The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-05-15
The Inspiring of
Hartman
BY Angela Morgan.
Copyright. 1902. by w. II. Hearst.

W.
hartman had felt from the first that Ia,
was a mistake for him to leave his oldl
rooms i'll Twenty-third street. True, theI
new uptown apartment was much moral
IN keeping with his artistic tastes and With
his rapidly changing fortunes. Yet mi
thought he chung 10 the shabby bachelOrl
quarters where for 1--WE years he hadl
struggled tor the fame that was nowl
gliding his horizon.
Beng a musical genius and a cOmpOser,l
1t may be that his erratic temperament
had 10 do with the almost superstlCouB
fondness with which he regarded the Old
place.
Amid those poor though blessed surf
%roundings he had done his best creative
work. His den had become 10 him q!
magic center where his thought were
thrilled and his ambitions stimulated. Yhae
very walls and hanglngs faded though
they were, had seemed TO breathe inspila7
ton. When he departed Hartman felt
that he left that inspiration behind.
Established in his new home. he coufd
not but appreciate the glow and beauty
OF harmonious appointments. But eAter4
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 he able to write until
he did.
Then came n discovery that appalled,
him. In the fiat below some deluded hu-
man being 'practiced' daily upon the
piano. Now, indeed, was Hartman con-
WINGED that he had made q mistake in
moving from the old place.
Not only daily but hourly did this mis-,
guided creature-he presumed 1t waa a
oman-tortur the plano and the unforS
tunate composer alike.
L TRY n hp would he rOllL6 NOT concentrate
upon l1s work. Rapturous strains that
had been singing t~rimuphanuy in his brain
refused to precipitate themselves upon pas
per whenever the banging and strammine
commenced. Golden themes-elustVe and
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. his Imagination, only
to dissolve maddeningly into n~othinglesa
at sound of the excruciating discords from
the fiat below.
The situation must be met. somehow
Better TO injure the feelings of his neighS
Dor than to jeopardize the success OF his
new opera. Nevertheless, he hesitated. IL
was a delicate undertaking. He hated to
trample upon the tender sensibilities of q
woman.
Then one day something happened which
put to rout with startling abruptnese his
kindly scruples concerning his supposedly
frail and sensitive netghbor. 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 II! Was she not
the very personifcatio OF the harsh and
clamorous music that daily disturbed him?
The fact that she carried a 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 nlaVeY had tackled annnn ne
own compositions and was
numbering them mercilessly. Ii was too
much. The wild-eyed and despairing musi-,
clan leaped to his feet and rushed DOWN.
stairs. thoroughly prepared for battle.
AT his imperative knock the playlngi
ceased. He heard footballs across the hard
wood hall floor within. Then the door
opened.
Madam" he began, sternly, hut 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 l.mpidly 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 compositions
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. ''The
COOK overturned a tub of water upstairs,''
he burst forth, land ] feared perhaps 1t
might damage your ceiling"
She smiled upon him. How kind of
your she said. You are good to tako
the trouble"
trouble whatever" he assured her.
Perhaps l can help you"
I'm see at once" she replied, and dis
appeared into the rear regions.
Hartman wandered into the narlnr 1Jn
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 glad" he replied. 1T should
hate to think that my ~housekeeper's stupid
blunder should have annoyed you"
THANK you. Mr.. Hartmann She smiled
and then blushed. You see / am aware
OF your identity. My cousin is quite fond
OF your music. She plays a great deal"
You cousin!' breathed Hartman. "rhe
-er-tall young woman?"
"Yes-Jane is tall" The girl glanced an
prehensively toward tremIlous portieres.
"Ah, I've had the pleasure Of hearing
her" lied Hartman. Was 81 E not play
ing just now?'
Yes. that was She
Then this lovely being was not the guilty
one!
Hartman returned to his work In a
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. Ho
frequently explains the reason to q GER
tain brown-eyed. sweet-voiced AN
wife.
As Good as Money.
Stories have been told Of buttons.
tacks and various extraneous sub-ii
stances found in contribution boxes,
but it is seldom that a church member.
strikes a blow SO sever as was thai
delivered by Amos Budd, OF PotteryNle.