The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-14
TIE EVENING STORY


Paul Alger looked firmly into Mrs.
EInott's face.
"xou don't realize what you're ask
ing. Aunt Ruth irritatedly-
I'm not asking calmly I'm sim
ply telling you what I expect OF you
The girl will be here tomorrow. MY
will is made with these plans IN view.
If you don't fall in with them, you re
disinherited. absolutely. Thats all
A1ger rose
Aunt Ruth. you've been more man
a mother to me, and I'd like TO 40
everything L can to please you; but
this is expecting too much must
reserve the right to select my own
wife"
Mrs. Elliott was stubbornly silent.
and after a moment the young felloW
said earnestly: "Aaunt Ruth, give the
money to the girl If you want to- Dus
don't let her come between you ana
"Don't talk to me, Paul" impa-
tiently. Il shall give 1t to you Two
together, or not at ALI
WHO is this girl" Alger demanded
with heat that she should be thrust
upon me in this style? %
.sShe is the daughter of my hus-
bands brother. When this girl and my
Frederick We're little children, the
brothers promised each other that the
children should marry when they We're
old enough. Frederick died, and az
ter your mothers death, adopted you
You have taken F'rederick's place in
everything else-you must IN this.
1T It's is utterly impossibler' firmly.
Paul." remptingly, ''she is very
Aiger smiled and shook his head.
And, Paul" playing her trump
card. @'she is musical
Music was Ayers passion.
''Yes2'' indifferently-
yes" emphatically. ''she plays the
VIOLIN ;,
impatiently. "a girl from the wild
west=brought up on a cattle ranch,
YOU said. Doubtless she can ride a
broncho or 1asso a steer, but she
shouldn't NEEDLE with the vlonn. Sne
probably never heard of Bach or Men
delssohn, and wouldn't know sonata
from a sandwich Aunt, l can fancy
her bringing her violin in her arms,
and playing for the delectatlon OF
the other passengers in the Pullman.
you refuse, then?"
Most decidedly
Every WE'LL icily. I accept your
The next day Alger, from his desk
in the library, saw the girl as she en-
tered the adjoining room, where Mrs.
Elliott waited to greet her She was
tall and graceful, with a high bred air
of ease that surprised him. Her voice
was clear and well modulated-
upon my word" he muttered
cross between a cowboys yell and an
Indian warWhoop-
He saw the servant come in with a
WIN madame have this in the mu-
sic room, Or
"oh. no. here" and Vera held out
her hands. -.
Mrs. Elliott's tone held the slightest
suggestion of annoyance.
I'm my arms, literally" laughed
Vera.
Vera gently placed the case on the
floor and lifted out the instrument as
tenderly as a mother lifts her babe !
from it's cradle
YOU see it, you will understand My !
beautiful vio1in!
she cIasped it to her bosom with a |
gesture of tenderness The beauty OF
the girl. the unaffected grace of her |
pose and her evident artistic apprecta- |
ton stirred Alger to instant admira-
ton.
He met the girl at dinner, She gave
him one long earnest look that he felt |
at once an inquiry and challenge, |
and then she directed her conversation
to Mrs. Elliott.
Alger was piqued- he was accus-
toned to more attention from young
women She related some of the incl
deats of her trip.
I'VE had a concert each evening
there were three SlfiS III Jul Ill -.
coming to Boston to study music They
And You played, I suppose. Miss
Elliott?" Alger could not forbear the
question.
she turned her glance upon him
briefly. .'Oh. I scraped my little best"
Aiger felt the rebuff. but he shot
a triumphant glance at his aunt
AS the evening progressed Alger be- |
gan to wish the he could win some |
pleasant look or word from the girl, |
and to deeply resent his inability to |
do SO. j.,
he asked, more humbly than was his
She She was about to decline. but Mrs.
Elliott added quickly: For me, Vera
dear; 1 am so anxious to hear YOU"
The instrument with which Vera re-
turned to the room caught Alger's dis
eliminating eye at once.
ssWhere did you get this, Miss FL |
lott ?" almost abruptly, as he recog- |
nized its rarity and value.
1T is gift from my master. He
had owned it many years He has also |
a Guarnerius and an Amati. But this |
was his sweetheart! he always called |
it So
"A master of the violin does not |
present the instrument he loves best
a Stradivarius almost beyond price, to
a pupil who merely 'scrapes, thought |
Aiger.
lott ?" experim entally.
mo one but myself. He is old and !
can no longer play-age has stiffened |
his fingers; but he played once-oh, |
how he could play! He taught me
play--to please him-he gave me
this"
ssYour teacher was a German?" ten
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