The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1908-03-27

MUSICALE
By A. H. ALEXANDER
(Copyright.)

by - II t.
(Copyright.)
It was the first phonOgraph to come
to Psevy's Mills, and its advent caused
something of a stir. The town clerk
had just characterized it as 'onre-
ligious," and was e~ndeavoring in
vague desperation to prove that Its
only mission was to play dance
music" The selectman and the G. A. K.
veteran, as they filed pipes from his
plug, took no positive stand, but read
lily united with him in asking, Why
had Whitaker Burnham bought it?
while l don't approve of his buyir
it." drawled the town clerk, Il guess
I've found tn reason. He wants ter
chirk up his wife. Ever since their boy
Bob ran away, ten years ago, she's
been gloomy an depressed like. Whit
.aker, close as he is, would buy any,
thing ter rouse her up. But dang a
talkin.machine! A alkin'-machine is
peculiar only in its disposition ter be
cussed."
Old man Burnham in the meanwhile
was experiencing considerable diff
Guilty with the "~contraption," or seem
ingly so. His wife had paid but scant
attention as he unpacked it, and his
mouth pulled down at the as
he furtively noted her abstraction.
II guess l can never fix this horn on,
now I've bought tn DANCED thing" he
grumbled.
Let me help you, DEAR" she offered
iistlessly, and his frosty gaze burned
warm as he saw the color mount her
cheeks in her deft endeavor to aid him.
'sWhy, you've turned this screw way
in." she cried triumphantly, as with
her scissors she remedied his blunder.
"Of course you couldn't fix it with the
screw that way" And quickly the
horn was secured in place.
We'll enjoy this, I'm a thinkin',"
he observed genially, still studying her
careworn face from the tail of his
eye.
Enjoy it? Oh, yes; well enjoy it."
Mrs. Burnham repeated vacantly. Ten
years ago yesterday it was. Ten long,
weary years."
why dye always bark back ter
that!" he cried in despair, and his
hand shook as he ar
ranged the records. He knew it was
foolish to expect her to forget. He had
hoped, however. that the talking-ma-
chine would by some mysterious means
operate to arouse her brooding mind,
even II but for a day. He had pur-
posely tampered with the screw to
give her a petty victory, and now she
cast back amid her bitter cogita-
tions again, and her eyes neither saw
him nor the toy az she sat by the win
dow and propped her chin in one thin
hand.
It was her favorite seat; for from
that particular window she could
watch the brown sweep of dusty road
until 1t lodged behind the curve. On
winter nights she had sat there. OBJ
livious to his presence and with tt
curtains pulled behind her. SO SIZE
might pierce the darkness.
A movement at the window caused
him to turn. She had risen and was
shading her eyes in an effort to scan
the now dusky road. Some ones CON-
she faltered.
He knew the wild hope ever tugginE
ct her soul when q figure turned the
curve, and to save her further pain he
explained brusQuely: only three Of the
boys comm up ter hear the machine"
.Oh.' she sighed, lapsing into her
chair again.
"Yas, only some Of the boys. II
they'd enjoy It." Then plead
ingly: Kinder Of chirk up q bit, II We
can. don't want EN- ter think we're
Dour on me. There! II yen go ter the
door I'll light a lamp"
The guests consisted OF the town
clerk and his companions Of q few
hours before. The clerk was stern and
solemn, as II present under protest,
and he viewed the. crude gaiety of the
others with . semblance OF contempt.
~ tor the machine, he refused to Join
b the inspection. and, instead, sat
down beside Mrs. Burnham and re-
turned her mechanical smile with Z
curt nod. But the veteran and the
seleetman could only bubble in the
kesnest anticipation.
Wal. shall We have some music?"
inquired Mr.. Burnham.
Lets set an talk z while" snifed
he clerk. not turning his head.
Wal, we q talk while its playin'."
sompromised Mr.. Burnham.
The clerk Immediately stepped to
BE table and became absorbed in .
photograph album 40 his host gingerly
on the frst record.
"Hsre's Bob's picture" whispered
- mother. reaching . luttering hand
lsez the clerks shoulder. But the
3her's attention faded into nothing
lees. and he jerked about in lasting
'mage, - the smashing roar OF the
'eeg drum, the purr Of the snare and
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