The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-09-13

+ mlrahly 90 introduce me II viii be
I better than an advertisement In your
paper. and shan save my money and
also show you what ! am able to do,
How does II please your
Z II pleased MIR. kconholts amazingly
we'll, and ha said no, He agrcod to
have the piano carried across the hall
and promised that no harm should
come 20 n
II wish II might bc the other, the
concert grand the professor sighed.
Il could do myself Infinitely better jus.
iice. Hut. alas. II Is not possible. II
was 30 badly shaken in transit that Il
must be silent until an expert re-
stores H."
1T looks like mighty fine instru.
ment" Mr.. kcenholts hararied,
1T is my very life-my stock In
trade. II you will permit mo-" the mu-
sIeian declared fcelingiy. Wherever
/ 70 II accompanies me. When we
separate Il must be for most urgent
reason. II has had a career, my dear
sir. To all the world II is shape
lcss box of wcod. ailcd with jan9iing
discoris perhaps. but 10 me II is-my
very sine qua non"
Professor Gerard did not make his
appearance In the lodge room until the
members aud their guests had assem-
bled and II was time for the proceed
lngs TO begin. AZ he entered the
crowded hall and made his way to the
platform n hush fell upon the Assem-.
bly,, aud every neck was craned TO OBJ
tain glimpse Of the newcomer. As
the professor stepped lightly upon the
platform and seated himself nj the
plano murmur OF satisfaction made
the circuit Of the large room.
III he only plays half as well as he
looks" began Mrs. Keenholts. an ami
able and very rotund woman. In an
audible whisper,
A warning "S-hw from her equally
amlable and not quite 40 rotund daugh-
ter Interfered with the worthy ma
irons conclusion. and Just then, after
brief consultation with Mr.. Keen
holts, who was acting M master Of
ceremonies, the professor struck
mighty chord.
lie did look remarkably well. As he
sat at the piano, his profile toward his
audience, he seemed singulnrly attrac-
tive and even distinguished looking. He
was dark and smooth shaven. and his
features were modelled on classic lines.
lie was also slight and rather fragile
looking, and his eyes were large and
extremely bright. accentuating tho pal
lor of his complexion. His hair was
worn longer than the prevailing mode,
and the traditional lock fell over his
forehead. He was clad In the most ir-
reproachable evening dress, and his
manner was everything that could be
desired.
The opening music was only hymn
sung by the members In unison. but
before II was ended Mr.. Kecnholts,
who was the real musical purvcyor for
the lodge, made up his mind that a
cabinet organ was conspicuously out
of place In lodge room and that a
piano should grace the platform here.
ceremonies, during which the profess
or did not leave the piano, but sat
with his poeticnl face half concealed
behind the slender fingers Of his left
hand. At the conclusion OF the induc-
tion Office Mr.. Keenholts announced
from the platform that II afforded him
great pleasure his radiant counte-
nance did not belle the statement--to
introduce Professor Pierre Lucien
Gerard, a distinguished musician who
had most kindly come to their assist
ance In the hour Of perplexity and who
was about to establish school Of mu-
sic In the village. Realizing deeply.
he continued affnbly. that the pro-
fessor had contributed greatly to tho
success OF the evening, he would now
ask him, In behnlf OF the organiza.
ton which he represented, to favor
the audience with piece Of his own
selection.
The man Mt the piano smiled eDgag-
ingly, squared himself with the Instru-
ment, claspcd his slender fingers tentn-
lively and dashed Off the preliminary
arpeggio which Is so characteristic OF
the viriuoso. Then he began and play.
cd admirably, well enough almost TO
furnish the Illusion that a great artist
was masqucridng In obscure Cross
kill. SO II seemed TO these young wo-
men present. who were confesscdly
musical and who had had advan-
tages." 30 II seemed even 10 Isabel
vose, the bankers daughter. who had
Travelled and had often come In con-
tact with the genuine thing. Before
he had finished his FIRST piece half OF
the young women In the room had
made up their minds 10 become his pu-
pills. and after he had played the half
dozen others demanded yIciferOusly
their fathers and mothers were scarce
ly less impressed.
Every bit as good NJ Paderewski.
and mighty sight chenper" declared
Cornelius vose. the bank president,
sitter the applause had subsidized.
I'm not 80 sure OF that" laughed his
daughter ut may be good deal
dearer than paderewski before you arc
through with H."
Il suppose that means that the pro-
fessor has secured pupil In the Vose
family" be returned. good humoredly.
We'll you ought 10 know the real
thing when you see H. II does seem
queer. though. that anything worth
while has landed In Crosskiil."
You've been here a long time she
reminded him iDischievonsly.
The professor was the lion of the
evening. Everybody made II . point
TO assure him that he was welcome In
crosskill, and his modest and unsnect-
ed manner did wonders for him. Even
old Marcia Haring, who seldom agreed
with anybody and was tolerated only
on account Of her money, pronounced
him the handsomest and most sensible
man she had seen In lifetime because
be did not dispute her statement Inst
Beethoven would have written ragtime
a