Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-06-27
forward self-branded as plasiarist.

whose coming into his life would
change the whole world for him.
Chance threw them several times
together during the following weeks,
and the warmest friendship sprang
up between himself and Alice Severn.
And with his growing love for her
the last scruple of his conscience
died away. How could he acknowl-
edge his false position, into which in
the first instance he had been be-
trayed by Arthur Mills's officious-
ness, and stand to be derided,. an
object of mockery to the world, while
the woman he loved was there to wit
ness such downfall?
And one day he told her that he
cared for her-begged her to be his
wife. He was a confident lover, for
he believed that his cause would
prove successful. But now he was
bewildered by the expression on her
delicate features-it was cold and
hard.
Il cannot marry 'you," she ans
wered, slowly, yet with evident emo
ton.
He stared at her duly.
IL dared to think that-that you
were not quiet Indifferent to me-" he
said. the glad, conquering note fad
ing from his voice.
Listen she interrupted, quietly,
"and L will explain why l can never
be your wife. 1t was my own brother
whose brain work you stole, and in
troduced into your own symphony
Now, need say any more?"
He started. 1t was the very last
thing he had expected. He stood for
some little time at a loss for words
II should like to hear everything"
he said, at last; ito know why he
never came forward to lay claim to
his work"
MY brother is dead" she replied,
little brokenly. Tears were in the
deep brown eyes. HE quarreled with
my father, and left home, living in
some miserable fashion-denying
himself the necessaries of life
through foolish pride. He sent for
me, his only sister, but not until too
late. found him dying. But while
he still had strength he gathered
every remnant of it together, and
played to ME upon his violin the mu-
sic that he had imagined would bring
him fame and fortune"
There was silence between them for
some moments. Goring felt that to
this woman, who had loved the gen.
Jus that had died before the promise
of his gifts could be fulfilled, it would
be almost a sacrilege to offer any
defense for his own part in the
wretched business of the symphony.
Yet there was one thing which he
could not resist. mentioning.
why did you not tell me this be-
fore?" he asked. "Why did you let
me get to love you first? Was-was
it revenge you sought?"
She shook her head coldly.
Il had never heard your music
played until two days ago." she ans
wered. 81 had meant to do so many
times, but something had always pre-
vented it until then. heard the mel
odies which the world thinks were
born in your brain, and l knew then
that you had won your place in life.
had lifted yourself high in the public
gaze, by-unworthy means. The mel
odies no more belonged to you than
the jewels in Bond street shop be-
long to the beggar who looks at
them from the pavement. II could
not believe 1t at first that you, of all
men, could have acted so dishonor-
ably"
The musical world received a shock
the next day. In the morning papers
was a letter from Edward Goring. In
it he explained, without any attempt
at Standardization, the whole facts
of the case, and stated that for the
future the symphony which bore his
name must be attributed to its real
composer-Hugh Severn.
But instead of covering him with
opprobrium, as he had anticipated,
the critics smiled at the letter, and
their general verdict upon it was ex-
pressed in reply written by one of
the most renowned among them, in
which he conclusively proved that the
dead man could have had little share
in symphony based on his melod-
les alone, as heard upon a violin, and
not upon any written manuscript.
He resolved that he would leave
England at once. To stay here any
longer was uncomfortable.
He lost no time, but almost at
once started to pack, and his task
was nearly finished when there came
a timid knock at his sitting room
door. Opening it, he found Alice Sew
ern upon the thresold..
There was a strained silence be-
tween them for some moments, a ST.
lence which Alice at last broke.
81 wish to tell you that l WAS
wrong the other night-hasty in my
judgment, bitter in my Speech" she
said in trembling voice. 81 did not
know the whole circumstances then.
and now that 1 do l want you to for
give me-"
II am glad you think that" he said
with sigh. 1T will be pleasant
memory to carry with me out of Eng
land"
She looked up at him, and there
was wistful light in her eyes, cold
now no longer, but shining with a
look that made the blood throb with
passionate beats through every pulse
in Gorlng's body.
"Alice," he whispered, need l go
alone?"
She rested in the arms held out to
her.
Not if you will take me with you,"
was her reply.-Douglas Alexander
in nt-Bits.
THE SPARTA EXCAVATIONS.
Finds of British Explorers on the
Site Of Athens Great Rival.
The walls of the city have been
traced for four-fifths of their extent.