The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-11
STORY OF The TOWN.

= The morning sun pouring through the
stained glass windows of the church,
was filling the sanctuary with a many
colored glory. The young foreigner. Ru-
dolph Strauss. was playing softly on
his VIOLIN while the voices of the choir
sung the great TIE Deum
Rudolph's eyes were fixed on the fig
ure of a saint at the top of one of the
windows. Rudolph had been playing to
The saint for two Sundays now. To his
music enraptured mind the saint seemed
TO be listening to the tones of his violin.
and to be smiling in a sort of benehcent
appreciation.
one of the choir boys struck a false
note, and, feeling as though he had
been pin-pricked, Rudolph Strauss let
his eyes fall from the face of the smil-
ing saint to cast them toward the Of
fender. Midway between the painted
window and the choir stall the violinists
glance was arrested by the face of a
fair young woman in the front pew.
During the rest of the service Rudolph
forgot his saint and played for the fair
living worshiper just beyond the rood
screen.
Rudolph Strauss had been in the
country less than two years, and had
played in the church less than two
4 IloItuS. Little was known OF MN, save
that he played his violin with something
of the touch of a master.
Margaret Stoddard, the daughter of
the president of the Bankers Loan and
Trust company, occupied with her faith
er and mother the front pew at the
church. The violinist had been playing
with all his soul to Margaret for three
successive Sundays before she felt in
some subtle way that the stranger musi-
clan was directing his music at her The
av,1 Oh, IL
ed at the young man. catching his eyes
with their intense burning expression
fixed full upon her face.
Margaret Stoddard felt uncomfortab BILE.
There was a meeting of the Guild of the
Holly Innocence on the Friday evening
following, and there some one introduce
ed Rudolph Strauss to Margaret Stod-
dard. The musician Gid little but look
at her. with a sort of a yearning gaze
in his eyes, listening the while in rapt
attention to the few commonplaces
which fell from her lips
The next Sunday Margaret StOddard
was still more uncomfortable. She
knew that every note that came trem-
bling from the violin was intended for
her, and Margaret was nothing of an
egOtist. There was another church
meeting that week in the parish house,
and Margaret attended. The musician,
with his soulful look did not leave her
side for an instant, though the girl
gave him not the slightest encourage
AltAl ~ remain. lnIee Gays later. IN
the afternoon. Mrs. Henry Stoddard,
Margarets mother, received a card
bearing the name, Rudolph Strauss"
Margaret" she said, this is the
young man who plays the violin Come
down to the parlor with me-"
What on earth does he want with
you, motherY queried Margaret. Il
don't wish to see him; he's horribly un-
interesting, and sort of uncanny as
WELL
You had better come down. my
dear answered her mother
They entered the parlor. Rudolph
Strauss was standing in the middle of
the room. The instant the mother and
daughter entered he said: Madam.
this can go on no longer. I love your
daughter, and 1 have reason to believe
oh, ohr' said Margaret. in a half
scream, and then she stamped her foot
and rushed out of the room.
But have seen her looking at me
In church at least twice, Mrs Stod-
dard,' said the violinist, land then she
has been very polite to me-"
Mrs Stoddard got rid Of him after a gen
lie manner of her own, and then sought
out Margaret.
Have you ever given this young foreign
er fragment my dear?'' she asked
Never one whit" answered Margaret
more than Indignantly.
well, my child I've heard these foreign
ers are queer. especially when they are
musically inclined, and now l know it
Mrs stoddard had given young. Strauss
not call upon Margaret again. Three nights
later when the girl was returning home
from another church affair Rudolph sud
denly appeared in front of her on the
'Margaret, Margaret" he said. please
forgive me. please forgive me, or I can
never play again
Margaret stoddard was much more than
mar frightened at the musicians manner.
You must go away she said. You must
not stop me like this" She passed him
and hurried on, and reaching home, she
told the experience to her mother
Ine next day Mrs Stoddard wrote note
30 the violinist telling him that he must
cease annoying her daughter. Within four
hours large box addressed to Margaret
Btoddard reached the house The girl OPEN
ed & and found within the ruins of the
violin
Margaret was frightened She showed
the package to mother and said: Mann
ma, am afraid of man who will 90 to
such lengths this
Then 1t was that Henry Stoddard tool. a
hand in the matter. He wrote Rudolph
Gtrauss that he must cease annoying Miss
Margaret Stoddard or the police would be
notified. IN the next days mail Banker
St0ddard received a bill made out like
Henry stoddard. Dr.. to Rudolph Strauss.