Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-12-26
CHAPTER ".

sist upon obedience, he found the bed
room door locked against him. He re-
served to himself the right to express his
opinion with regard to this open defiance
later on, and controlling himself without
much difliculty--for he was one of those
people who need to say how indignant
they are before they can get up any
great force of steam--he descended to his
companions. They were easily contented
with his apologies. and were. indeed.
rather pleased than otherwise to he freed
from the restrictions a hostess presence
would have imposed upon them.
Hacketts cOnvivcs were four In mum.
Der. Two were old cronies of his--by
no means the pick of his old acquaint-
ances. but such as fate and his own
courses had left to him: and the other
two were strangers to him, found In
hts friends companionship Oh that days
race course.
my friends friends" said VIII. with
bis own genial and delightful swagger,
ARE mine. won't offer you amOntil-
lado and turtle. gentlemen. but plain fare
aed hearty welcome you can have
There are people who do not care Tor
these sudden expansions Of the heart;
but then. on the other hand. there are
people who do. and Mr.. Hacketts new
acquaintance happened to belong to the
latter type. They said they would be
delighted, nnd they accepted with almost
M much effnsion NJ Will himself had
displayed in his invitation. They were
In all the better humor with themselves,
and with the world ut large. because the
days ventures had been prosperous; and
they were all the more pleased with their
host because his inspirations had for once
In n way led him to choose. the right
horses. and they had followed his lead.
''And now. VIII, my lad" said one Of
them when the cloth was cleared away,
before we settle down I've a favor to
ask you. This gentleman Is mighty
fine judge OF music. He ought TO be,
for he ran the opera In New York for
three years-tlidn't you, Bob?--and /
particularly want him to hear you sing.
In fact. it's treat I've. as good rs
promised him-hnvcn't I. BobY'
This gentleman was bald man In
spectacles and evening dress. He hnd
apologized on arrival for the character
Of his costume by saying that he had
been obliged to look In ut the thcater In
the great town hard by for an hour or
two; md Hackett had been told. with
an air Of mystery and Importance. that
he had his eye on a singing chambermnid
there, and had half mind to engage
her. The great man said. with no par
ticular enthusiasm. that he should like
very much indeed to hear Mr.. Hackett
sing.
I'm not In particularly good voice
lately" said viii. but Ill do my best
for YOU"
Tho entreprencur leaned back In his
chair and prepared to suffer. His ex.
perience had made him familiar with the
amateur tenor, and he dreaded him as
the burnt child breads the fire.
At this ebh Of his fortunes Hackett
hailed with all his heart the chance Of
singing before such man as this. He
displayed no eagerness. but he had too
much tact to make the common fuss,
and wait for the usual eager pressure.
lie sauntcred to the piano. and careless
~ turned over heap Of music there. He
decided that he would not sing more
than once unless the important parsonage
especially pressed him.
Before he had sung through the hfst
line the man Of music roseNsOftly from
his chair, and dropping his elbows noise
lessly on the mantel.board suffered his
chin to fall upon his hands and put his
heart into his ears. From first to last
not flaw. Tone. phrasing and express
sion absolutely just. The listener had
heard finer voices. but he could count
them Oh the fingers Of one hand. What
pleased him, even more than the voice,
was the management Of It.
The tender, melting rapture Of the cap
tivating rascal's voice reached his wife
M she lay sobbing In her bedroom. He
warbled on. never thinking Of her, and
charming all listeners ears but hers and
one others.
Ned Blame must needs torture himself.
M happens with most young men who
find themselves In similar case. He
rould have made choice among score
of streets and lanes to stroll In II he
fad a fancy for getting wet through
and by this time the threatening storm
had burst, and the warm summer rain
Ind soaked him to the skin In the first
live minutes of its fall. but he must
torment himself by being near his suf-
fering idol, whom he had no right or
mower to comfort, and by the grim hate
which was taking root In every fiber Of
him against the man to whom she was
tied. And the song which struck up rs
he was passing for the fifth or sixth time
made such an appeal to him as any man
of common sympathy can understand.
When the song was over three of the
slngers guests were noisy In apprOba-
ton. The important man turned his
back to the fireplace, and for Il while
said nothing. BY and by, when the 9th
ers had done with their compliments. he
spoke.
"Mr. Hackett," he said. Twill you be
90 good as to tell me where You studied!'
"Oh." Will answered. Il never studied
ut all, to speak Of. My grandfather
went through three or four years In
Italy. He taught my father, and my
father taught me, what little bit he
knew"
"Ah," said the stranger, "you come of
musical family. What was your
fathers nameY"
"Hackett, of course" said viii.
"Of course" the other answered smil.
ingy. But his stage namcY"
my father had no stage name," said
Master Win, rather haughtily.
"He was the biggest land owner for
some ten miles around" said one Of the
young men.
II beg pardon. Did You ever think of
Varying that fine voice Of your own to
market, Mr.. HackettY
mo-" said Hackett, carelessly, finger
- the pages Of his music and looking
sOund unOl, his Otlosttouar M ha Ala ao