Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-10-19

making fortune by music" he said.
She was silent for moment, and
then said. But royalties on compo-
sitions should bring In large in
| come -
81 have published twenty or thirty
little pieces" he said, with smile,
land can lay my hand on my heart
and state that have never earned as
many pounds out of the lot
Her face clouded sympathetically.
"And yet you go on working?" she
said.
81 write stuff because like writ
ing it." he said simply. Charles Rar-
nard always spoke OF his work as
STUFF; he was perhaps one of the
most genuinely modest men in the
world.
81 suppose teaching pays best" she
remarked.
ION the whole it doAs," he said,
some men make quite respectable
incomes by it."
He didn't mention that he had new
er had occasion to give music les
son in his life, because he was not
given to discussing himself.
ut must be terrible to be obliged
to waste ones powers and energy on
the drudgery of an art, when one has
capacity for really good work." she
said wistfully.
ut is, he said thinking of one or
two good fellows he knew, who were
struggling for fame in the midst of
poverty. Il know more than one man
who might turn out really excellent
work il he didn't have to earn liv-
ing"
And she treasured the saying in
her heart, thinking it applied to him.
self
They fingered on for nearly a
month in the cheap little hotel-for it
was outside the beat of the ordinary
touristdaily becoming more neces
sary to each other.
OF course. he didn't propose. Men
seldom propose in real life. But II
came to much the same thing in the
long run. One night they were stroll
ling back to the hotel. She was tired
and he made her take his arm. There
happened to be no othar visitors
about and they went out on the yer
anda and gazed at the mountain they
had climbed some half dozen times
He put her. arm around her waist
and she submitted. 1t had not occur
red to him to do such thing before
and if he had she would probably
have laughed at him and called hin
to order. But the psychological mo
ment had arrived. When she wished
him goodnight, he kissed her. She
laughed at him softly, but not WORD
was said about deep, dignified pas
SION,
Pm afraid this mountain air il
getting into our heads" she said.
makes one feel ripping, doesn'
ie?" he said unpoetically.
But the following morning he spok
of their being married as II it wa
al arranged.
4 Are we going to be married." sh
asked, raising her eyebrows.
1--WE are, If you think you can trus
yourself with me" he observed.
Il think might be willing to d
that" she said quietly, "if you reall
wish It,"
81 do" he replied. 81 have neve
before told a woman loved her"
you haven't mentioned 1t to m
yet" she said with twinkle in he
eyes; "but think understand wha
you mean. What about your career?
He looked at her in establishment
Ills career? He had never heard o
1t. and would not have thought o
using such word.
Perhaps mymy- money may he'll
you to make name" she said, rathe
timidly.
Then he understood. 1t accounte
for one or two odd remarks she ha
3. made. She believed him to be
struggling musician, fighting Ion
odds.
But I hope you don't reckon o
my becoming famous" he said.
don't know that 1 have ever trie
to be, though will buck up, if 70
wish it. But you ought 20 understan
that have not been hampered b
lack of funds"
Then he gave a rough idea of til
very satisfactory state of his finance
What a shame" she said.
thought 1 was going to help stru
Cling genius"
"You may help struggling man
he said gravely, "but not a strugglir
genius"
81 had accepted; you insisted upo
It," she said laughing. But I'm n,
at all offended at hearing the trr
/. state of affairs. At least We ca
never suspect one another of bein
, mercenary."
They were strolling back to IL
> hotel after morning ramble.
Il Suppose we go in and have SON
music" he said. isn't it funny,
haven't heard you play since the da
/ arrived?"
She turned scarlet from her chi
to her brow. but he did not obsery
1t.
II remember standing and listenin
to it," he continued happily. Il b
lieve my heart went out to you /;
once. Hullo! What's the matter;
She turned white. IT have d
ceived you horribly" she said. "B,
really, hardly gave it a thought.
can't play the piano at all"
He looked at her in astonishmen
"Then who was it?" he asked. 'I'
swear there hasn't been any one sta.
ing at the hotel with touch lil
that"
at was one of those mechanic,
things, she said weakly. "You know
you wind them up and they strih
notes. lit had been sent to til
l <