The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-05-08
HIS VIOLIN
BY J. J. BELL
(Author Of Wee Maccreeeor.")


from bneet OI ulualc pluucu W tu1
bare wooden wall. She was practicing
short passage Of the music, and was
evidently finding 1t difficult Sidney
watched and listened for several min
utes, and then, with an absent look on
his face, left the window. went round
to the door, pushed 1t open and stepped
into the hut.
TRY it this way" he said, quietly;
and as the girl turned to him startled
and confused, he added: ALLOW me.
please" and took violin and bow from
her unresisting hands.
Watch my lingering" he said. and
played the passage twice. Now try
it,"
But she did not attempt to take back
the instrument. She simply stared at
him.
"Good heavens!" he exclaimed, sud
denly, the red rushing over his face.
Il beg your pardon. forgot you
weren't pupil. | must have been
dreaming"
Still she stared at him.
You see, was wandering through
the wood when | heard your violin, and
curiosity made me follow the sound.
Then l stood outside and listened to
you for bit, and when you got into
difficulties 1t seemed the most natural
thing in the world to try to help you.
didn't mean to be rude" he stam-
mered. please believe that. teach
the violin a good deal, and"
"Oh, you weren't rude" said the girl,
recovering herself and taking the yio-
lin and bow from him, but you did
give me fright. shouldn't be prac-
ticing here, but-but I'ys no other
place."
mo other placer" he echoed, won
| dering. VIII you tell me who taught
your"
my father. He was beautiful
player"
! Music was his profession?"
Eyes. You may have heard of him
Henry Hayward was his name."
"Ahl Every one remembers Henry
Hayward, and l have good cause to re-
member him. How strange 1t is tc
meet his daughter like this! Do yor
know, Miss Hayward, it was your IA
ther who helped to get me my frs
engagement. met him only on q
few occasions, but found him a mar
always ready to help Others"
The girls lip quivered, and Sidney
did not give her time to speak.
MY name is Frank Sidney, and I'm
spending my holidays with my sister al
Beechwood. Mere chance brought me
to Dovedale this afternoon, but it was
happy chance also. Will you shake
hands, Miss Rayward?"
She saw that he was puzzled, ant
after some hesitation she said: you're
thinking it is strange that | shouldn't
hear others speak Of my father, aren
you, Mr.. Sidney? But my aunt ant
uncle, whom | live with now, never
forgave him for being a professional
musician, and-and l sometimes fancy
they can't forgive me for being his
daughter My mother was my aunt''
sister. but l don't remember her
Don't think my aunt and uncle aren'
kind to me. They are only rather
strict and narrow in their ideas"
rs there no chance Of conyertinf
them to reason? It's ridiculous thai
you should not have teacher for your
| violin"
She shook her head sadly.
win you let me give you few les.
sons?' he said, suddenly.
Her face grew rosy.
Il can't teach you much more thar
you know" he continued, but there
are few little points I might helr
you with. viii you allow me? viii
you let me come here and give you q
lesson now and them"
"Oh. you are so good" she whis-
pered, impulsively. "and II can't re-
fuse"
Then may come tomorrow
"Ah, no. can't get away from the
house two days running
We'll, the Gay after-that is Thurs
day?"
Il think Friday would be surer, If II
would suit you" she said. shyly.
Then Friday, at three o'clock"
Thank you; oh, thank you!"
Nearly two months had gone since
the afternoon OF their first meeting ir
the hut. At first there had been two
lessons week. then three, then four;
and now Miss Hayward had reclxlessly
promised to meet him every afternoon
during the remaining fortnight of his
holiday.
Lydia had been imprisoned In dull.
ness 80 long that she had taken hel
liberty somewhat wildly. and had Ger.
tainly not given any serious consider.
alton to the propriety Of keeping fire.
quent trysts with young man ol
whom she knew nothing beyond what
he told her. 1t was enough for hel
that he had known and admired hel
father. that he sympathized with hel
in music, and that he was kinder te
her than anyone she had ever met
At least. it was SO with her till one
early September afternoon, when Z