Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1909-05-21


flare of the old character he had been
relieving, but the music. begun In
bravado, swept him almost instantly
beyond Its bounds He had never been
an indifferent performer. Now he was
playing as he had mover played In his
life. with Inspiration and abandon
There was a diaholism IN II. He had
forgotten the right the crowd. his owi,
mocking mood. lie had forgotten
where he was He was afsoat on a
fuctuant tide OF melody that was car
rying him back back into the far.
away past toward all that he had loved
! aud lost.
ats Home. Sweet Home.'" said
Barney McGinn. NO. it's Annie
Laurie No. it's--hanged IL know
what Il isi''
The player himself could not have
told him lie was In a kind OF trnnced
dream, The self made music was call.
/ ing with sweet insistence TO buried
thiags that were stirring from long
sleep. II sent gulp into the throat
OF more than one standing moveiess
\ In the street. 1t brought d suspicious
moisture TO Tom Folders eyes II drew
/ Mrs. Hallaran from the Kitchen. wip-
ing her hands on her apron II called
! to a glrl who cruuchcd IN the upper
3 hail with her miserable rlce Buried liz
her hands, drew her down the stair
TO the Office door. her eyes wide with
GREATNESS wonder her face glistening
with feeling.
From the balcony Jessica had wit
messed the fight without understand.
ing Its meaning. A fascination she
could not gainsay had glued her eyes
/ to the struggle. Ii was he 1t was the
! face she knew. seen but once for
single moment In the hour OF her mar
riage. but stamped indellbly upon her
! memory. Ii was no longer smooth
shaver. and II was changed. eyilly
changed But 1t was the same. There
was recklesness and mockery In II and
/ yet strength. not weakness. Stunned
and despised as he might be~-the chief
actor. MS II seemed 10 her, In cheap
and desperate harrooin ARRAY. a coarse
affair OF fisticuffs In the public street
| yet there was something intrepid In
his bearing. something splendid In his
! victory
! To Jessica. standing With hands elasn
clasped, the music seemed the agony
OF renorse for q past fall the cry Of
/ forlorn soul. knowing Itself cast out.
! appealing to It's good angel for pity
and pardon. Hugh had often played
to her. lightly. carelcssly. as he did all
things She had deemed II only Que OF
bis many clever amatenrish accom-
pIishments. Now 1t struck her with a
pang that there had been III him
deeper side that she Ind not guessed
Since her wedding day SHE had
thought OF her marriage as a i0athed
bond. from which his false prctanse
had absolved her. Now doubt OF her
own position asHaiied her Had lore
Illness and outlawry driven him INTO
the career that had made him stunned
even In this rough town. course
which she. had she been faithful to-
her VOW for better for WORSE" might
have turned TO his redemption? God
forgive. but she had not forgiven.
Smarting tears scorched her eyelids.
For Harry Sanderson the music was
the imprisoned memory. crying out
strongly in the first tongue II had
found. The slumbering qualities that
had stirred uneasily at sight OF the
face on the balcony awoke. Who he
was aud had been he knew no more
than before. but the new writhing self
consciousness. starting from its sleep
with almost sense of shock, became
conscious of the gaping crowd, the
dusty street, the red sunset and Of |
himself Mt the end OF d vulgar brawI /
saving violin in silly braggadocio In |
a hotel doorway.
The music faltcred and broke on. |
The bow dropped ut his feet. He I
picked 1t up fumblingiy and turned 4
back into the office as a man entered I
from a rear door. The newcomer was I
Michael Halloran, the hotels proprie- +
tor, short, thickset and surly. Asleep 4
in his room. he had neither seen the /
fracas nor heard the playing. FIe saw
Instantly. however. that something UNI
usual was forward and. blinking on
the threshold. caught sight Of the man
who was handing the violin back to its
owner. He cIinched his fist. with q
scowl, and started toward him.
His wife caught his arm. J
"Oh, Michael, Mlchaely she cried. /
SAY nothing, ladl We should have
heard him playy'
"Playv' he exclaimed. "Let him 60
fiddle TO his side partner, Prendergast.
and the other riffran he's run with the
year pastw He turned blaekiy to Har-
~. Take yourself from this house.
Hugh Stiresf' he said. Whether alrs
true that's said OF You don't say. but
youth not come hereY'
Harry had turned very white. With
the spoken name-a name how familiari
his eyes had fallen TO the ring on his
finger-the ring with the initials Fl. s.