The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-25
''WHILE LUBIN is AWAY. "
BY L. Parry Truscott

thel gaze with Few years too many
behind him for the retention of absolute
freshness-only few but what a diff
ference they nakel He struck chord,
two or three chords Din the minor, and
left off again.
And yet he was scarcely what is
considered middle aged by even the
very accurate. He had been called
handsome in face by-well, by women
OF is usually women who say such
things); could not be called uncOmely
in FORM wasn't by any means bald
just thinning. Sitting twirling on his
stool. he looked again at the slight
girlish fgure in che big armchair at the
other end of the long music room
"Poofi' he said to himself Too
stout2 Just comfortable-not an atom
more than comfortable. Stout. indeed"
and he laughed.
What are you laughing at now2'
questioned the girl in the chair.
Not myself" he smiled. Let me
tell you I was not laughing at myself.
But he told ner no more
Instead. he let his hands wander over
the keys. Those ivory keys. at any
rate, cared nothing about a mans age
OF mis- figure; he might measure what
he would around the waist if his fingers
had the rtght sort of cunning at their
tips. So that man understood them
they gave him faithfully truly their
best in return. For every year of de-
votion they added a little to his power
of mastering them. Thinning hair! A
ng-a demi-semi- quaver for thinning
hairi Unfaiiingiy they responded to his
caress; his lghtest touch awoke them;
they took his widest moods for their
moods, there never was a time when
they could not give him back a thou
sandfold all he had bribed them with
For honest work. melody; for love.
sweet refreshment; for untiring
patience, unbrOken harmony.
What better companion could a man
beyond his first youth-possibly need
than his grand piano2 He played
snatch OF an exquisite air with the most
loverlike touch of his supple fingers.
"Poofi" he said to himself again.
'But / am quite Dassably youthful"
And he broke off the exquisite air in
the middle of a phrase.
Why did you do that2" asked the
girl from the chair
"I have no further use for the thing
at this moment said he But come.
he went on. 81 have unearthed a song
for YOU. Come and sing. Do you know
this9" He played the prelude While he
spoke You must know it, for your
great grandmother sang it-no. I didn't
hear her your thought is lbelous-but
she must have sung it, and you belong
to your great grandmother You can
say what you like but you are no more
modern than music itself. And if you
do not sing this song as well as you
can sing anything-tor what that is
worth; and Cod forbid that 1 should
worth much-nor is my age; I dare you
to suggest it, Where were we2 Well.
Well! Come and sing. Now, kindly tell
me you know it,
He left off playing, but he hummed
the opening lines in soft, flexible bari
tone
b. My mother bids me bind my hair
With bands Of rosy hue.
..r,,s Mind v-o,,7 basrt pfnd ,you4
hairi How often have I told you that
ribbon in the hair is the surest lure TO
all masculine hearts2 With dark hair
YOU haven't got bad hair: there are
some middhng tasteful curls to It.. even
and a rosy ribbon round 1T, ana you
Knight be wearing my heart as an orna-
neut as well, and yet you go obstinate
~ unbound! Come. bindl Come, bind
You are not my mother laughed
fine girl but she came to his side ana
lent her voice to his music. Almost 1t
seemed a pity that so much faultless
Sound should be spent on room other
wise empty; but at any rate, the man
putting his soul into the simple, Olu
World tune as was his incurable fash
ion with whatever he played. was yet
alert for every note, every shade or eN-
preston i'm the wonderful. clear voice
he followed Nothing of its charm was
lost to him. although, as it turned out,
there We're things he would WlIilngly
have lost, even at the expense or music
welded to dramatic expression, as ne
vas Always pl saeiliI-e ~ go e'' - cor
OF mere W es y '7s.i ms . - ,t5 b1,t
row ana neai " 20 80 = a. az,
rear r sleal, 30 20 y -. "a he
almost llilpeIgep .lole - Ia Z ~ +I1
hle" en- ~ ~ u p - - -,,fs9t1t he
81 nel agti-s -ot I..i, ..-7 -i7ifs1,I11
AoI olneIs' yer - i,s 80 - e.
many AiAliS7- ~ - s+ersif1y
u iath ol eliy1 - ~ 80 - -S,t,;,1l al ne
mere leats q 100 .is - .,.il.Ii-, atove
pure Ut - llo1e@ - ~ ~, ~ ,,,;s -I'e7,
ana so ne lecoAtltAeo tlie C''.ei7iol1 -