The progress., 1904-07-02
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By S. Rhett Roman.
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I SAW the piano being carried II
l next door, as / was leaving thu
house to go to my Office this morning.
Madame Eugene" said, retracine
my steps and speaking irately to my
landlady, "did I not take that suite
of yours upstairs on condition youl
house would be absolutely quiet? Die
you not promise before signed my
lease that you would have no children
and no unpleasant. noises around te
disturb me?"
"Mais oui, monsieur" answered
good-tempered and stout Madame Eu-
gene, looking at me in surprise
There are no children here, monsieur
and the other boarders are quiet
They certainly will not disturb any
one. MademoiselIe Valerie is out al
her lessons all day, and her brother
goes to his work early in the morning
and comes back later than you do
monsieur" ="
els that the gray-haired gentleman
I've been meeting on the stairway"
"With glasses, monsieur, and stoOp
in his shoulders? Yes, that's her
brother. They are quiet folks. He
works in bank and she gives music
lessons. They are very CONNIE il faut,
monsieur"
perceived that Madame Eugene
was hurt, so | fastened to explain.
II have no doubt that elderly gentle
man and his sister are eminently re-
spectacle and up to the present hour,
Madame Eugene, you have certainly
kept faith with me and everything has
been quiet and agreeable. But | saw
them bringing in a piano. A baby
grand, SO that l conclude my days of
peace are over There will be music
lessons, presume, in the flat above
mine, and a constant practicing of
scales and trills.
"In that case, Madame Eugene,
will return you my rooms and seek
board elsewhere OF course" added,
hastily, seeing the shade of disappoint-
ment on her good-humored face and
remembering her many pleasant atten-
tions and very superior cuisine. Il will
pay their rent until you can dispose of
the rooms"
Madame Eugene was relieved evil
IDENTIFY.
Perhaps the noise of the piano will
not be as disagreeable as monsieur
imagines," she said, dryly. Mad
emoiselle Valerie will give no lessons
at home and she plays-well, mon
sieur, will Judge for himself.
For me music is like sunshine and
air 1t says pleasant words to the ear
But monsieur is no musician, so he OBJ
jects to the noise of the piano."
Madame Eugene was scornful and
looked down on me as barbarian
Anglo-Saxon, incapable of appreciating
the ecstatic delights of good music
at is because / am very much of a
musicians and quite intimate with the
great masters and composers, even
those of stAustria and Hungary, that
would hardly care to have Mile. Valerie
practice by the hour in the room above
me-" | answered. Then to reassure
her | added: But I will make no
change until next month. will be
especially busy and not much at
home"
I hurried off, at outs with trouble
some and meddlesome fate, which
must needs inflict on me for neigh
Dor an old maid musician who gives
music lessons, two things which abso-
lutely prevent the possibility of soul
full execution on any instrument.
An elderly woman. aloof from the
world and sentiment, can't possibly
put soul into any composition. however
heavenly, and if a teacher. well-that
settles it. Her touch becomes pedantic
and metallic, and even If possessed of
a certain skill in execution. her touch
means nothing. and Schumann or Beet
hoven, ideal inspirations, become as
"tinkling brass and sounding Gym
balls"
l brushed up against a young girl
getting hastily out of the car I was
waiting to catch.
The jerk of the trolley threw her
against me and instinctively caught
her arm to steady her.
Thanks" she said, glancing up at
me as she steadied herself.
I lifted my hat and, sitting down,
watched her through the window as
she went lightly and quickly down the
quiet and deserted old street, for in
this French part of the city there is
little traffic, as there is rumble and
noise. which was the reason I had Sc
lected my present quarters, in a roomy
old-fashioned brick house which had
once been the residence of one of the
earlier governors of the state, when
Louisiana was in reality French coll
ony, very little invaded by '1es Ameri-
cains," as the other population is still
called to-day.
l craned forward to watch the slim.
graceful girl before the turn of the
car hid her. noticing how the sun
Elinted on thick knot of bronze brown
hair twisted low on her neck under
her hat
| could still feel how firm and we'll
rounded her arm was as | caught her
to prevent her from falling. Her eyes
were hazel-or perhaps gray-dark ami
luminous. They were certainly hand
some. So was her. brow noticed.
And the curve and arch of her lips.
The oval Of her face was fine and. the
frm turn of her well-rounded chin
How prettily she flushed. And what
= sweet, brave. innocent look she had.
A very remarkable face II Is strange
how one runs across some chance ac-
Quaintance or unknown individuality