The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-01-01

should call then 10 the happy reunion n
home where there would be 10 sad
sood-bys. where music kaows no minor.
and hearts forget how 70 ache
The 1rst stroke Of midnight sounded
and an instant later the bells pealed
forth. while the old man sang with trem-
bling lips and voice that no one heard but
God-as he had sung every New Year
since thai one:
children OF TIE Heavenly King
As sc journey swestly sfrg.
sirg your saviours worthy praise
Glorious n Hls works ard ways"
Then. as The last reluctant echo died
away. be stumbled down the narrow
stairs tovard home and Eispeth-
Not far from the believer stood q
mansion. where a great throng had as
ssmbled 10 watch the old year out and
the new year in Silken draperies rustled.
jewels cleaned music rippled on the per-
fumed air. and happy voices rang sweet
and high. But every sound was sflenced.
and bright eyes grew dim IN the food OF
melody which suddenly poured about the
gay throng- They crowded toward the
music room. trying 10 catch a glimpse OF
I the player Those who were nsz- saw a
/ slender man. with fair curling hair
brushed back from brow "a pure as a
woman's. The face was pale and the eyes
/ sad. but about the sensitive mouth played
an expression OF rare sweetness ard
beauty. Quietly he sat before the grand
piano. playing witho-: the slightest e.
fort such mastsrful music as had hushed
! the listeners 10 awe-struck silence
who is he," was the question passed
Z from one 10 another when az last the
7 cessation Of the music broke the spell
He Is a friend OF fathers" their
! hostess told them Father met MIN
abroad some years ago. and By helping
him in a search for some missing friends.
Won his heart The search was not sue
csssful but that did not seem 20 lessen
Prof. Won Bulow's gratitude. and they
have oorresponded in a desultory way
ever since Father invited him here for
the holidays this year. but he declined the
invitation then this evening suddenly
and unexpectedly appeared These great
musicians are always eccentric. you
know. I heard him tell father that the
T IS N anniversary be doesn't like 10 snfnd
alone Some love story probably 40.
he isn't married. He spends his entire
time with his wonderful music That IS
really ali I know about him" With that
the interested guests were forced 20 be
content Tor thepiayerhad vanished from
among them as suddenly q he appeared,
ard soon the ssyety resumed its sway.
At II O'Clock -he hostess seated her
guests In 4 circle. saying Nov re VIII
turn down the lights and tell ghost stories
Till midnight Everybody must contrib
ute something The more Eruesome ard
narrowing The better" she added laugh
ineiy The young people feil in with the
spirit o. fun. ard ghosts walked. hob
COLLINS shrieksi ard ehouis moaued. till
/ the more tiUid b eyed for mercy
II vas AIMS; Il o'clock when a new
voice suddenly broke into a monetary
I pause. Everyone looked mp 70 see the
musician standing IL the door.
"sIy friends" be said. my story Is not
cf fhs spirits Of the unseen world-it Il
q 4 lad in the fa--away Fatheriarf. who
one. On -ight like this. left home and
friends and went cut into the vide world.
with music as the priestees who presided
n TIE altar where burned the fires OF
his ambition. SO brightly did this fire
burn that its glow hid the ouieter emo
tions which lings red in the SHADOW. and
father and mother and home were left be
hind The youth had not dreamed CT the
- = -
( learned il all
--Shipwrecked a weary sickness ard
eeIiverarcc. miEcarrisd letter returned 20
lis writer io-s afterward-aIl these care
between the Tad and his loved o. IS. and
when ar last. overcome by tie deadly
\ .hefrueh.' ne tur-cd toward home. he
found Il eupty-the loved ones gone
while TIE chimes IL the tower which th-
father had PLAYED ever since tho lad had
lived. responded sadly 10 the touch OF
=--a-re. urfTieutly hands
with breaking hear- tho az turned
back 10 the country 81 his adoption hop
frz. a-airsr hope. 70 find the dear ones
Who had followed him there during his
long silence The years have passed and
the lad is a man. but the father and the
mother he has Tot found. nor does he ex-
psrt 70 greet them again until the New
Year of Heaven cawns fer him as be
believes II has already dawned for them
50. when the midnight comes play each
New Years Eve as las the lad played
on that last hight lougsgo-my messag.
10 my dear ones
The clock on the nantel warned for
- ard the musician turned 10 the piano
ard played again simply and lovingly
PIevel's hymn. sin ging as IN the long ago
the beautiful words his motherloved.
As the last rote died away in the quiet
roor. the tower clock began 20 strike. but
vas drowned BY the music OF the chimes.
Z A thrill ran through the hushed circle as
.hnv recognized the strain they had Just
head. but the musician arose with
mighty CRY. ''Mein Water" and ran out
Iut, the night. guided BY the music OF the
bells
when the old bell ringer shut the door
he could not see for the tears tina,
Minded him. the hurrying figure on the
pavenent 4 moment later he was gath