The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-25
THE sTEENTH STRING.

Diotti OWNED that something beyond
sympathy for the old tomcat's dealt,
racked Mildred Wallaces pure young soul
! He was well aware that she knew the
| relation existing between a dead cat and
I fiddle string. AS she was merely a
musician and not real artist, he felt
| that she must look upon it as a desecra-
! tton over which the cat had no control,
and. in that far, unjust TO the deceased
! He went toward her, and lovingly tax
i ing her hands bent low and pressed his
! lips TO them. They were as cold as
marble
They give me cold feet he murmured
to himself wondering. half In doubt. half
| in fear, what she could possibly have
( up her sleeves. But he did not COM
ment aloud upon the glacier grip she
might give and braced up.
Daring" he said, something has
made you unhappy What is it?"
Tell ne Angelo. and truly, is your
violin like other violins?'
This unexpected question came so sud-
denly he could not control his agitation.
The very thought that so distinguished q
violinist as Angelo Diotti would play on
a violin that was like anybody else s
gave him an appoggiaturn tremolo of the
| diaphragm and made him wonder if she
took him for a Bowery bow shower
Why do you ask?" he said with frigid
formality, for he was hurt TO the quick.
Artists are so darned sensitive
You must answer me directly she
persisted, just like a woman.
He knew what he was up against
mo, Mildred; my violin is different from
any other l have ever seen. This hest
tatingiy and with great effort at COM
posture. because he feared she might think
he was throwing a bluff
In what way is it difertnt?" she
demanded.
1T is peculiarly constructed. 1t has an
extra string. But why this sudden in
terest in the violin? Let us talk of you.
neignbors. of any old thing" said he,
with forced cheerfulness
No, we will talk of the violin. OF
what use is the extra string?''
None whatever" was the quick reply.
Then why not cut il Off"
NO no, Mildred; you do not under
stand he cried Il cannot do it,
You cannot do it when l ask it?" she
exclaimed. with the same old accent on
the Il that women always employ at
such a moment.
"Oh, Mildred, do not ask me- l cannot
connot do it, and the face of the anrigh-
ted artist told palmer than words of the
turmoil raging within his throbbing
bosom.
She trembled like a high c trill in
con motto. OPP. 16. with every seat in the
house sold and the spectators on the
sidewalk Offering a premium.
You made me believe that | was the
only one you loved" she cried passion
ately; the only one; that your happiness
was incomplete without me. You led me
into the region of light only to make
the darkness greater when l descended
to earth again. l ask You to do a simple
thing and refuse. You refuse because"
Stop there, womani" he interrupted
hoarsely, thunderously 1.-The violin hasn't
got appendicitis, never had appendicitis
and never will have appendicitis Its
yermiform appendix is all right and by
Jove, l won't cut it off, You under
stand?"
Mildred rushed to him crying: angelo,
Angelo. forgive mer'
A faint smile illumined his face; he
gazed with ineffable tenderness into her
weeping eyes, then slowly closed one of
his own and opened il again with other
wise impressible simultaneously VIM.
]. Hampton. with apologies TO Mr.. John
John Philip Sousa'S Fifth String"