Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-03-06

while James eagerly questi0neu the ia0
on what he had done during the day.
and related all that had passed at the
office, repeating good-naturedly inc
Jokes of the clerks and taking Inc
yenomous sting out Of them.
When the simple meal was ovef'
Bernard produced an old and very IN.
ferlor violin. from which he struggled
to extract the music that was IN MS
own soul. 1t was very poor instru-
ment indeed, but it yielded much mar
mony to the young fingers that swept
its strings. There was longing, I'M
satisfied look In the boys eyes as ne
put It down. The only teaching ne nad
received was from a poor, second-rate
violin master, a ledger on the second
door, who had voluntarily given the
boy his best.
"Ah, Bernard" said the father,
fondly, III you had Z first-class violin.
nova real beauty-how you would
play on itr' The lads eyes glistened
for a moment at the thought; then the
old, sad light came back to them, Tor
that seemed an impossibility. He dld
not zee the happy look Of understand.
Ing which passed between husDand
and wife.
Next week the weather grew colder
still, and Bernard was obliged to Keep
his bed. Mary's heart began to mis-
give her, for she had lost q young
brother years ago in consumption ana
a terrible yearning pain wrung her
heart, but James spirits were hign. Tor
only q few days separated him from
the fulfllment Of his cherished hope.
The clerks jokes made even less I'M
preston on him than usual, and his
look Of dismay, when be actually
caught himself whistling once or twice
was comical to see. His happiness al
most overcame him at last, and there
were tears In his eyes at he received
the money which made up the long
wished-for sum. There was not q hap
pier man in London than he that night
as he trudged cheerily along the streets
| In the face Of the binding snow to the
shop, in at whose window he had 30
often gazed.
At first, the shop-asslstant was
rather short with the shabby little
man, and was inclined to treat with
contempt his anxious request to look
at some violins. Then, remembering
that great people are often eccentric,
he thought the man must be a musical
genius, and became very civil. His
establishment was great when, after
handling the instruments lovingly,
Brooks confessed in answer to warm
Invitation to TRY their tone,' that ne
lcould not play.
So the assistant, with a vast idea OF
his own superiority, played a few
arpeggios and simple airs on the var
lious instruments, and was more aston
lished still at the immediate detection
LOT one false note by his singular GUS
toner. At last the choice was made
the money paid down, and BROOKS
left the shop feeling as If he trod on
lair. His coat was stretched to the W
termost to protect the case from the
snow, and a curious figure he present
ed as he thus clasped 1t tight. Not q
mark, not one flake Of snow, should
mar the shiny surface which hid the
treasure before Bernard saw 1t.
In the bus he placed it on his knees
and gazed so rapturously upon 1t thai
he was lost to everything around, ano
the conductor, who knew him well, had
to speak two or three times before III
realized that the end Of his ride was
reached. Mary was not at the cornel
| to meet him, but then he had not ex
pected her; he was SO much later thar
usual.
No sooner did his footsteps sound OF
the garden path than the door was
opened and Mary stood pale and trem
bling in the brilliant light that stream
ed out into the darkness.
MARY, Nary his voice was almos
choked with joy, "Pve got 1t! I've 20
itw
Hastily flinglne off his hat and coat
he was rushing impetuously up tn
stairs, the precious case under oil
arm, when his wife gently pulled hin
back.
what is it?' he asked, looking int
| her white face.
"Nothing-but," she stammered
flames. dear-go up-quietly.'
, His excitement left him at one
! chilled BY he knew not what, and b
, mounted the stairs softly, with Mar
close behind him.
Bernard was lying back on the pi
' low with closed eyes, and a face {
+ such deathly whiteness that II
i. fathers heart was pierced. The dal
d ewes opened as he entered, and a ioo
o Of joyful recognition greeted him.
d .Oh, Bernard" almost sobbed o.
a James, 1--WE bought you beautlf
= new violin. Look here. And tomo
y row" He was going to tell Of II
!; proposed lessons, but the words stu'
y in his throat. With trembling fnge
l. he undld the case and laid his trea
ir ure gently on the bed. The sick D
nut his hand caresslngly and year
4. inrly on II. and looked l0vlngly-oh,