Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1904-11-04

young ana lfCSn ana I1iT, rs She nad
looked the day Carl first saw her,
standing under the linden trees.
It was on n rainy afternoon the
vision came TO me. The museum was
deserted. and | was running over in
my mind "A solo in the first violin part
of the Messiah, For into Us a Child
Is Born pretending to browse to es-
cape the senilr whimpcrings of the old
Amati. All n once she Was standing
squartly in iron, Of me.
OF course, | realized after the first
shock that 1t was not "A dream, and
that the girl was flesh and blood, and
not my Elsa at all it had been Is
years and more since | had left her
uying in the little home. She was as
like her, though, as one could well i'm
aginc two people to be alikc-the
same eye and shiny hair. and a look
that reminded me Of Carl, too, ana sent
u great wave Of hOmcsichncss and
longing all over me.
What "A grand old VIOLIN" she said,
softly, To herself; IA real Stradiyarius.
TOO She walked up to the glass,
and continued, shaking her finger AT
me. How are you, old MIR. Stradlyal-
JUS? You look awfully proud and
stir and naughty, hanging there ali
by yourself, | am sure il you belonged
to me | should never dare to touch YOU,
and should never care half so much
Tor you as ! do for my own Staincr.
You must be like the VIOLIN
Just here a boy came hurrying into
the room and interrupted her. Rather
4 n~icc-loOkinE boy he was, and | saw
in a minute from the way the two
looked at each other that they were
SW"cthcartS-l have seen that
same look pass between Elsa and Carl
many times.
See this old violin, Fritz" she said,
eagerly. I'VE must bring Papa to
look at it," And out they went,
hand in hand.
They were away so long tina, |
made" up my mind they We're like all
the visitors. and hat something else
had caught their attention, so that
they had forgotten mc-and | was
sorry, for the girl was so like Elsa |
wanted to look at her again. But |
was wrong.
Back they camc AGAIN, and this time
not alone. Following them came a
man and a woman, and although the
man's fac" was furrowcd and his fair
hair plcntifulIy silvcrcd, ! knew him
at "A glance. as if anything in this
world could ever make me forget
He was Carl.-my Carl and wonder
Of wonders. the woman walking by his
side was the real Elsa the one | had
mOuIn"d as dead. In a flash | guessed
tt" truth. This other Elsa, with the
dancing eyes. waa she for whom |
crooncd the luliabys long ago in the
ll'tlc home, and for whose sake !
had been "A willing sacrifice: ! had no
need to hear her call the other Elsa
Carts Elsa-mothcr.
"Fathcr," sh" said. pointing al me,
II want You 10 look a this old violin.
II must b" like the one you used to
have, that mother says You sold to save
her life Dho Stradiyarius you could
never find again DO You sec the plate
on this cabinet Autunus Stradiyarius,
1882"
Can You imagine my feelings, with
Carl my very own. unforGottcn Carl
looking straight AT me- Would he
know me, after all these years? Vain
~ | tried to swing a little, that the
might see the ScaT on my back that
come there the night of tho accident.
but | could not move.
Suddenly | saw his lear eyes flash
with the tender. loving look | rcmcm-
bcrod so well, and his face went white
Elsa" he cried. "Mcin Colt, II
is the little sweetheart, at last"
We'll, there was "A connection then,
YOU can well believe. Carl rushed OFF
lie "A wild man to find the supcrin-
tcndcnt of the museum, and the two
Elsas cried in each others arms.
Ihc boy? Well, he got rather cXcit.
Cd. and walking up to me-, said, very
Grand and earnest, say, old fellow,
10 sou know what's happened"
You're found, and you're coming out
OF thai case ia dOublc-quick time. Herr
Seedlings. who is director OF the con
~&cryatCry (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
-. Carl soon found The su%pcrintcnd-
cnl. and dragged him in front OF my
cnaG. tclIiME him my hlnrY. lie Maa