Bridgeton pioneer., 1907-02-07

sent the instrument he loves best-a
Sradivarius almost beyond price-to a
pupil who merely 'scrapes,' thought
Alger.
Did he have many pupils, Miss FL
liott?" experimentally.
mo one but myself. He is old and
can no longer play. Age has stiffened
bis fingers. But he played once-oh,
how he could play! He taught me from
a little child, and when 1 could play
to please him-he gave me this.'
Your teacher was a GermanT ten
tatively.
"a Belgian" quietly Now you shall
hear the voice of the Stradivarius."
She tuned the strings and played.
There was certainty of chord lingering,
a strength, an almost manliness, COM
bined with emotional warmth, about
her Interpretation of the difficult Bach
sonata that amazed Alger.
"Bach's D Minor Sonata is not for
amateurs he said gravely to his aunt.
Miss Elliott's gift is beyond question.
Gue NOu4u llDh VIII the great NlOllu-
lists of the present day"
Il think John possessed some musical
ability" replied Mrs. Elliott serenely.
The girl raised her bow with an in
describable gesture of reverence. My
mother" proudly, was a De Beriot.
Ny master is my grandfather. l did
not wish to seem to boast. He is
Francis Auguste de Beriot"
"And this from the cattle ranchr'
thought Alger.
As the days went by he found him
self desperately in love with the girl
and unable to win from her anything
more than the most chilling courtesy.
He had not even the satisfaction of
confiding in Mrs. Elliott Once when
he tried TO speak of Vera, meaning to
confess his love for the girl, his aunt
interrupted him coldly: Say no more,
Paul 1 accepted your decision as final,
you will remember, and a later will
leaves all l possess to the Home For
Aged Men"
She swept angrily from the room.
Alger stood for a moment as If stun
ned; then he laughed aloud. That's
good news. Now there's no money in
the way. and I'll move heaven and
earth to win the loveliest girl that
ever
"tCame out of the west" quoted
a merry voice, and the portiers parted
and Vera stepped from the window
seat into the room.
Alger sprang forward hastily.
Vera" eagerly, you've known all
the while that l love you
"a girl from the west, brought up on
a cattle ranch?" she questioned, hold
ing him back with her hand on his
breast.
81 don't care where you're from, or
anything else, if you'll only say you
love me, Vera" pleadingly.
"a girl who doesn't know a sonata
from a sandwich?' mischievously.
"Vera, forgive me for that and say
you love me-
paul" seriously, 'I've loved you
ever since 1 was little girl. Seer
She drew a locket from her bosom and
pressed back the cover.
Alger gazed in bewilderment. 1t was
his own face that looked up at him.
"Aunt Ruth sent that to my father.
claimed it as mine and have worn it
always"
Vera" with his arms about her,
why have you been SO cruel to me
when I've tried so hard
81 feared you might propose to me
to please Aunt Ruth and-and because
of the money!
Here, here! What's all this about?'
Aunt Ruth's voice sounded harshly at
the door,
They turned toward her together.
Vera has promised to marry me,
Aunt Ruth"
"And my latest wilP'- She fairly
hurled the words a. them.
I'VE don't mind" they cried togeth-
er rapturously.
twas never signed" added Aunt
Ruth in changed voice, and they
heard her laughing as she softly closed
the door and left them to their hap
piness.