Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1904-02-27


Mary smiled. "Your illness has not
made you forget your compliments"
she said. lightly.
Mary MacAliister had stolen into the
sick mans room. after taking of her
hat and jacket. and had found him
up and dressed and sitting in front
Of the fire. The freight shone on his
handsome face. SO drawn and pale. on
his hands SO thin and white. Mrs.
Bird had during the day given OF some
Of "her views" and Carlo Terrini
knew for the first time what Mary
MacAllister had done for him In the
hour Of his extremity.
Compliments! What words Of mine
can he called compliments, after what
YOU have done for met"
Mary started. You know"
Yes, the good Sjgnora Bird has told
me-"
Then she ought not to have done
so. 1t Is nothing--nothing. repeat.
And you must not think of 1t again,
orr
She paused and the man looked at
her inquiringly. "Or what, Mees Mac.
Allccster?"
"Or I shall not be able to come and
see you-or--or help you any more"
But" said Carlo weakly, IL do
not understand. 1t Is but the truth.
You have saved my life, mia cara mia;
I must thank you'll must pour out
my gratitude to YOU from my SOUL"
lie stopped. exhausted. for n mo.
ment. and then went on cxcitedly: II
i have been thinking Of you, long
ing to see you--tO look on you-to
pcrhaps--be able to take your little
hand-sO--and kiss 1t, and let fall my
tcars--as of blood. on II. You have
saved my life--you have done more
you have inspired mel have been
dreaming picture Of you. as lay
watching the fire. a vision Of goodness,
80 high. SO pure. SO true. and the
melody came. l heard. somewhere
away up above me. In Gods air. host
chanting your praises; the music they
sang was the melody my soul has
sought SO long. l put It In my work.
That work at last will be complete.
1t will triumph, for none can resist
such music as this"
He rose abruptly. with sudden
strength. Then lie staggered across
the room to where violin lay In its
case. Mary MacAllIster uttered cry
and laid restraining hand on his
arm.
"What are you doing?' she cried.
You will kill yourself IL you exert
yourself like this"
The violinist took up his instrument
and crept back to his chair.
mo. 1t Is life to me to play. and
you must hear. Then you shall tell
me II 1t IL good enough for my opera. v
He seated himself and began to
play. The girl, seeing remonstrance
useless quietly dropped into seat
and listened. For few moments she
heard only music she had heard him
play beforc-ln the days when he wal
we'll. Then suddenly her lips parted
/. and she sat breathless. From the in
strument poured melody almost un
earthly. The man played as II In
spired. 1t was as II voices from an
other world were speaking. On, on HI
went-from pean Of praise TO {
frenzy of passion, from a hurricane
OF hope to dlrgc Of despair
And then on again, higher and high
or. faster and faster, the liquid melOd!
poured from the violin, until, with on,
! great OvcrpOwering chord Of grand
eur. the music stopped and the bow
fell from his ncrveless hand, while thu
musician sank back painting, exhaust
cd, but triumphant, in his chair.
So engrossed had he been with hi
beloved music, so enraptured had beer
!. the girl with the marvellous strains
that Carlo Terrini had evoked, tina
= neither had heard the footsteps tina
had mounted the stairs. nor seen IN,
form that now stood in the doorway
, Gently the girl chided the poor violin
! list for his great eXcrtion. sweetly sh
y babe him goodnight and rest, slow
, ~ she turned from him to the door
= For moment she gazed, as II loOkin
. :, on the dead, then with cry OF pas
= sionate gladncss she few to the OIL,
a stic''Hcb arms, 'ishS Ai'h'
:, And as the lovers passed from tn
:, room and the door closed behind theI
- Carlo Terrini's head fell, and grea
Il sob shook him from head to foot.
:, Downstairs in Mrs. Birds frOI
h parlor Dick Hcrrick's story was 500
y told. After months of imprisonmeI
, at Watervaal he had recovered h
n liberty, but not his rights. The Dutcl
"a man who had sold him the land WI
% now in possession of it again and WI
" disputing his title. Too poor to tai
@. the necessary legal action to recove
is he had returned to England as poor {
g. he left it four years before.
Y, The next morning Mary, dressed II
u, the city, paid her usual visit TO Car
10 Terrini before going. She found hi
a very Ill. He confessed that he had N
been TO bed. He had been working a
through the long night, writing Il
ne music he had composed and played
or her into his opera,
- But now, now you have finished
or she pleaded, you will sleep-and rest
"Yes. cara mia. / will rest-sOon-
. I promise you,' and as the door clio
d. ed behind her he added, with We
smile. forever"