New-York tribune., 1904-10-16


the balcony Within minute the girl came, bringing
with her guitar. for she understood the meaning
of the summons
Sar did not look up as she appeared though he
might we'll have done So She extremely fair,
with sweet, gracious. girlish beauty She and her
mother were kin to Sar and pensioners ms bounty -
this castle. 1t with delight that Alma had learned
the power of her music % sOoth Sar and she coined
opportunity thus to Jay the treasures of her skill
his feet.
So now she came quietly and having tossed some
cushions at the foot OF the pillar facing Sars chair
Just the head of the steps she seated herself and
began to brush soft chords from the guitar
Then the prelude done she sang a tender lOve-sOng
of the province And another and another, while
Sar sat with closed eyes, and the passionate melodies
softcncd his grief.
~ last Sar looked up a touch Of self-reproach
You must be weaned little one" he said gently
Il have been selfish"
But Alma interposed eagerly No, nc, Sar. love
the singing l could sing YOU for hours without
fatigue. If YOU tired of the music, l shall go
but If YOU wish more please let me play to YOU
Her willingness pleasant to Sar. II the
first CLEAN OF human kindness that had come to him
in his trouble. He had many friends, vet almost
intimate enough 10 give him sympathy at a
time like this but Alma OF MS blood, and of
his household throughout her life. Aad Alma
had been kind to him always. 1t occurred to him
that his most constant Joy had been gwen him
by her music while he unused on this balcony.
Sar cast grateful glance toward the girl who
sat bent the guitar Leaning thus against
the pillat with the tinted background Of cushions
she harnonized with the glory of the and
completed 1t.
For little time Sar regarded her with appre-
citation Of her fresh. pure beauty. Then of a sudden,
the black horror rushed again his spirits. made
awful by the little interval where he had thought
only of the kindiness and beauty of Alma In this
lapse into despair the music failed and he forgot
time and place in his anguish
The girl his white. tvitChing face and paused
in alarm Thus she awaited his will silent uncer-
tain, Vic bpr should hft lied with
tender pity.
Soon Alma forgot her doubts in anxiety; for Sar
was evidently the gr1p of overnasterng passion.
The face that always hitherto she had grave with
thought smiling happily, contortcd, It's
beauty had vanished amid the convusons of emotion.
Alma crouched affrighted, and watched with dilated
eyes.
Sar was beside himself, The self-contro by which
he had gone calmly through his troubles without
giving any hint OF them reacted him. and IN
the throes of feeling he a puppet butfeted by
crowdng thoughts of despair and made the paything
of frenzy. He had command over his ideas his
emotions Wrath against fate chiefly asSailed him.
and after that. despair.
Suddenly he rose. and began pacing back and forth
with diSordercd steps Words tumbled from his lips
incohcrent rawlings. Once he paused al the top of
the stairs and gared out toward the sun. which was
just sinking from sight behind a sornbcr bank of
storm-cloudS 1t red as blood and glowed from
the dun envclop like a huge emblem of evil passions
Is appearance Stung Sar to fury 1t seemed To
him that this favored spot had become something
vile to till the measure of his
The world Is cursed he muttercd and | am