The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1907-03-01
TheOirl From
the West
By OHIO B. SENGA
Copyright, 1906, by C. H. sutcliffe

VIII is Lldue WIFI lneSe plans III 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
n mother to me. and I'd like to do ev-
erything l can to please you, but this
IS expecting too much. must reserve
the right to select my own wife"
Mrs. Elliott was stubbornly silent,
md after a 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
mer'
Don't talk to me- Paul." impatiently.
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 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 l adopted you. You
have taken Frederick's place in every
thing else. You must in this. Promise,
paul!'
at is utterly impossiblew 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.
Eyes" emphatically "She plays the
violin"
"What insufferable presumption i'm
patiently. "a girl from the wild west,
brought up on cattle ranch, you said.
Doubtless she can ride a broncho or
lasso steer, but she shouldn't NEEDLE
with the violin. She probably never
heard of Bach or Mendelssohn and
wouldn't know sonata from a sand
witch. Aunt, l can fancy her bringing
her violin in her arms and playing for
the delectation of the other passengers
In the Pullman. Ugh!"
you refuse, then?"
''Most decidedly"
every WELL" Jelly. 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 high bred air of ease
that surprised him. Her voice was
clear and we'll modulated.
upon my word" he muttered, Il 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
violin case
"Will madam have this in the music
room orr
ooh, no; here" And Vera held out
her hands.
"You brought this yourself, Vera?"
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 a 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
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-
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 trip.
1--WE had a 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
ElliottT Alger could not forbear the
question.
She turned her glance upon him
briefly. ooh, 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.
Twill 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. l am so anxious to hear you"
The instrument with which Vera re-
| turned to the room caught Ayers dis
eliminating eye at once.
| "Where did you get this, Miss ELI
ott?" almost abruptly as he recognized
| ats rarity and value.
at is a gift from my master. He
| had owned it for many years. He has
also Guarnerius and an Amati. But
this was his sweetheart He always
called 1t So"
| "a master Of the violih does not pre-
sent the instrument he loves best-a
] Stradivarius 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
his fingers But he played once-oh,
how he could play! He taught me from
q little child, and when l could play
to please him-he gave me this"
Your teacher was German?" ten
tatively.