Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-03-07
TheOiTI From
the West
By OHIO B. SENGA

0~~o~~~>~~>>or~>>1>~~~~>
Paul Alger looked firmly into Mrs.
Elliotts face
You don't realize what you're ask
ing, Aunt Ruth" irritatedly.
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
disinherited absolutely; that's all"
Alger rose.
"Aunt Ruth, you've been more than
a mother to me, and I'd like to do ev-
erythng | can to please you, but this
is expecting too much. | must reserve
the right to select nay own wife"
Mrs. Elliott was stubbornly silent.
and after y 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" impatienuy.
Il shall give it to you two-together
or not at all"'
who is this girl" Alger demanded
with heat. that she should be thrust
upon me in this styleY
"She is the daughter of my husbands
/ brother. When this girl and my Fred
erick were little children the brothers
| promised each other that the children
should marry when they We're 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 impossibler' firmly.
Paul" temptingly, "she is very
/ pretty"
Alger smiled and shook his head.
"And, Paul" playing her trump card,
"she is musical"
Music was Ayers passion.
"Yes?" indifferently.
Yes" cmphaticaIly. "She plays the
violin"
what insufferable Presumption i'm
patiently. ~ girl from the wild west,
brought up on cattle ranch. you said.
| Doubtless she can ride broncho or
! lasSo steer, but she shouldn't NEEDLE
! with the violin. She probably never
heard Of Bach or Mendelssohn and
wouldn't know a sonata from sand
wich. Aunt ! can fancy her bringing
! her violin in her arms and playing for
the delectation of the other passengers
/ in the Pullman. Ugh"'
You refuse them"
Most decidedly"
every we'll" icily. Il accept your de-
cision as final"
The next day Alger 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 ana we'll modulIted.
Upon NY word" he muttered II ex-
/ pectel her manner Of speech to be a
cross between cowboys yell and an
Indian warwhoop."
/ He saw the servant come in with a
violin case.
"WHl madam have this in the music
J room Or
| "Oh. no, here" And Vera held out
her hands
You brought this yourself, yera"
| Mrs Elliott's tone held the slightest
J suggestion O: annoyance.
| "In my arms literally" laughed Vera.
Alger in lis dim corner smiled.
/ Vera gently placed the case ON the
floor and lifted out the instrument as
tenderly us a mother lifts her babe
from its cradle
"Oh. Aunt Ruth" fervently, when
you see it you will Understanding
beautiful violin
She clasped 1t to her bosom with a
! gesture of tenderness. The beauty Of
the girl, the unaffected grace Of her
pose and her evident artistic apprecia-
! ton stirred Alrer 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
! dents of her tip.
1--WE had concert each evening.
! There were three girls in our Pullman
coming to Boston to study music. They
| sang we'll
"And you played. | suppose, Miss
Elliott?" Alger could not forbear the
| question.
/ She turned her Glance unon him
briefly. "Oh, scraped my little best"
coolly.
Alger felt the rebuff, but he shot
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 ElliottT'
he asked. more humbly than was his
habit
She Was about to decline, but Mrs
Elliott added quickly: For me, Vera,
| dear. l am 50 anxious 10 hear YOU"
The instrument with which Vera re
turuei TO tie room caught Ayers dis.
! eliminating eye at once
"Where aid you get this, Miss Eli
! ottf" almost abruptly rs he recognized (
its rarity aEd value
1T is a gift from my master. He
had owned ii for many years. He has
also Il Guaruerius and an Amat Rut
this was lis sweetheart He always
called 1t So"
"A master Of the violin dons not nra-
lat the instrument he loves best-a
5adiyarius almost beyond price-to
pupil who merely 'scrapes.'" thought
Alger
Did he have many pupils, Miss FL
lottt' Xperimentally.
no one but myself He is old and
nor, no t,.,,r,,. ,.In,. N,n Ios. etieroro5