Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-12

L
came from. for never asked; but they're
not like other tunes, that's certain, and
l like them. They remind me of the old
days out West, when | had no money
and nothing to worry about"
I'm very fond of whistling, too,
Margaret said II study all my parts by
whistling them so as to save my voice
: Really? / had no idea that was pos
sible."
Quite. Perhaps you whistle very
we'll. Won't YOU let me hear the tune
that irritated your neighbor the pianist?
Perhaps know it too
We'll" said Van Torp. Il suppose /
could. I should be little shy before
YOU" he added quite naturally. If
YOU II excuse me, I'll just go and stand
before the window so that l can't see
YOU. Perhaps l. can manage it that
way
. Margaret, who was bored to the verge
of collapse on the off days, thought him
much nicer than he had formerly been,
and liked his simplicity. Stand any
where you like, she said; but Let me
hear the tune
IVAN TORP rose and went to the win
: dow, and she looked quietly at his
square figure and massive, sandy head
and strong neck. Presently he began to
whistle, very softly and perfectly in tune.
MANY a street boy could do as we'll no
doubt, and Mrs. Rushmore would have
called it a vulgar accomplishment; but
the magnificent, prlma donna was too
true a musician, as we'll as singer, not to
take pleasure in sweet sound, even 1t
it was produced by a street boy.
But as Van Torp went on, she opened
her ewes wide and held her breath. There
was no mistake about it he was whistling
long pieces from Parsifal,' as far as it
was possible to convey an idea of such
music by such means! Margaret had
studied it. before coming to Bayreuth, IN
order to understand it better; she had
now already heard it once, and had felt the
greatest musical emotion of her life
one that had stirred other emotions too,
strange ones quite new to her. She held
her breath and listened, and her eyes,
that had beenwide open in astonishment,
slowly closed again in pleasure, and pres
emily, when he reached the Good Fri
day. music her own matchless voice
floated out with her unconscious breath,
in such perfect octaves with his high
whistling that at first he did not under
stand; but when he did, the rough hard
man shivered suddenly and steadied
himself against the window sill, and Mar
garet's voice went on alone, with family
breathed words, and then without them,
following the Instrumentation to the end
of the scene, beyond what he had ever
heard -,
Then there was silence in the room,
and neither of the two moved for some
moments; but at last Van Torp turned
and came back.
Thank YOU" he said in low voice.
Margaret smiled and passed her hand
over her eyes quickly, as if to dispel a
vision she had seen. Then she spoke.
DO YOU really not know what that
music is" she asked. Really. really?"
"Oh, quite honestly, l don't"
You're not joking? You're not
laughing at me-" -
IL" He could not understand. Il
shouldn't dare!" he said.
you've been whistling some of Par
sifal, some of the most beautiful music
that ever was written; and you whistle
marvelouslv, for it's anything but easy.
Where in the world did you learn it
Don't tell me that those are old tunes
you picked up on a Californian ranch!'
Its true, all the same Van Torp
answered.
LIE told her of the two foreigners who