Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-15

/ stoy beard came out of his Galleries Artistque
in the Rue Frode, and in his hand was the Ber
thon poster of the girl playing the lutte. Tn,
! blind man was conscious that someone was there
| but did not speak
1T is a pretty song. and YOU are great play
er, said Father Didier at last.
1T is the song OF the road said the fiddler
Il have dwet in Paris fifteen years said Faith
| er Dldler; in Caen. six. | could give you note
to one | know in Paris
You are very kind said Michel "But
have one tune yet to play
play it then, and let inc hear"
! 1T is for one man alone 1t is for him who
made me blind said Michel; and he went fd
ding on his way. Father Ddier stepped back into
his shop, rolling up the poster he went
But Michel came again to Pontorson. by chance
and the call of home. which he obeyed against
his viii And he hddled to the long street of
Pontorson. standing at the corner by the BARRIERS
shop. Few people there would have remembered
him none knew him now He had reached the
place in the afternoon, he had passed by the
empty house which had been his home; it was in
the evening that he stood and played.
1t was market day, and the long street rumhed
with the market carts. and rang duly with the
tread of the msold cattle. returning north to
Avranches and south to Dol and the villages be-
tween. When he had been playing a little time
he felt commotion round him.
"What is the matter?' said he.
A hue-clo1ked boy laughed "a man went to
be shaved and he ran ont Of the chair because
big moth came in through the window
(Which way did he COZ asked Michel.
Cover the bridge said the boy.
When it was just dark the blind went
down the street, past the women washing their
linen in the river and beating it with their hands
and over the bridge to Dol. His brother Jean
had been afraid of moths. Clear of the village
he hummed continually little tune.
He was midway between pOntorsOn and Dol
when suddenly a dog barked. The dog yelped
when Michel called. and Michel put his fiddle to
his shoulder and began to play. He had never
PLAYED this tune before: he played it as it came
to him. The dog was silent now.
When he finished the dog whined at the closed
gate. and Michel heard the scratching of his
claws upon the wood. He was ready now, and
quite certain Jean had come hack then.
to the former home. And Jean came down to the
gate and opened it.
Get away with vour fiddle" he said gruffy.
I'VE are noor folk here"
Il am rich, then-now!'' answered Michel, and
sprang at his throat. 1t was all quick that
there was hardly struggle, and then a pretty
girl came down the path and screamed. Long
hours of loneliness had made her strong and
brave. Jean had not been good to her and
She said simply. You have killed my brother
If YOU do not stop here, l shall send after
vou.'
II cannot stay" said Michel. 81 must GO;
and he was writing on a bit of paper against
the back OF his fiddle. Send after me if YOU
like Give me a minute before you read said
he and the gate closed.
She stood there dazed as vet hardly understand
ing what had happened 1t must have been ten
minutes before her fingers felt the piece of paper.
and she held it close to her eyes and read, in
awkward writing; az too am your brother lit
tie sister whom I loved"
She ran through the gate. "N1ichel!" she call
ed 'NTchel!'
But the moonlight Knocked her: Michel the
Fiddler was strding on the road to Dol, bound
for the roads beyond and away; and white dog
swung joyfully at his heels