The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-09

stray eyes
GSdfrith Ak laughed slightly and
enough to play. I am always well
enough for that, impresario. Is your
son very ill. Mr.. Hoffmann?''
Very ill., Ernest said sadly "Win
you come. them"
Il will GOMEZ Godfrith said quietly
Signor Ludovic caught his arm angrily
Il forbid it, Godfrith. do you hear? 1
forbid it. Mr.. Hoffman, you persist in
this at your own risk
Il choose to play Godfrith Ak said,
looking at him with perfect coolnesa
Maestro milo, you can do good many
things, but you cannot either make me
play or stop me from playing when
choose"
+ The impresario's face was purple with
anger as he answered You cannot 60
and you shall not, Godfrith. You are
i'll, and you play in Albert Hall to-
night"
4 will go to play for your son. God
firth said quietly, .'or else 1 will not
play in the hall at ALL"
But you shall playi' stormed the i'm
presario, ''or I will make you suffer
for it. Godfrith Ak. 1 will not be
cheated. Il
You cannot make me play, Signor
Ludovico." Godfrith said still quietly
but with a flush on his sallow cheek.
Il will do as 1 please now. Up to this
l have done as you pleased, maestro
mio."
You are an ungrateful little viper!"
the impresario said hoarsely. land will
pay you for it, never fear, Godfrith AK!
And as for you. sir
Take care how you bully Mr.. Hoff
mann, maestro Godfrith AK said COM
posedly. There are policemen OUT
side"
IF there were not
III there were not you would tie me
into chair and starve me into sub
n isslon, as you did when we were in
SO loud you will be too hoarse to sina
Y await I'm roi de Thessalie' tonight.
The impresario choked, and moder-
ated his tone a little.
You have the whip hand of me now,
Godfrith: but wait-wait till
nave you under my hand again. Corpo
dicane! Will make you pay for this. .
or course you will, maestro God
firth said. coolIy, land you may; but
today I will be master of my own
hands So I will come, Mr.. Hermann
if you will wait two seconds
He left the room. and returned in
stantly with plaid thrown over his
narrow, STOPPING shoulders and his
Violin case under his arm.
Come he went ON. with an impish
laugh and glance at the impresario,
Sowing in his easy chair; 1.-The
maestro will recover when we are gone
Do you live here, Mr.. Hoffmann?" as
they emerged into the sunlit street
Quite close" Ernest Hoffman, said
CURLY, as they life the high road, and
turned down narrow Savage street
Godfrlth AK gave glance at the dreary,
| demure houses right and left and laugh
| ed quietly to himself.
Eden in tatters for somebody, I sup
| pose. Do you live here, Mr.. Hoffmann?''
$3.50. Have you any other children?''
| NO" Ernest Hoffman, said, as he
preceded the little fiddler up the creak-
ing stairs: ''only this one-and his
mother is cripple. This way. Clara
| he is here" Dark blue eyes met the dark
| gray, in long, inquiring glance; then
| a thin hand. soft and white and cold
went out to clasp the little fiddler's thin
hot fingers, and a soft voice said:
| "Oh. it is good of you to come-sc
| was, and how he longed to hear you
play again? And your playing is a
marvel. How do you? Why She
withdrew her hand with a little cry
| You are not child at all, and ]
| thought"
mo, I am not a child" the little fid-
dler said, looking at her puzzled face
| with clear, candid eyes. Il am seven.
| tCCn- Les \W1lu d SuIUSJ am d CHIC
| in size, know-I stopped growing wher
| l was nine"
Are you a gypsy? Forgive me-
| Clara said. with a pretty blush, but il
has been said so-and I wondered if il
| was true
II am of gypsy blood on one side
madame" Godfrith Ak answered-"tht
| Mothers
Il am afraid Clara SAID. as he open
ed the violin case and took the instru
| ment out, handling it lovingly, '-yor
ought not to have come out in this cas-
wind. You have been i'll. surely?'
NO" Godfrith said, quietly. Il an
never strong, madame. But am never
ill, either. Shall begin to play now
madame? Where is your boy?''
In the next room-through that oper
door, if you will be so kind Ernest,
| as her husband made as if he would
follow the little fiddler to his boys bed
side, '.let them be alone together, dear
Our guest will like it better, know
| Madge would say I am absurdly fanci
full, dear" as he came to her side will
had brought here a good fairy who viii
cure our Uric, and-what is that he i.
| playing?"
"A cradle song, madame" Godfritl
| answ cred for himself, through the oper
doorway. 1T is a Norweelan lullaby
| The lullaby crooned softly away int
silence, and then Clara from her coucl
saw=the little fiddler bend swiftly ovel
|
| lighted face with a murmured 80, thi.
is better than the Albert Hail.
| Then he took up his bow again ant
drew it over the strings in a swift
dainty dance measure, all light, airy
passages, through which Clara could al
| most hear the movement of DANCING
feet. She listened for few minute.
with a half smile on her lips;a then he
eyes, puzzled and half afraid, wen
wistfully to meet the little folders, ant
came back to her husbands face Will
an unsatisfied fear in their blue depths
Ernest, do l know the song? 1t seems
so-and wish almost-I wish he woule
| not play it."
Madame, I am half way through it
I must go on to the bitter end now" tn,
little fiddler called to her, with a trem
BILE of laughter in his voice. It shall
soon have DONE"
II don't like it," Clara murmured, dis
tressfully. Il seem to know it, and
She lay listening in silence for som
minutes, then the fear in her eyes kin
died into a flame, and she caught at he
| busba ud's hand with the look of a for