The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1907-01-16
TheGirl From
the West
By OHIO B. SENCA
Copyright, 1906, by {. II. sutelis

"ai NiSti ioohtu Htiiis lito Mis-.
Ellott's face.
"Nou don't realize what you're ask
ing, AUNT Ruth, irritatedls.
I'm not asking, calmly I'm SIM
ply telling you what | expect of you.
The girl Will he here tomorrow My
will is made With these plans in view.
If you don't fall in with them. you're
disuherted absolutely; that's all"
Alger rose
Aunt Ruth. you've been more than
Il mother 10 me. and I'd like To do ev-
erything | can 10 please You. but this
is expecting too mitch. must reserve
the right 10 select my own Wife
Mrs Elliott was stubbornly silent.
and after a moment the young fellow
said earnestly. AUNT Ruth. give the
money 10 the girl if YOU want 10. but
don't let her come between You and
me-"
Don't talk to me. Paul" impatiently.
or not nj all
who is this girl AlSer demanded
with heat. that She should he thrust
upon me in this STYLE
she is the daughter OF my husbands
brother When this girl and my Fred
erici 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 Efederiek's place In every
thing else You must in this. Promise,
Paul.
II IS utterly impossible" firmly
Pau" tenhtingly. "she is very
pretty"
Alser smiled and shock his head
'And, Paul. playing her trump card,
she is musical"
Music WAS Ayers passion.
Yes iadifferently.
Yes" cmphatically "She plays the
violin"
What insuflerable presumption" i'm
patiently y girl from the wild west,
hroneoi up on 4 cattle ranch, YOU said.
Doubtless she can ride Il broncho or
lasso a steer. hnt SHE shouldn't NEEDLE
with the violin. She probably never
heard of Zach or Mcndelssohn aud
wouldn't kuow sonata from II sand
wieh Aunt | can fancy her bringing
her violin i'll her arms and playing for
the delectation of the other passengers
in the Pullman. Il h,''
You refuse, them
"Most decidedly"
every WE'LL Jelly. Il accept your de.
cision rs final
The next day Niger from his desk In
the library saw the girl ms she entered
the adjoining yoem where Mrs. Elliott
waited 10 prcei her She was tail aud
graceful. with a high bred air of ease
that surprised him Her voice WAS
clear and well modulated
Upon my word, he muttcred, Il ex-
pected her manncr Of speech to be n
cross between cowboy $ yell and an
Indian warWhooP'
He saw the servant come in with Il
violin case
"Will madam have this in the music
room or
"Oh, no; here" And Vera held out
her hands
You brou IT this yourself. Vera"
Mrs. Elliott tone held the slightest
suggestion Of annoyance.
"In my arms literally" laughed Vera.
Algcr In his dim corner smiled.
Vera gently placed the case on the
tenderly rs mother lifts her babe
from its cradle
ooh Aunt Ruth" fcrycntly, when
you see it you Will Understanding
beautiful violin"
She claspcd it to her bosom with n
gesture of tenderness. The beauty of
the girl, the unaffected grace Of her
pose and her evident artistic apprecia-
ton stirred Agcr to instant admira-
ton.
lie met the girl at dinner. She gave
him one long. earnest look that he felt
at once an inquiry and Il 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 bad Il concert each evening.
There We're three girls IN our Pullman
coming 10 Boston to study music. They
sang we'll"
"And you played, suppose, Miss
Elliott 2" Alger could not forbear the
question.
She turned her glance upon him
briefly. "0h. | scraped my little best"
coolly.
Alger felt the rebuff. but he shot Il
Triumphant glance ut his aunt
As the evening progressed Alger be-
gan 10 wish that he could win some
pleasant look or word from the girl
and to deeply resent his inability to do
so.
"W'lll you play for US. Miss ElllottY
he asked, more humbly than was his
habit.
She was about 10 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 Ayers dis
eliminating eye at once.
w here uid You get This, MISS ELL
ott!" almost abruptly as he recognized
its rarity and value.
at Is gift from my master He
had owned it for many years. He has
also Guarnerius and an Amati. Bt
this was his sweetheart lie always
called it SOL
"a master or the violin does not pre-.
sent the instrument he loves best-a
Stradivarus almost beyond price-to
pupil who merely 'scrapes,'" thought
Alger.
did he have many pupils, Miss FL
llott?" experimentally.
NO one but myself. lie is old and
can no longer play. Age has stiffened
his fingers. But he played once-oh,
how he could play! He taught me from
a little child, and when l could play
to please him-he gave me this"
Your teacher was Germanf" ten
tatively.