The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-05-22

My father, naturally concluding that
our guest was some celebrated maestro
who had arrived incognito, fastened to
thank him for the favor he had con-
ferred upon us and to offer him his
hospitality during his stay in the town.
The Man in Blue at first refused, then
hesitated, and finally accepted our
pressing invitation.
We paid him every attention, and
by his gentle manners and delightful
talent he soon won our affection. But
every attempt to find out who he was
and whence he came proved vain; he
took no notice of our hints, and not
one of us dared ask him the questions
direct. He set himself to work to
teach me a great many things con-
cerning the violin, and to this curious
man owe many of my subsequent
and greatest triumphs.
If a stranger happened to pay us a
visit, our new friend would Immediate
ly take refuge In the garden. He liked
to he alone with Karl, myself and
''Fortunato' One day a merchant
named Krebbs came on some matter of
business he had to transact with my
father, and stumbled upon the Man in
Blue, who was making good his escape.
The poor violinist on seeing Merchant
Krebbs turned as pale as death, and,
covered with confusion, tottered to a
bench, hiding his face in his hands.
"Well, declare" said Krebbs to
my father, "you are an odd man to re-
ceive that creature into your family.
Why, thought he was in prison or in
a lunatic asylum, or drowned or run
over"
"Do you know him, then?" asked my
father with ill-disguised curiosity.
"Know him! OF course l do. His
name is Beze and he is by trade car
penter. But, bless you, he's as mad
as March hare. Some time ago our
church organ was struck bg lightning.
Beze came forward at once and pro-
posed to mend it, provided the parish
furnish him the materials. As he was
known for a good musician and a
clever workman, our pastor granted
his request. To work went be and
slaved night and day for at least six
weeks. At last the organ was mended,
Beze struck few cords, and it sounded
better than ever. The day arrived for
the first public hearing OF the reno
waited instrument; the mayor and all
the village was present, and B, re him
self did not fail to appear attired in
his usual blue. Blue is his color. He
made some vow or other years ago to
the Virgin never to wear any other
than her colors-blue and white. l
tell you be is crazy. But to return to
the organ. When the organist began
to play upon it, devil of sound would
it produce, except when he pulled the
new stop out. Off went the organ
whoo! whee, and then it set to squeak
ing and whistling like mad. The girls
began to laugh, the mayor to swear,
and the pastor-well, he became fran
tic, poor man. Beze is tool, an idiot.
He has ruined the organ cried every
one. And soon, amid the derision of
the congregation your friend left the
church. Strange to say, since that
day we have never seen the creature,
but our organ is completely spoilt and
remains as silent as the tomb"
Thus spoke Merchant Krebbs. l
could hear no more, but hurried out to
console our poor friend. found him
sitting all torlorn under an apple tree,
his face turned toward the setting sun.
"Ah! my good young friend" he cried,
"do you see yon little cloud which ob-
scures the splendor of the sun? So
the words of a foolish man may tarnish
the fame of genius"
"But," replied, "sce the little cloud
has already vanished and the sun is all
the brighter for the contrast.
He smiled. "The clouds that hang
over my tarnished name will have to
pass away soon, or it will be too late
That organ l reconstructed has soul
within it. All my life l have worked
hard to lodge my ideal of music within
the compass Of single instrument. !
have done this. The soul is there, but
l know not how to play upon the Or
gan, and in their blind rage they will
not allow me to explain the mechanism
of the instrument to them. Oh! that
l could find Sebastian Bach! He would
awaken the soul Of music that lies
asleep in my organ and prove to tie
world that B q is neither mad nor an
impostor."