The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-09-04
The Little Fiddler.
By Nora Hopper.

the impressario said. with smile. "DC
you, Mr.. Hoffmann?"
Let Godfrith Ak come and play tC
my boy" Ernest Hoffman, pleaded
That Is the only way"
"An impossible way" the impressaric
said. harshly. quite impossible.
will not have my market cheapened
Godfrith AXIS playing has its market
value"
But. my boy"
What do l care for your boy? Here
have l bred up Godfrith and brought
him out, and will not have him &c
playing to every ailing child. tell
you | will not have it. Besides. God.
firth is ill himself, Mr.. Hoffman, The
slid smoothly into different tone; 1t
is impossible"
HE must come" Ernest said. duly.
"Ulric has asked for him all day"
HE is ILL.," the impressario said,
fercely; "do you hear? He shall not
60"
MY boy is dying. 1 tell you" Err
nest said as iercely, "and he must
come. l will pay you anything"
HE shall not
Il will come.' Ernest Hoffman,
faced round with a smothered cry: the
boys entrance had been so noiseless
and so unexpected. The impressario
muttered an oath as he turned also
aud met the little fiddler's grave. dark
eyes.
You are i'll, Godfrith," he said. CON
trolling his anger with an effort. "Mr.
Hoffman, will not persist when he
sees that
The boy did look ill; even Ernest
Hoffmann's shortsighted eyes could see
how hollow the thin cheeks were and
how darkly the shadows lay under the
gray eyes.
GOdfrith Ak laughed slightly and
shrugged his shoulders. II am we'll
enough to play. l am always well
enough for that, impresario. Is your
son very i'll. Mr.. HoffmannT
'Very ILL.," said Ernest, sadly. "Wlu
you come, then?"
II will come" Godfrlth said quietly.
Signor Ludovico caught his arm an
grily.
Il forbid 1t, Godfrth, do you hear? |
forbid it. Mr.. Hoffman,. you persist
in this at your own risk"
Il choose to play" Godfrith Ak said.
looking at him with perfect coolness.
Maestro mlo, you can do a 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 lie answered: you can.
not go, and you shall not. Godfrith
You are Ill. and you play in the Albert
| Hall tonight"
Il will go 10 play for your SON." God.
firth said quietly. "or else | will not
| play in the hall at ALL"
But you shall play" stormed the
impresario. "or l will make you suffer
for it, Godfrith Ak. | Will not be
cheated! -"
You cannot make me play. Signor
Ludoycon' Godfrith said. still quietly.
but with a flush on his sallow cheek.
Il will do as | please now. Up to this
l have done as you pleased. maestro
mio"
You are an ungrateful little viperr'
the impresarlo said. hoarsely. land |
viii pay you for it, never fear, Godfrltl
AK! And as for you, sir"
Take care how you bully Mr. Hon
mann. maestro" Godfrith Ak said
composedly. There are policemen
outside"
'lf there were not"
III there were not you would tie mt
into chair and starve me into submis
sion, as you did when we were in St
Petersburg. Maestro. if you speak SC
loud you will be too hoarse to sing y
await un roi de Thessalle tonight"
The impresario choked and moder
ated his tone a little.
You have the whip hand Of me now
Godfrith. but wait--but wait till hav,
you under my hand again. Corpo di
came! VIII make you pay for thlsp'
"Of course you will. maestro" God
firth said, coolly. "and you may, bu
today l VIII be master of my owl
hands. So will come. Mr. Hoffman,
II you viii walt two seconds"
! He left the room and returned In
stantly with plaid thrown over hi
narrow, STOPPING shoulders and his yio
lin case under his arm.
Come" he went on, with an impIsl
laugh and glance at the impresario
scowling in his easy chair; "the ma es
tro will recover when we are gone
Do you live here, Mr.. Hoffmann?" a
they emerged into the sunllt street.
Quite close" Ernest Hoffman, said
: curtly, as they left the high road am
turned down narrow Savage street
Godfrlth Ak gave glance at tn
! dreary, demure houses right and left
and laughed quietly 10 himself.
Eden In t0tters for somebody. sur
+ pose. DO you live here, Mr. Hof
mannT' as Ernest pushed oDen tb