Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-10

feet Of HOLSTERS Kidding until the quarrel
had reached bitter proportions. With the
loud voices of Pete and Hoosfer pIunging
into insulting details of family history rose
still louder the voices OF the other boarders,
at first cursing the original cornbatants,
then plunging Into the quarrel on their own
accounts.
The landlady stood IN the doorway wiring
ing her hands as Kathleen flew to her side.
"Oh, lord, oh, lordl What to do I don't
get started that way Its sure to end In q
free-for-ail that cleans out the place. III
kill that Pete Nolan YETI
kathleen's face went white. and she cast
a pitifuI helpless glance about the room.
Her glance stopped on the old violin case.
She slipped across the room, and opening
the case, lifted out. with trembling fingers,
a fine old violin. Still trembling, she tuned
1t, unnoticed by the quarreling men, then
tucked the chinpiece under her soft chin and
lifted the bow.
Above the angry cIashing of voices
sounded a full. sweet note of melody; AS
though every tongue had been smitten
dumb, silence, sudden and absolute, DE-
scended upon the room. The men turned to
look.
over by the rickety piano stood Kathleen,
with rapt, eager face and slow. soft-mov-
Ing bow. How had she known that the one
sure thing that would touch these decency-
starved men was music? How did she
know that the simplest bit of melody would
lift their sin-hardened hearts into their
throats? After the first long-drawn note
the slender fingers lowered over the strings
hesitatingly Then, with master toueh
she melted the willing notes into the strains
of annie Laurie
Unobserved by any one, there appeared
in the door a tall, strong figure IN tweeds,
with clear, dark eyes and smooth shaVen
face 1t was the duke. But duke so
changed that even had his old friends
looked, they would not have recognized
him. 1t was duke bereft of rough beard
and rougher clothes, with a cream cur
adj n
stranger in familiar place. He remained
motonless in the doorway, with quickeneo
breath. murmuring over and over 10 MINI
self, MY little, little Kathleen!
The men did not know that they were VIII
Messing technique and shading that hao
been developed by the masters OF Europe.
They only knew that the rude cheapness OF
the hotel, the coarse food, the vulgar pIaMi-
ing. had given place to long hidden memo,
ries that caught their breath ana olhiieu
their eyes.
Melody followed melody and into them
Kathleen wove pictures that Wruns tne
Dukes heart with homeslckness' sweet
Irish fields that glimmered under lrish
skies soft twilights of long summer Gays
with the low murmur of insects above .ne
hush; and the lights of home SHINING out
across the lawn.
AS the last notes of Kathleen Mavour-
neen" died away, Kathleen dropped neI
brow and lifted her flushed face TO neet
from the doorway the feverish gaze OF the
duke. she ldlu the Fioli'i oiA eNN f
and then went white.
"John?" she said hesitatinSy, John! as
one would address a ghost.
YES Kathleen" answered the duke, not
offering to move from the doorway. haln-
Ieen looked with bewildered eyes at the
boarders Jim Priestly turned suddenly 10
his companions.
Come on" he said, Its us into the bar
room. Can't you see" he added IN 10" s
voice, that we amt wanted? Come on,
Mrs Crimmn we want Somep1n all
around"
Left alone, Kathleen and the man looked
at each other in silence. linen the siii
drew herself up proudly.
You come in strange place and at
strange time John Norris she said.
The man looked at her with misery IN
his patient eyes. Yes, kathleeh' ne s"iu'
II know it,
And the three years that have passed in
silence" she went on, what of them.
The mans eyes flashed. Il went" he
said because you told me to go ana make
something of myself"
leen.
The mans face fell. Nothing he said,
Kathleen nothing but a cowboy.
"And your uncle dead and the estate
falling to wreck and ruin for need of you!
Oh. YOU are Il fine pair, you ana hugh!
Kathleen stopped at the look that flashed
into Johns face at the mention OF hugh S
name, John she faltered 10 you hho"
Kathleen" answered the man, his voice
low and tense 'tI stumbled on this place
and on Hugh three years ago. Hugh had
had-well a month after l got here he got
into a card quarrel with a miner, and was
was 1t was bitter hard to go on, with
the girls face going whittier and winter be-
fore him. but he finshed-"and was killed,
Kathleen"
Her girlish pride gave away. and she stag
gered toward him with outstretched, CROP
ing arms. saying brokenly: ''John-John!
His arms We're about her instantly, while
over and over again he murmured: My lit
tle little Kathleen
After little she raised her head.
Its not that 1 shall really miss him,
she said, "hes been gone so many years.
But even a dream brother is dear to one
who has no other kith or kin. I've looked
for his home coming SO long,!
John Norris turned her face up toward
his. Shall we go back, Kathleen he
asked. "Back to dear old Donegal? And
will you go back as my wife?'
The girl chung to him. You will have to
be my kith and kin now she said.
Through the bar room door drifted Pete
Nolan's authoritative tones:
''Winter time he was saying, lis the
finest time there is. You kin jest thank
God you're living If you can't do nothin'
else
And for once Red Mason did not lift
dissenting voice.