Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1907-03-08
BY OHIO B. SENCA
Copyright, 1905, by c. II. sutclifre

have taken Frederick's place in every
thing else. You must in this. Promise,
Paulv'
1T is utterly impossiblep' firmly.
Paul." temptingly, "she is very
pretty"
Alger smiled and shook his head
"And, Paul" playing her trump card,
"she is musical"
Music was Alger's passion.
''Yes?" indifferently..
"Yes," emphatically. "She plays the
VIOLIN"
what insufferable presumptionw i'm.
patiently. "a girl from the wild west,
brought up on cattle ranch, you said.
Doubtless she can ride a broncho or
lasso a steer, but she shouldn't meddle
with the violin. She probably never
heard of Bach or Mendelssohn and
wouldn't know sonata from sand
wich. Aunt, l can fancy her bringing
her violin in her arms and playing for
the delectation of the other passengers
in the Pullman. Ughw
you refuse, then"
"Most decidedly"
every WELL" icily. 81 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 a high bred air of ease
that surprised him. Her voice was
clear and well modulated.
upon my word" he muttered, 81 ex-
pected her manner of speech to be q
cross between a cowboys yell and an
Indian warwhoop."
He saw the servant come in with a
violin case.
"Will madam have this in the music
room orr
"Oh, no; here" And Vera held out
her hands.
you brought this yourself, Veraf"
Mrs. Elliott's tone held 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 as mother lifts her babe
from its cradle.
"Oh, Aunt Ruth" fervently, when
you see it you will understanding
beautiful violin"
She clasped it 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 Alger to instant admira-
tion.
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 trip.
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, I suppose, Miss
ElliottT" Alger could not forbear the
question.
She turned her .a!nnce uDon him
SlsIt the instrument he loves best-u
yadivarius almost beyond prlce-to a
pupil who merely 'scrapes,' thought
Alger.
Did he have many pupils, Miss El-
lott" eXperimentally.
mo one but myself He 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
little child, and when l could play
to please him-he gave me this.'
"Your teacher was a German" ten
tatively.
"a Belgian" quietly. Now you shall
hear the voice of the Stradvarius."
She tuned the strings and played.
There was certainty of chord lingering,
n strength, an almost manliness, COM
bined with emotional warmth, about
her Interpretation of the difficult Bach
sonata that amazed Alger.
"Bachs d Minor Sonata is not for
amateurs" he said gravely to his aunt
"Miss Elliott's gift is beyond question
She would rank with the great violin
ISIS Vi tlle present uds.
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 De Beriot
My master is my grandfather. l did
not wish to seem to boast. He IL
briefly. "Oh, scraped my little best,
coolly.
Alger felt the rebuff, but he shot q
| 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 CIR
| and to deeply resent his inability to dc
| so.
"Will You play for us, Miss ElliottF
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
ottY almost abruptly as he recognized
It's rarity and value.
! "It Is a gift from my master. II,
had owned it for many years. He La
also q Guaruerius and an Amati. Pl
this was his sweetheart He alway,
! called 1t So"
"a master Of the violin does not pre