Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-10-14
The Second
Violin
By OHIO q. SENGA
Copyright. 1904. by Ohio u. senga

|
before the great box OF orchids, sighed
heavily.
"oh. dear, why is everything I'm life
so unsatisfactory
MY dear Kara" said the woman
who read stories, 81 hope you don't
consider those magnificent orchids nm
satisfactory
mo, no; they are beautiful, butt
Perhaps it is the giver," suggestive
ly.
NO, Mr.. Coleridge is all that a man
might, could. would or should be-ex-
cept-only"-
Don't tell me unless you wish,
Kara" said the other kindly, "I have
no desire to pry into your affairs"
but 1 do wishw cried Kara des-
perately. "Oh. Miss Fairlie, you think
L care for nothing but my violin. but
there was some one-in Switzerland
l thought he cared-but he never said
So"
but he writes 60 your
Not now I have mot heard for
nearly year. He Was hardly more
than boy, and he may lave forgot
ten III L only knew
do you mean," Miss FaIrlie said
gently, that IL you knew he did rot
care you could be glad OF the orchids
and Mr.. Coleridgep'
| I'm not sure of that, but I cannot
be happy In even accepting the orchids
when i think of Ulrich. Uirich would
bring me snow flowers. with the breath
OK the cold and the light OF the stars
upon them. Tbese-they Cypress me
They seem to speak of heat and of
| money"
They mean money" said Miss Fair
lie gravely, "but they probably mean
much more than that to the giver. II
they mean only that to YOU And n
little Icy note unconsciously hardened
| her voice
The other did not notice.
L am grateful to him for these and
Tor all his kindnesses. He has offered
his carriage for tonight Mrs. Gray
Is to chaperon me. you know"
"Oh, yes, tonight is the Bardner
concert hope 1t will be n great
triumph for you, Kara. And perhaps,
dear little girl, perhaps some of your
doubts may be settled for you to-
night"
Il wish you and Kathleen were 60
Ing" wistfully.
MY dear" and slight trace of bit
terness crept into the even tones.
when you are Mrs. James Coleridge
you VIII likely be invited to many
affairs that are entirely out OF my
life. You are going to play something
OF your own tonight, aren't you,
Kara?"
Eyes; that one for two violins. The
hnnz des Vaches comes In from the
distance. you remember"
Yes, l remember. 1t Is beautiful"
1T is not entirely my own compost
ton, Miss Fairlie Ulrich wrote the
solo Tor the first violin, and he used to
play hrst in that when we were study
ing together. 1 play first now, OF
course, and Signor Alboni will take
second"
Il prophesy n most gratifying sue
cess, and, Kara. am deeply Impress
cd with the feeling that much more
than success-happiness-w come to
you tonight Go now and dress before
your carriage comes"
o 10 just WINK he ought TO nave"
muscd Miss Fairlie when the girl had
gone. beautiful. gifted How proud
he VIII bc or her. See. the unappre-
ciative child' has forgotten the or,
chidsw
The exclusives ut the Bnrdner con.
cert softly tapped their glovcd fingers
In delight. The Bardner affairs were
always so charmingly unique!
She has some foreign nobleman
here tonight" whispered one beringei
dame to another. Italian, L think.
He has consented TO play here, a won
derful violinist"
The nobleman was introduced with
many fiourishes-the Baron Jomini
who had consented to honor. etc.
He played magnlficcntly. Mr.. Cole
ridge watched the girl with the violin.
she seemed as unawed as II she were
at home. and he sighed relievediy.
she Is thoroughbred" he whis- |
pered to Mrs. Gray.
"She is q thoroughly good girl" re-
turned that Lady somewhat sharply.
she fancied Coleridge's expression |
rather .horsy" and hardly approved
The great Mrs. Bardner swelied with |
pride at the sensation created by her
handsome young player. -
An Importation, IL may SO ex-
press 1t, OF my own" she announced
quite audibly to the satellites circled |
about her. rtf ..-I.-... ...--,-'
She swOOped down upon Kara with
her most frigtd air.
AT the last moment Miss venn. that
'wretched Alboni sends me word he ia
Ill So very annoying on his part! In
order TO give you an opportunity to
play VIII ask Baron Jomini to play
with you. but Of course you must give
him the first part. could not ask so
great a musician to play second to any
one"
But Mrs. Bardner. could not per
nit any one else to play first violin In
this composition under any circm-
stances" Kara protested firmly.
/ Mrs. Bardner stared at her, coldly
"You evidently do not understand.
III can prevail upon Baron Jomini 10
play first violin your composition will
have chance to be heard-other-
WISE And a scornful shrug OF the
shoulders completed the sentence.
The great viollnist listened to Mrs.
Bardner and went at once to Kara's
side.
Il am pleased to play with you,"
madame" he said with simple cour-
tesy and took the music from her
fingers. (which part, ma
dameP
you are kind to play at ALL" she re-
sponded earnestly, and OF course
must give you the first
But you would like to play that
yourself?" smiling down on her.
Il would" she answered quietly.
You cannot understand ii, of course,
but that part belongs toto some one
else. In way that cannot bear to
have stranger
Enough, madame; you are first yio-