The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-05-01

script and prepared for some hours
Of solid work.
Hello, how did Monsieur Daubert
get back SO soon :? Well. that was his
business. l was glad Of the cause.
whatever it was.
l put down pen and pencil, ana
prepared to enjoy my usual concert,
as the light fingers rippled over a pre-
lude, all the o so, that soon ST.
lence would reign in the room next
door.
Sitting in a dimly lit room, close to
the open door Of the balcony, and
looking out at a food OF moonlight,
resting calm and white over the quiet
cid street aud ancient buildings, my
neighbours melodies zane like the
farewell of IL long known, whose
absence would leave a strange void.
1t was fast approaching the hour
whep Monsieur usually left off play
ing.
a cab, rapidly driven, stopped be-
fore the front door. There were
voices, hurried steps and a slight cry,
and that indefinite commotion which
indicates trouble of some sort.
/ ran down stairs and asked the
driver what was the matter.
Zone Of the musicians at the French
opera got into Il little trouble" the
man explained.
Nothing much, only there had been
some stabbing. He was brought
home by his friends. He had been
drinking. He'd be all right in the
morning."
Two men coming out of my neigh
boris door, speaking volubly in
French, corroborated the mans state
ment.
l went back, turned on the cleo
trio lights and prepared for an hour
or two of hard work, wondering over
what seemed rather inexplicable.
1t was quite late when there was a
light, hurried knock at the door.
I'm afraid he is very i'll. He is so
restless, and he does not recognize
me. / can't leave him, and I saw the
light over here, So thought"
| stood silent, too much amazed at
the beauty of the face before me, to
answer her timid request, until a soft
color like a pink flame swept over it
and her great grey eyes filled with
tears.
Il beg your pardon a thousand
times,'I said hurriedly. "Of course
L will do anything in the world for
Monsieur Daubert. 1 am sure o
are needlessly alarmed. If you will
let me go to him l can Judge better
what to do
: We went down stairs and over into
my neighbours room, which was bare
and forlorn, al Erard piano standing
against the partition wall.
On a poor, little cot Mr.. Daubert
lay, m%uttering and tossing.
Nothing to be alarmed about" I
said. arranging a bandage through
which blood had oozed.
She knelt by him, and leaning her
head near him, murmured soothing
~, while stroking his restless hands.
"Who is She" 1 wondered, doing
what | could to relieve him, before
going for Il physician and nurse.
When I came back with both I
learned that the wound was not Sc
rious.'
His habits, like all these Bohemian
musicians, + evidently very bad.
The MIN is. a hard drinker. But
Tell be all over tin a few days." nv
friend Bolton said, writing out a pre-
scription, after giving directions.
THAT daughter of his is the most
perfectly beautiful woman I ever saw.
Splendid, too. She's devoted to him.
and miles superior to him. Good old
stock, but he's gone to the dogs. and
she follows him all over the country
to take car of him. Strangers? No
indeed, I've known 'em for a
Bolton added, as we went down the
hall together.
"Why, I've told Alma a hundred
times she ought to marry me instead
OF supporting that, her gooed-for-
nothing father, teaching music and
nursing him when he gets into trou-
bic. She's the greatest pianist I ever
heard and the grandest woman I
know"
The front door closed ON Bolton.
who promised to come early in the
morning, and I went slowly back to
the bare room where the wounded
man lay.
''The nurse says she won't have you.
That you must go to bed" I
said, gently taking Alma's hand and
leading her away.
We nursed him together for a few
days and he recovered.
1--WE leave tomorrow" Alma said.
leaning her folded arms on the iron
railing of the balcony that last even
ing | recall SO well. She was looking
musingly out at the ancient old CITY.
and narrow, lamp-M streets, softened
by faint mists, and the shadows Of
night.
But I will never forget your kind.
ness" she said softly.
.'You will come back2. I asked
slowly.
sOh, yes, some day-when we are
married 2 she added, smiling, while a