Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-05-25


And then came the greatest triumph
of all, when the girl took the poem he
had returned and handed it to him.
IF you care for it, Mr.. Nanders."
she said, you may have it. While |
was writing it l wished it might be
sung"
. So Nanders took the poem home with
him. and for Il week buried himself in
his room. Time after time he rewrote
the music He worked day and night
increasingly, feverishly. Bars Of mu-
sic. crying, sobbing, waiing. burst
from the piano in his room. Grotesque
strains and combinations of notes
might be heard through his window,
sometimes in the evening. sometimes
few minutes before daybreak.
Then one day the song was finished.
For the last time he played it over on
the piano, softly humming the words.
Somehow it failed to satisfy him. Per
haps it was the constant practice that
had made him tire of it; perhaps he
had not reached his ideal.
He arranged with Il noted singer to
produce it at the vaudeville house the
following week. Then he called on
Miss Merton and invited her to attend
the theater with him. She was there
to hear the music for the first time.
The girl was radiant that evening.
More than once John Nanders caught
himself staring admiringly at her. Once
she unexpectedly turned her head and
looked straight at him with her great
brown eyes. 1t made him think of
some perfect chord Of music, that
throbbed and throbbed through his
heart.
Suddenly the pipe organ began to
play new air, softly, sweetly. 1t was
their song.
Its ours" he told her, yours and
mine"
She looked at his face all aglow
with expectancy, and down in her
heart she feared. His hand, nervously
rowing over the arm Of his seat, touch
ed hers and closed about it. SO, hand
in hand, like two children, they sat
through the song. And when it was
ended and the meager applause came
tardily she felt the hand Of the man
CULVER in disappointment. The song
had failed.
Slowly and silently they walked out
of the theater. Not till they were in
the carriage did John Nanders speak.
1T lacks something" he said; 1T
lacks some hing; l don't know what"
Yet it was almost'-she stumbled
about for word-"almost grand"
almost" He turned savagely to-
ward her. Gas well an utter failure as
mediocre. tell you it failed"
The girl drew her breath sharply.
She was not in the habit Of having
men speak roughly to her.
John Vanders OWNED at once that
he had hurt the girl. and it came to
him with Overpowering suddenness
left With the warm impulsiveness
that characterized him, he took her
hand.
Il beg your pardon" he said, grave
ly. 81 did not mean to wound you, but
the song meant so much to me-"
II know" he answered; "it was half
yours"
20, l didn't mean that" she said,
softly. But l was sorry for your
sake"
He leaned toward her.
"Alice," he said, there is one thing
would rather possess than all the sue
hn
brought me. 1t is your love-"
Il am glad" she whispered, that
the song failed If my love can take
the place Of its success"
1t was we'll after midnight when
John Nanders reached his room. On
his face there was no mark Of the fail
ure. Instead he was radiantly happy.
Without Il seconds delay he seated
himself at his desk with pile Of mu-
sic ruled paper before him. One note
followed another in rapid succession
till the first few strains We're done.
Then he rose and played the air on the
piano. 1t was the music Of which he
had dreamed.
Daylight had flooded the room before
lie llIlSHtu, DuI wien at IuSC he rose
he breathed a sigh of relief. After all
his work he had finally accomplished
something at least self-satisfying.
They sat at the theater one evening
soon afterward. both happy. both filled
with hope. Once more the great pipe
organ began to play. Once more, as he
had done before, the man said: ITS
ours. yours and mine" Then the first
notes of the song welled out and the
whole audience listened reverently
When the song ended the house was
a bedlam Of noise. People clapped
their hands. stamped their feet, whis-
tied, cried, applauded in every conceiv-
able manner. Again and again they
encored the singer When at last quiet
reigned the man turned to the girl and
repeated the words:
Its ours, yours and NINE"
ut Is grand" said the girl; ut only
fell short before for want Of-for want
Of"
For want of love-" finished the man.
Elmira Telegram.