Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-11-03

Of wonders, the woman walking by his
side was the real Elsa-the one l had
mourned as dead. In a fash I guessed
the truth. This other Elsa, with the
dancing eyes, was she for whom l
crooned the lullabys long ago in the
little home, and for whose sake /
had been a willing sacrifice; 1 had no
need to hear her call the other Elsa
Carl's Elsa-mother.
Father" she said, pointing at me,
II want you to look at this old violin.
II must be like the n you used to
have. that mother says you sold to save
her 1ife-the ~Stradivarius you could
never find again. Do you see the plate
on this cabinet-'Antonus Stradivarius,
1892"
Can you imagine my feelings, with
Carl-my very own, unforgotten Carl
looking straight at me? Would he
know me, after all these years? Vain
ly l tried to swing a little, that the
might see the scar on my back that
come there the night of the accident,
but I could not nov
Suddenly l saw his dear eyes flash
with the tender, loving look I remem-
bered so well, and his face went white.
"Elsa!" he cried. "Mein Colt! it
is the little sweetheart, at last"
Well, there was a commotion then,
you can well believe. Carl rushed off
like a wild man to find the superin-
tendent of the museum, and the two
Elsas cried in each others arms.
The boy? Well, he got rather excit-
| ed, and walking up to me, said, very
grand and earnest, "Say, old fellow,
do you know what's happened?
You're found, and you're coming out
of that case in double-quick time. Her
Schillings, who Is director of the con-
%servatory (his arm is just as well as
it ever was, thanks to the money you
brought him) is going to have you
back and play on you again. Does all
that interest you and disturb your
dreams, old Antonius Stradivarius,
1892"
Matters turned out very wonderful
ly. Carl soon found the superintend-
ent, and dragged him in front of my
case, telling him my story. He was
very much interested, and t%elephoned
at once for a certain Herr Ludwig
Walberg, whom it appeared was now
my owner, the mar who had purchased
Inc from Carl being Herr Walberg's
brother, and dead for many years. l
had been left in the museum because
my present owner, not wishing to sell
me, had not known what else to do.
He came after a time, and Carl offered
him so much money for me that If ]
told you the amount you would have
hard work believing me truthful; but
Herr Walberg refused every offer. Ht
sympathized with Carts desire to re
gain possession Of me, yet out of re-
spect for his brothers wish that
should remain always in the museum
where ] had been placed he said HI
could not think of selling me at any
price.
He was obstinate, l was in despair
and Carls face was like lead. Finally
Carl asked-so longingly-to be al
lowed to play on me once more.
could have jumped for joy when
heard old Ludwig say yes. If he hat
a heart, this funny, wizene6 little oil
man-and his love for his brother
memory looked like tiff he had eve
loved and suffered and lost, l promises
myself that my cause and Carts wa
won.
Softly l began to talk to him. | toll
him in my W way land such a wa
it was, for the children Of the maste
violin-maker are well nigh divine whel
they sing with their hearts, of m,
love for Carl and his for me; of tn
old days; of Elsa and the little HON
and the bitter sorrow that parted us
of the joy that might yet be.
Carl nestled his chin closer and close
to me as l sang, right on the spot wher
his parting tears had fallen that awfr
day long ago, and my voice reache
out and grasped the heart-strings c
Herr Walberg, working my will wit
them, until the quiet room rang wit
. harmony. -
With tears trimming down his wrinb
t led cheeks, the old man grasped Carl
, arm. stop, Herr Schilling!" he CRIED
%piteously; stop, for the love of HEAVIER
| | cannot bear it any more. 1t Is a.
, the sorrows of the world. 1t is NJ
brothers voice that l shall neve hea
, again. Take the violin. I give it
you freely and without price-m
brother would use it so. You are
t genius, Herr Schilling; and the Stra
-ach! it has a living soul"
Tucked under Carl's arm, in the sam
shabby old box in the familiar wa
3 I loved, I left the museum, tired an
shaken, but happy, oh, so happy
Dreaming of the times to come, whe
l l should hear again the rush an
l swing of the great chorus, the rythl
Of the mighty orchestra, and feel til
r expectant hush just before l. lifted i
S my m~atchless voice alone in the S
: lence of the breathless people, and the
the crash Of the %thunderous hant
< clapping. But above all, I should
{ with Carl.-Farm and Fireside.
Town Lost al Cards.
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