Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-10-06
/<"ATE'S a fiddler"
II The little fiddler-such a
little fiddler-fung a quick


little fiddler-hung quick
unchildlike glance around
the packed concert room, drew long,
unchildlike sigh, and began to play.
First, gay ripple of music-light and
needless and youthful-then a phrase
or so, subdued and soft and piteous
as the "moan of doves in immemorial
elms," followed by the liquid lament of
a nightingale. A scurry of soft notes
like summer rain dropped from the
strings into silence, and the end came
with repetition Of the child's laugh.
"Gypsy, every note of it," an emf
nent scientist said to his daughter, as
she leaned back in her stall with tears
In her soft brown eyes. "Gypsy music,
my dear Madge, and played, one would
swear, by gypsy, but for his face.
And his name, too, is pure Saxon-An-
glo-Saxon at that"
'It is, papa?" his daughter Madge
said, with swift glance at the little
fiddler now rendering a wild bazarre
movement, half dance, half march.
"It's an odd name, too; Godfrith Ak.
don't think l like it, and don't think
I like his face, either; it's so sallow and
plain"
Look at his eyes, my dear"
$50 have, and 1 don't want to do
1t again, papa; they give me the
creeps," Madge whispered back. But
he's wonderful player"
AYE, he is that; wonder where he
comes from? l am interested in his
name; pure Anglo Saxon, Madge; think
of it."
Perhaps he's ghost or something
of that sort" commented Madge, flip
PANTY. "Anglicize his name a little,
please, papa; it's too Saxon for me-"
Godfrey Oak; that is the modern
English of it, my dear; and there is no
verb ANGLO said the professor, dryly,
as the violin piece ended, and little
rustic went through the crowded
room. Eyes, that is the last. Come,
Madge, my dear-Why, Hoffman,, l
never expected to see you here. And
how is your wife, my dear fellow"
They were out in the vestibule now,
and Madge Dormer, paler than her
wont, offered her hand with n smile
to the spectacled young German her
father had taken by the arm.
"How is Mrs. Hoffman,? Better, l
hope. And your boy?'
"Clara is as well as she ever will be,
Miss Dormer," Ernest Hoffman, said,
not too cordially. 'She will never walk
tn t.,
stronger and patient-she is always
that, you know"
Il do know" Madge said, with a
catch in her breath. II knew Clara
before you did, Mr.. Hoffman,, and
can bear witness to her sweetness"
"You did. 1 beg your pardon, Miss
Dormer." Ernest Hoffman, flushed
little.
The professor, mildly uneasy put in
half apologetic remark, after the
biundering masculine fashion. "Madge
Is very fond of your wife, Hoffman,;
always was, through ALL"
Il appreciate Miss Dormers devo-
tion," Ernest Hoffman, said, with a
stiff bow. Madge held her head erect
and looked at him with an angry light
in her eyes.
Il appreciate Mr.. Hoffmann's mag
nanimity," she said, icily. Papa, we
shall be late if we don't hurry. Good.
by, Mr.. Hoffman,; my kind love to
Clara. o, by the bye, how is Ulric?'
"Ulric is ill.," Ernest Hoffman, said,
shortly. "Mr Dormer, moment. Can
you tell me where Godfrith Ak is stay
ing?"
"Senor Ludovico is 1t the Alexandra
Hotel and Ak is with him, of course, u
the professor said, as he turned away
hurried by the danger signals flying in
his daughters face.
How she hates me" Ernest Hoff
mann sighed, as he went through the
park in the March wind and sunshine
II suppose she thinks a clerk had nc
right to marry her cousin. All! Clara
does not think so-yet. How that lac
played-no wonder Uric dreams o1
him. And wonder If he will come
The wonder remained when he sat II
the luxurious sitting room at the Alex
andra, facing the impressario, big
handsome Italian, with an enormous
beard.
"Yes, his playing is n MARVEL" Signoi
Ludovico said, placidly scanning H0ff