Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1908-05-14
The Inspiring of
IRA. Hartman
BY Angela Morgan.
Copyright. 1902, by w. r. Hearst.

was a mistake for him TO leave his old
rooms in Twenty-third street. True, The
new uptown apartment was much more
in keeping With his artistic tastes and with
his rapidly changing fortunes. Yet III
thought he chung to the shabby bachelor
quarters where for five years he had
struggled for the fame that was now
gliding his horizon.
Being a musical genius and a composer,
1t may be that his erratic temperament
had TO do with the almost superStit.ous
fondness With which he regarded the old
place.
Amid those poor though blessed sur
roundings he had done his best creative
work. His den had become TO him a
magic center where his thoughts were.
thrilled and his ambitions stimulated. The
very wallis and hangings faded though
they were, had seemed to breathe inspira-
ton. When he departed Hartman felt
that he left that Inspiration behind.
Established In his new home, he could
not but appreciate the glow and beauty
OF harmonious appointments. But eXter-
nails do not make mental atmosphere.
Hartman knew at once that it would be
his task to create that atmosphere, and
that he would not be able to write until
he did.
Then came a discovery that appalled,
him. In the fiat below some deluded hui
man being .'practiced" daily upo the
piano. Now, indeed, was Hartman con-
vinced that he had made q mistake In
moving from the old place.
Not only daily but hourly did this mis-
guided creature-he presumed it was .
woman-torture the piano and the unfor-
tunate composer alike.
Try as he would he could not concentrate
upon his work. Rapturous strains that
had been singing trimuphantly in his brain
refused to p~recipitate themselves upon pa
per whenever the banging and strammtng
cOmrnonced Golden them0A-eluadvA and
neutrality-suspicious. his imagination. only
to dissolve maddeningly into n~othingless
at sound Of the excruciating discords from
the fiat below.
The situation must be met. somehow.
Better to injure the feelings of his neigh
Dor than to jeopardixe the success Of his
new opera. Nevertheless. he hesitated. 1t
was a delicate undertaking. He hated to
trample upon the tender sensibiltties Of .
woman.
Then one day something happened which
put to rout with startling sa%bruptnese his
kindly scruples concerning his supposedly
frail and sensitive %neighbor. On his way
upstairs he encountered her just emerging
from her fiat. She was tall, she was
sQuare-jawed, she was aggressive! She
was. In short, an exaggerated type of new
woman.
He might have known It! Was she not
the very personihcation of the harsh and,
clamorous music that daily disturbed htm?i
The fact that she carried q music roll left.
no doubt in his mind as to her identity.
Then and there Hartman resolved that
he would speak his mind the very next,
time that occasion demanded 1t.
The following morning proved to be that
time. The player had tackled some Of.
H~artSnan'st own. compositions and was,
numbering them mercilessly. 1t was too
much. The wild eyed and despairing must
clan leaped to his feet and rushed down.
stairs. thoroughly prepared for battle.
At his imperative knock the playing,
ceased. He heard FOOTBALLS across the hard
wood hall floor within. Then the door
opened.
Madam he began. sternly, but got no
futher. No square-jawed. aggressive wo-
man faced him. but a 1.-the. lovely girl in,
a pretty morning dress. Her brown eyes.
were lifted limpidly to his staring ones.
You wish to see me?'' she inquired,
gently.
In that moment OF utter Darkness Hart
man struggled for an idea as he had never
struggled before, even in the composition
of his most noted works.
II called to say" he explained. gasp
ingly, but paused in CONSERVATION. What
had he called to say?
A sudden inspiration saved him. "Tho
cook overturned a tub of water upstairs"
he burst forth, and 1 feared perhaps 1t
might damage your ceiling"
She smiled upon him. How kind Of
you!" she said. You are good to take
the trouble"
N trouble whatever" he assured her.
Perhaps l can help YOU"
ri see at once.'' she replied. and dh-
appeared into tho rear regions.
Hartman wandered into the parlor. He
was still thinking of her eyes and her
smile. He turned eagerly at the returning
rustic of her dress.
There doesn't seem to be any trouble
with the ceiling" she said.
"I'm very 01oA > 1n na~,S.l .r 49,,
nate to think that my housekeeper's stupid
blunder should nave annoyed you"
Thank you. Mr.. Hartman" She smiled
and then blushed. You see am aware
OF your identity. My cousin is quite fond
or your music. She plays a great DEAL"
Your cousin!' breathed Hartman. .T91a
-er-tall young woman"
"Yes-Jane is tall" The girl glanced an
prehensively toward tremulous portteres.
All. I've had the pleasure Of hearing
her" lied Hartman. WAS she not play-
ing just now?"
Yes, that was She"
Then this lovely being was not the guilty
one!
Hartman returned to his work in =
buoyant frame of mind. His inspiration
had returned. He worked as he had not
worked since he left the magic atmosphere
OF his old beloved rooms.
People praise that particular opera above
all his others. Hartman knows why. He
frequently explains the reason to q GER
tain brOwn-eyed, sweet-voiced Woman-his
wife.
Unselfish.
Master Walter, aged 5, had eaten the
soft portions of his toast at breakfast.
and r,f1od tho OrVscto nm h}o vV~<-N