Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-09-19
"Uebcr die sterne list ruth,
IIeber die sterno list rub.

sweiled the music, louder and sweeter |
the rich full tones OF the great organ, |
and the mellow, wonderful voice OF
the musician rose, until the dim,
quaint old church was filled with the
exquisite harmony.
Slowly and cautiously one OF the
heavy outer doors was partly opened
and dark, lovely face looked timid-
ly In, as the music swelled upward In
all its sublime sweetness, the door was
pushed farther open by little brown
hand and n slight childish figure en-
tered and crept softly, hesitaungly
up the aisle.
Presently the music stopped, but
the child remained kneeling as If in
trance. The door leading from the
organ loft opened and the musician
came slowly down, humming softly
to himself. AS he came forward his
eyes fell on the kneeling child with
her rapt, exquisite face and her won
drous, lifted eyes, and he stopped
short In establishment.
"I4iebe Himmell' he muttered. ut
Is the face of an angel"
A tide of crimson flooded the love-
ly olive face as the child sprang up
and shrank back timidly.
Pardon, SRA thousand pardons!'
she stammered, in soft, musical
voice, tremulous with fright.
The look of wonder and astonish-
ment on the good professors face
changed to one of gentleness and
| IA at hD fear
"Pfui, little one, thou hast naught
to fear; am | then so great mon
ster that thou shouldst run from me?
Come, maitchen, let us see thee
closer"
The child came shyly forward and
stood before the great master, who
took her small hands In his own and
gazed with kindly curiosity into her
face.
"Thou art puzzle, little one" he
said, smiling. Who art thou? l
find thee in this quiet English town,
and the tongue is English, too, but
the face and voice, they do not belong
to an English maid How Is it, leib-
chem"
81 am Gabrielle" said the child
simply. "My father keeps the music
shop near by. He is English, but
i am like my mother who Is with
the angels. She was born over the
sea, in Italy"
"Ah! that accounts for thy soft
voice and dark face. my lovely one.
thought there was southern blood
in thy veins. And thou vert listen
ing to the music? Perhaps thou
wouldst like to learn, thyself?"
The child drew in her breath quick
ly and clasped her hands spasmod-
ically in the emotion that suddenly
swept over her.
"Ah! if | might" she cried, III
only might! But there Is none to
teach, and / can do nothing but sing,
and that not at home, for It makes
my father sad My mother sang, and
he Is always remembering"
$50 you sing, then, little one; let us
hear you. Come, do not be afraid /;
sing something you know we'll"
He had, somehow, expected to hear
an unusual voice, but nothing like
what he did hear; as the child threw
back her head proudly and her sweet
clear voice swelled upward, the pur'
ity and richness of It's exquisite tones
thrilled the great master and filled
him with wondering establishment
: ut Is wonderful" he exclaimed, as
; the sweet voice died away, and Cab
rielle stood flushed and trembling be
, fore him. my child, you are blest
, Of the saints! your voice Is perfect
|, You will have the world at YOU
feet"
81 want only to be able to play the
great organ and sing as you do. Shal
> ever be able to sing the song yol
sang just now?"
Certainly, and many much more
difficult than that"
"But who would teach me, sir?'
faltered Gabrielle MY father ha.
no money"
I'VE shall see to that, little one
we shall see to all that-such voice
must not be lost to the world. Tel
me where you live and l will Sc,
the father about It,"
Gabrielle directed him, and thel
with the impulsiveness born of he
hot. southern blood, she raised hi
4 hand to her lips and covered 1t will
j kisses.
I The great German master had com
i to this little out-of-the-way Englis
n town some weeks before, for the pul
t pose of resting. He had steered clea
of hotels and boarding houses, thong
8 they were of very quiet, primitiv
n order in this country place, and ha
!, secured lodgings with one of his ow
: countrymen, Karl Hansel, must
y teacher, who. soon ascertained VIII
t his guest was, and was not littl
+ proud of the distinction of havin
the famous Herr Professor" to us
his own words, under his roof H
bapar a praat favDritn with CT