The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-08-12

plain myself, and when the mcoon
climbed over the treetops, she saw ur
all assembled in the great drawing
room that looked out on the stone ter
race where in olden times many wom-
en- had waved adieu with dainty kerr
chiefs to their knights riding to the
war. there to do great deeds for their
love. Here, too, was great deed to
he done for love; not by knight in
shining armor, but by little fat man
at a piano. Only he did not know he
was to do it, which spoiled the ro'
nance.
have always Except, indeed, once
in my life) gazed at the game of life
as a spectator, and found much amuse-
ment. and at times not a little sorrow,
in It's contemplation. Here was scene
that would be interesting. With all
the power. and, did not doubt, the
will as well, to use his music for his
own ends, Macnulty was to aid his
rival with it. | felt l ought to warn
him. But. then, the duchess Apd,
after all, the woman you'd choose for
herself 1t could but hasten the devel-
opment.
The duchess displayed considerable
skill in arranging her tableau. Winter
ton and Marion were lured ON to the
terrace (by suggestion that the park
was we'll worth looking at in the
moonlighD, Macnulty was cajoled to
the piano, and the duchess herself took
a seat by my side
But then matters went awry After
playing a few soft, low chords and let
ting his fingers run gently over the
keys for minute Macnulty broke sud
denly into one of the wild, grand mel
odies of his native land. There were
the skirl of the pipes, the shouts OF
the tribesmen, and the clang of
their broadswords-al the wild bar
barism of fierce battle of the clans.
1t stirred the blood in my veins. I,
too, grasped a claymour, and bounded
over the heather, filed with a wild
lust of Staying There was a kilt
around my waist, and l felt the sharp
sting of the heather on my bare knees.
would shout and kill-kill-and my
arms would never tire while the Shrek
ing of the pipes rang in my ears.
Presently l looked up. The duchess
was standing by me, with her hand on
my shoulder
"This will never do" she whispered.
1.-THE music has not moved her. Posi-
bly, she found it difficult to imagine
herself in kilt"
looked out on to the terrace. Win
terton was tapping with his foot and
looking at the moonlight country.
TELL him to play something soft,
said the duchess.
rose obediently and walked across
the room.
am approaching middle age, and in
clined to stoutness so that surprise at
my request for something sentimental
was but natural. felt l must furnish
an excuse, so | pointed to the couple
on the terrace.
"They would like it more" | said
softly.
was determined he should know
what he had to do
Macnultys face grew very grave.
did she ask for it?"
He was thinking of Marion l SUBJ
stituted the duchess.
yes" said l..
He turned sharply away from me and
laid his hands on the keys. l returned
to my seat The duchess was smiling.
Then Macnulty began to play, at
first softly, as of lover thinking; then
louder, in passionat appeal. | saw
Winterton's hand steal slowly toward
Marion's, and close over it. (The Ouch
ess leaned a little forward in her
chair) But the hand underneath was
gently twisted away, and Marion rose.
could see her lips move, and then she
came through the doors into the room.
Her mother gasped audibly, and for
moment | though she would have bar
red her entrance, but she sank back
again into her chair. In the dim light
| could not see her expression. l was
sorry for that
Marion walked to the piano, but
Macnulty continued playing as ii he
did not see her. But it was no longer
music that he played; it was the man
himself speaking, a passionate torrent
of words
Winterton leaned over the terrace.
and saw a CLEAN of a match. He had
lit cigar. For q few seconds we re-
manned motionless; then | rose and
went out on the terrace, and, to my
surprise, the duchess followed me.
think she wanted more air than the
room afforded, and did not realize the
10 Tho cOfflu