
less and alone, walking the streets Of
New York city, till by chance he passed
music hall from which faint strains Of
delicious music wtre waited to him on
the still night air. He stood there ST
lently drinking in the exquisite melody
and awoke the dormant passion within
him. lie went along the street with
buoyant heart and a lighter tread, with
a new purpose in life--that of becoming
a musician-and since that night, in spite
of the many obstacles in his way, he had
steadily plodded on, never grumbling Of
cold or hunger and often burning the
midnight oil until far into the morning
| in order to save money enough to con
tipue his studies and take him to Paris,
where by good fortune he has met with
George Harper, who had proved himself
a friend to him many, many times.
At last he finishes his work and, with
q sigh Of relief, throws down his pen and
turns to George, who is reading u letter
he has just received from home, and a
smile plays over his features as he reads
the letter which promises him so much
II he only wins the prize. He folds 1t
and puts it away and enters into conver-
J satiOn with Howard. Their thoughts nat
urally turn to the competition, and they
discuss their separate chances of gaining
/ it, when finally Howard proposes that
they play over their compositions and de-
eide for themselves which is the better,
but upon a solemn promise that neither
shall change q note afterward. George
laughingly consents and seats himself at
the piano and plays a soft. low piece, full
of tenderness and passion and with an
easy flowing grace that is all his own.
Howard listens with a sinking heart, for
he realizes at once it's superiority over
his own, and as George stops playing
i Howard, with q pale face and with trom-
bling limbs, yet with heartfelt sincerity,
assures him that it is a masterpiece and
that he will surely take the prize. Then
with a heavy heart, he plays his own
composition that has cost him so many
weary hours of labor. 1t is a very fine
piece OF work, yet lacking the easy flow
ing grace OF his friends, having instead
n a rather studied effect which robs it OF
part OF its beauty.
Long after Howard retires George sit:
up lost in thought. He is thinking Of the
pleasure 1t would afford his dear old
mother to hear that he had taken the
, prize, and he already sees his father pat
ting him on the back and taking him on
to the stables, pointing to a magnifcen
steed and saying, "It is yours, my boy
and well you have earned it." Then hi
thoughts turn TO his friend, poor an,
alone in the world, struggling toward
goal he may never reach, no one bu
himself TO sympathize with in trouble o
no one to rejoice with him in success. II
Howard the prize means everything
while 20 him II is. after all, only an homo
that he can do well without. Slowly l.
takes up his pen and alters the frs
part Of the composition entirely. ruinin
that part Of it completely. lie gaze
lovingly at his sleeping friend, who. al
unconscious Of his friends sacrifice 70
his sake, lies in peaceful sleep. Georg
folds the paper, seals it and lays It aside
and then on bended knee he offers up
silent prayer for forgiveness for his brl
ken vow.
The great Paris Opera House Is crow
ed with the contestants and their friend
who have come to hear who viii
awarded the prize. Howard, pale an
careworn, enters the crowded hall an
takes his place among the contestant
George, paler still, enters few moment
later. At last the house Is crowded. an
a hush falls upon the vast assembly O
tho judges file slowly into the room. AZ
er q few opening remarks the chairma
announces that the prize has bee
awarded TO Howard Grayson. with hoi
orable mention Of George Harper b
composition being perfect save for Il
first part, which was positively unpla.
q able.
The applause which Followed was dea
ening. Students that had never spoke
to Howard before came up and congrat
lated him, and finally they lifted him {
their shoulders and bore him across Il
hall.
George sits alone in his room, thinkir
Of the outcome Of events and wonderiT
what they will think at home. Sudden
Howard steps softly into the room an
going over TO where George is sittin
- places his hand gently on his friend
shoulder. George looks up into his tea
ful eyes, and Howard says, "Georse, q
vow that you broke when we promis
to leave our compositions unchanged W
be entered by the recording angels
n one OF the brightest stars for your croy
IN the kingdom of heaven" And as
n looks IN the loving brown eyes Of
friend George feels that he has been W
repaid for his sacrihce.-Exchange.
~ How the Ancients Worked.
A Copper was the favorite metal Of {
l..