Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-06-26
THE LITTLE FIDDLER.
"Fate's a Fiddler. y,


moan of doves in immemorial elms. -
followed by the liquid lament of a night
ingale. scurry of soft notes like sum-
mer rain dropped from the strings into
silence. and the end came with repe-
ttion of the child's laugh.
Gypsy, every note Of it," an eminent
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 a gypsy but for his face.
And his name, too, Is pure SaXon-Anglo-
Saxon at that
rs it, papa" his daughter Madge
said. with a swift glance at the little
fiddler, now rendering wild bizarre
movement, half dance and half march.
ITS an odd name too: Godfrith AK. |
don't think | like it, and / don't think
| like his face either; it's so sallow and
plain"
Look at his eyes, my dear
! so / have, and don't want to do it
again. papa; they give me the creeps,'
Madge whispered back. But he's n
wonderful player
AYE. he is that; wonder where he
comes from? | am interested in his
name-pure Anglo-SaXon Madge; think
of it,"
Perhaps he's a ghost or something
of the sort" commented Madge. tlippant-
Is. "Anglicize his name little, please,
/ papa; it's too Saxon for me-
Godfrey Oak; that Is the modern Eng
lish of IT, my dear; and there is no
verb Anglo. said the professor, dryly.
as the violin piece ended and a little
rustic went through the crowded room.
Yes, that is the last. Come, Madge.
my dear. Why. Hoffman,. | never eX-
pected 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 won't
offered her hand with a smile to the
specialized young German her father had
taken by the arm.
How is Mrs. Hoffman,? Better. I
hope. And your boy?"
Clara Is as well as she will ever he
Miss Dormer." Ernest Hoffman, said
not too cordially. she will never walk
again, the doctor says. but she is strong
er and patient-she is always that you
know"
Il do know" Madge said, with a catch
in her breath. Il knew Clara before
you did, Mr. Hoffman,. and l can bear
witness to her sweetness"
you did. l beg your pardon, Miss
Dormer.' Ernest hoffman, flushed a
little.
The professor. mildly uneasy. put in
a half apologize remark, after the blund-
| ering masculine fashion. "Madge is
very fond OF your wife. Hoffman,: al
ways was through all.
II appreciate Miss Dormer's devotion. d"
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.. Hofmanns mag
nanimity' she said. icily. Papa. we
shall be late If We don't hurry. Goodby
Mr.. Hoffman,; my kind love to Clara
Oh by-the-bye. how is Ulric?"
Uric is ill.," Ernest Hoffman, said.
shortly. Mr.. Dormer, moment Can
you tell me where Godfrith Ak is stay
ing?"
"Signor Ludovico is at the Alexandra
Hotel and AK is with him. of course,
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.
Il suppose she thinks a clerk had no
right to marry her cousin. An Clara
does not think so-yet. How that lad
played-no wonder Uric dreams of him.
Ard wonder If he will come
The wonder remained when he sat in
the luxurious sitting room at the Alex
! andra. facing the impresariO. a big,
! handsome Italian with an enormous
beard
Yes. his playing is a marvel" Sgnor
Ludovico said, placidly scanning Hoff-
manns shabby figure; but | have
brought forward several marvels in my
time That reminds me-" with a glance
at the clock. my time is limited a pres
ent. You will pardon me, Mr., Hoff-
man. | am sure"
My business isl came to ask favor.
Sisnor Ludovico." Ernest Hoffman,
said. desperately My little son is very
i'll; he has not slept for four nights. and
all his cry is for Godfrith Ak"
n cd
DIR Herr says if Uric could hear him
! play it might cure him
| Il fail to see how it can be managed 80
the impresario said. with a smile. DO
| you. Mr. Hoffmann?'
Let Godfrth AK come and play to
/ my boy" Ernest Hoffman pleaded.
| THAT j. the only way.
An impossible way" the impresario
! said. harshlY. quite impossible, l will
| not have my market cheapened God
/ fritn AXIS plaYing has its market value
But. my boy
! What do | care for your boy? Here
| have | bred up Godfrith and brought
/ him out and | will not have him go
| playing to every ailing child in London.
/ ! tell voI | will not have IL. Besides,
/ Godfrith is i'll, himself, Mr.. Hoffman Oh"
slid smoothly into a different tone); it
/ is IMPOSSIBLE
! lie must come, said Ernest. duly.
! He is ill.," the impresario said, fierce
Is: do you hear? He shall not go.
/ MY boy is dying, I tell you" Ernest
said, as fiercey, and he must come, l
will pay 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, and met the
little tiddier's grave, dark eyes.
You are III, Godfrith," he saba con-
trolling his anger with an effort. Mr..
Hoffmann will not persist when he sees
that"
The boy did look i'll; even Ernest Hof-
mann's short sighted eyes could see how
hollow the thin cheeks We're and how
darkly the shadows lay under the gray
eyes.
Godfrith AK laughed slightly and
shrugged his shoulders. II am well
enough to play. am always well
enough for that, impresario Is your
son very III. Mr. Hoffmann?"
Very ILL.," Ernest said, sadly. "Will
you come. then?'
Il will come" Godfrith said, quietly
Signor Ludovico caught his arm angrily
Il forbid it, Godfrith; 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 GOODNESS
things, but you cannot either make me
choose"
rp1,n faca uraS nrr,,la with