The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-10-24

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the professor had not always been
kind, and the tender feelings had been
cut more than once. As he sobbed,
be was wondering if he would be sent
back home, a failure.
The idea sickened him, and tears
were fast returning, when a gentle
hand touched his pulsing forehead.
He raised his tear stained face tim
idly, thinking the time for the dread
ed scolding had come. But instead
of seeing the cold, hard features of the
professor, he saw the gentle face of
the prima donna. He had never seen
her so close before, and her counte-
nance seemed to him like that of an
angel.
"Don't cry, DEAR" she said, as she
brushed back the hair from his fore
head. "Don't cry, for my sake, and
you shall play for me tonight. -
His face lighted up, and the great
choking Jumps in his throat melted
away under the caresses of that COM
forting hand.
"Go home now," she said, "and
come back tonight. No one shall
scold you"
| Then she handed him flower, and
left the room. He could say moth
ing, he was SO happy. His eyes,
beaming with joy, followed her to the
door and when it closed, the sound
of her footsteps on the narrow stair
case was like the sweetest music to
him.
In the evening he took his place in
the orchestra, and played as he never
had played before. When the time
for the lullaby came, and his ''beauti-
full friend" as he had described her
to his mother, came on the stage, he
bowed his head down over his violin,
and the music that rose from that one
instrument alone was in itself SYM
phony. Then came the applause, and
as it died away in echoes, she looked
down at him and smiled. The audi
ence saw it, but not one of them knew
how much sunshine that one look had
placed in a boys heart.
Days had passed since the unpleas-
ant rehearsal, and it had almost been
forgotten. One night there was
stir behind the curtain when the stage
manager, after reading note brought
by messenger, had called for the
prima donua's understudy. 1t was
not long before the news spread to
the dressing rooms, and every heart
was saddened for the note had brought
the tidings of the illness of the loved
singer. Franz missed her, too; and
when the curtain had dropped on the
last act, he put his violin under his
arm, and went up the dark, winding
steps to the stage.
The eight man, who had always
been kind to Franz, was shutting off
the circuit for the house lights. Franz
absence, and was told that she had
been taken suddenly i'll. The answer
to his inquiry startled and panied him.
He started home with his heart heavy,
and his thoughts all centered around
the sweet voiced being who had been
his comforter. He stopped for mo-
ment before the window Of music
store, and his eyes fell upon the score
of the lullaby his friend had sung.
With sudden impulse he started off
| in different direction.
He walked on for many blocks,
and came finally to brightly light
ed apartment house. A hall boy
opened the door for him. With
tremor in his voice, Franz asked if
the boy could tell him if Nine. Can
tori was very i'll. The boy simply
replied, "Second story front" and
taking this as an invitation, Franz
passed in and up the broad stairs.
He was just turning the landing,
when he met man coming down.
Franz stopped him, and politely ask
ed if ne could direct him to the sing
er's room. The man was physi-
clan. He stopped, looked at the boy,
and said that madame was very, very
i'll, and could not see him. What
was the matter, the boy asked? An
attack of the heart had stricken her
down, the man replied, and life was
only hanging by a thread.
Tears came into the boys eyes, and
a sob passed his lips. He went on,
and stopped before the door. 1t was
as quiet as death within. He waited
there a long time. The physician
came and went again, but only shook
his head sadly and meaningly, and
went on.
Franz knelt down, noiselessly un-
locked the case, and took out his
violin. He raised the bow, and,
placing the instrument against his
face, began to play. 1t twas the soft.
sweet notes of the lullaby that 1oated
through the quiet building, and into
the room where the singer lay.
| Life was ebbing fast, but as the
music reached her ears, her eyes
opened and a smile of ineffable sweet
ness came to the beautiful face. The
watchers leaned over her couch.
"Hear, hear" she murmured II
is Franz, dear little Franz p
Still the music kept on, sweeter and
softer as each note was played. The
singer tried to rise, and loving hand:
supported her.
'Listen, the lullaby p she whis
pered.
Not another sound disturbed the
scene, so solemn and sad. But just
as the closing notes of the music were
being played a string on the violir
snapped.
The singer opened her eyes, ant
family breathed, "God bless little
!. Franz"
The eyes closed again, and her heaC
: sank back on the pillow. A voice
rich and beautiful, was hushed, anc
the soul of the singer had passed int