Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-01-05
CHAPTER <.

and when the latter went upstairs to in
slst upon obedience, he found the bed
room door locked against him. He re-
served to himself the right to express his
opinion with regard to this open defiance
later on. and controlling himself without
much dificulty-for he was one of those
people who need to say how indignant
they are before they can get up any
great force of steam-he descended to his
companions. They were easily contented
with his apologies, and were, indeed,
rather pleased than otherwise to be freed
from the restrictions a hostess presence
would have imposed upon them.
Hackett's convives were four in num-
Der. Two were old cronies of his-by
no means the pick of his old acquaint-
ances, but such as fate and his own
courses had left to him; and the other
two were strangers to him, found in
his friends companionship on that days
race course.
My friends friends" said VIII, with
his own genial and delightful swagger,
"are mine. | won't offer you amontil
lado and turtle. gentlemen, but plain fare
and hearty welcome you can have"
There are people who do not care for
these sudden expansions of the heart;
but then, on the other hand, there are
people who do and Mr.. Hackett's new
acquaintances happened to belong TO the
latter type. They said they would be
delighted, ami they accepted with almost
as much efusion as Will himself had
displayed in his invitation. They We're
in all the better humOr with themselves,
and with the world at large. because the
days ventures had been prosperous; and
they were all the more pleased with their
host because his inspirations had for once
in a way led him to choose the right
horses, and they had followed his lead.
And now, Win, my lad said one of
them when the cloth was cleared away,
before we settle down I've favor to
ask you. This gentlemen is a mighty
fine judge of music. He ought to be,
for he ran the opera in New York for
three years-didn't you, Bob?-and l
particularly want him to hear you sing.
In fact. it's a treat I've as good as
promised him-haven't /, Bob?'
This gentleman was a bald man in
spectacles and evening dress He had
apologized on arrival for the character
of his costume by saying that he had
been obliged 10 look in at the theater in
the great town hard by for an hour or
two; and Hackett had been told, with
an air of mystery and importance, that
he had his eye on a singing chambermaid
there, and had half a mind to engage
her. The great man said, with no par
tieuiar enthusiasm, that he should like
very much indeed to hear Mr.. Haekett
sing.
I'm not in particularly good voice
lately said VIII. but I'll do my best
for you"
The entrepreneur leaned back in his
chair and prepared TO suffer. His ex-
perience had made him familiar with the
amateur tenor, and he dreaded him as
the burnt child breads the fire.
At this ebb of his fortunes Hackett
hailed with all his heart the chance Of
singing before such a man as this. lie
displayed no eagerness. but he had too
much tact to make the common fuss,
and wait for the usual eager pressure.
He sauntered to the piano, and careless
ly turned over heap of music there. he
decided that he would not sing more
than once unless the imporseut rersonage
especially pressed him.
Before he had sung through the first
line the man of music rose softly from
his chair, and dropping his elbows noise
lessly on the mantelboard suffered his
chin to fall upon his hands and put his
heart into his ears. From first TO last
not a flaw. Tone, phrasing and express
sion absolutely just The listener had
heard finer voices, but he could count
them on the fingers OF one hand. What
pleased him, even more than the voice,
WIS the management of it.
The tender melting rapture of the cap
tivating rascal's voice reached his wife
as She lay sobbing in her bedroom. He
warbled on, never thinking of her. and
charming all listeners ears but hers and
one others.
Ned Blame must needs torture himself,
rs happens with most young men who
find themselves in similar case. He
could have made choice among a score
of streets and lanes TO stroll in If he
had a fancy for getting wet through;
and by this time the threatening storm
had burst, and the warm summer rain
had soaked him to the skin in the first
five minutes of its fall But he must
torment himself by being near his suf-
fering idol. whom he had no right or
mower 10 comfort, and by the grim hate
which was taking root in every .4ber Of
him against the man TO whom she was
tied And the song which struck up as
he was passing for the fifth or sixth time
made such an appeal to him as any man
of common sympathy can understand.
When the song was over three of the
singers guests were noisy in approba-
zion. The important man turned his
hack TO the fireplace, and for while
said nothing BY and by, when the 9th
ers had done with their compliments, he
spoke
"Mr. Hackett." he said, will you be
SO good as TO tell me where you studied? ?"
.'Oh," Will answered, ~ never studied
at all. to speak of. My grandfather
went through three or four years in
Italy. He taught my father, and my
father taught me- what little bit he
knew"
All. said the stranger, you come of
q musical family. What was your
fathers name?"
..Hackett. of course" said VIII.
"Of course" the other answered smil-
inrlv. But his stage nameT
NV father had no stage naTIe," said
Master VIII, rather naughty.
He was the biggest lad owner for
some ten miles around" said one OF the
young men.
II beg pardon. Did you ever think OF
carrying that fps voice of your own TO
market. Mr.. HackettF'
No" said Hackett, carelessly, finger
ing the psses OF his music and looking
round uyon his questioner as he did so.
I'm rot rich man. but I've never had
need 20 do that yet"
There's a good two thousand q year
in the voice IL you cared TO use it," said
the stranger guest.
OH said Hackett lightly. That's
bait, il l could see it TO bite at
lis itT' asked the other. Its there |
to bite at il you like to bite. ITS there
sing Us another song. Mr.. HackettY'
This Judgment from man who ought |
TO be competent warmed the vocalist's |
heart. He had been thinking OF little |
else than OF carrying that fine voice Of !
FN~