Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1907-04-20
IheCiTl From
the West
BY OHIO B. SENGh
Copyright, 1905, by c. H. Sutclifrc

b.iiIOtl ) Iace.
You don't realize what you're ask
ing. Aunt Ruth" irritatcdly.
I'm not asking" calmly. I'm sim
ply telling you what 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
Lisinherited absolutely; that's all"
Alger rose.
Aunt Ruth, you've been more than
mother to me. and I'd like to do ev-
erything | can to please yDu. but this
Is expecting too much must reserve
the right to select my own wife"
Mrs. Elliott was stubbornly silent.
and after moment the young fellow
said earnestly Aunt Ruth give the
money to the girl if you want to, but
don't let her come between YOU and
me-!
Don't talk to me- Paul" impatiently.
81 shall give it to you two-together
or not at ALL
who is this girl" Algcr demanded
with heat that she should be thrust
upon me in this style?'
''She is the daughter of my husbands
brother. When this girl and my Fred
erick We're little children the BROTHERS
promised each other that the children
should marry when they were old
enough. Frederick died. and after your
mothers death adopted you. You
have taken Frederick's place in every
thing else. You must in this. Promise,
PAUL."
1T is utterly impossibe"' firmly.
Paul" temptinGly. ''She Is very
pretty"
Al@er smiled and shook his head
And. Paul" playing her trump card.
''she is musical"
Music was Ayers passion.
Yes" indirerently.
yes" emphatically "Shc plays the
violin"
'Nhat insufferable presumptionw i'm
patiently. "A girl from the wild west.
brought up on n cattle ranch. You said.
Doubtless she can ride broncho or
laSso Il steer. but she shouldn't meddle
with the violin. She probably never
heard of Bach or Men .elSsohn and
wouldn't know sonata from n sand
wich. Aunt. ! can fancy her bringing
her violin In her arms and playing for
the drlectation Of tn other passengers
in the Pullman. U&h.'
You refuse. them"
Most decidedly"
Every we'll" Jelly. Il accept your de
clsion MS final"
The next day Algcr from his desk in
the library saw the girl as she entered
the adjoining room where Mrs Elliott
waited to greet her She was tall and
graceful, with high bred air of ease
that surprised him. Her voice was
clear and well modulated.
Upon my word" he muttered. II ex-
pected her manner of speech to be
cross between cowboys yell and an
Indian warwhoop."
He saw the servant come in with a
violin case
will madam have this in the music
room Or
"Oh, no; here" And Vera held out
her hands
You brought this yourself, Vera 2"
Mrs. Ellott's tone hell the slightest
suggestion of annoyance
in my arms literally" laughed Vera.
Alger in his dim corner smiled
Vera gently placed the case on the
floor and lifted out the instrument as
tenderly rs n mother lifts her babe
from it's cradle
"Oh, Aunt Ruth" fervcntly. when
you see it you will understand my
beautiful violin!'
She claSped it to her bosom with n
gesture Of tenderness Tile beauty of
the girl. the unaffected grace Of her
pose and her evident artistic apprecia-
tion stirred Alger to instant admira-
ton
He met the girl at dinner. She gave
him one long, earnest look that he felt
Mt once an inquiry and n 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
dents Of her trip,
I'VE had concert each evening.
There We're three girls in our Pullman
coming to Boston to study music. They
sang Well"
"And you played, l suppose, Miss
Elliott" Alger could not forbear the
question.
She turned her glance upon him
briefly. "Oh. scrapel my little best"
coolly.
Alger felt the rebuff, but he shot a
triumphant glance at his aunt.
AS the evening progressed Alger be-
gan to wish that he could win some
pleasant look or word from the girl
and to deeply resent his inability to do
SO.
"Will you play for US, Miss Elliott?"
he asked, more humbly than was his
habit
She was about to decline, but Mrs.
Elliott added quickly: For me, Vera,
dear. am so anxious to hear you"
The instrument with which Vera re-
turned to the room caught Alger's dis
eliminating eye at once.
where did you get this, Miss Eli
ott?" almost abruptly as he recognized
its rarity and value.
1T Is gift from my master. He
had owned 1t for many years. He has
also a Guarnerlus and an Amati. But
this was his sweetheart He always
| called Ii so."