The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-07-15

to her; Did you look at !u.i Ms,ra.
nent, honey? And do you Ike itT
"Its lovely. dad. says she. leaiins
down by his pillow. I never saw one
so pretty. How dear and good 1t was
Of you to buy 1t for me-
"T haven't heard you play on It any
yet says Uncle Cal, and I've been
listening. My side don't hurt quite
50 bad now. Won't you play a piece,
| Marillar
But, no; she puts Uncle Cal off and
soothes him down like you've seen
women do with a kid.
when Doc Simpson comes over he
tells us that Uncle Cal has pneumonia
the worst kind, and, as the old man
was past sixty and nearly on the lift
anyhow, the odds was against his
walking on grass any more.
"On the fourth day of his sickness
he calls for Marilla again and wants to
talk piano. Doc Simpson was there,
and so was Ben and Mrs. Ben, trying
to do all they could.
"I'd have made wonderful success
in anything connected with music,
says Uncle Cal. 1 got the finest in
strument for the money in San An
tone. Amt that piano all right in ev-
cry respect, Marillay
ats just perfect, dad says she,
It's got the finest tone l ever heard.
But don't you think you could sleep a
little while now, dadT
"'No, l DON'T says Uncle Cal. I
want to hear that piano. don't be-
lieve you've even tried it yet l went
all the way to San Antoine and pick
ed it out for you myself. 1t took a
third of the fall clip to buy it, but
don't mind that If it makes my good
girl happier. Won't you play a little
bit for dad, Marilla?
DOC Simpson beckoned Marilla to
one side and recommended her to do
what Uncle Cal wanted, so it would
get him quieted. And her Uncle Ben
and his wife asked her too.
"'Why not hit out a tune or two
with the soft pedal on" l asks Marilla.
Uncle Cal has begged you so often. 1t
would please him a good deal to hear
you touch up the piano he's bought
for you. Don't you think you might?'
But Marilla stands there, with big
tears rolling down from her eyes, and
says nothing. And then she runs over
and slips her arm under Uncle Calls
neck and hugs him tight.
"'Why, last night, dad we heard
her say. 4 played ever so much. Hon
est, l have been playing it. And it's
such a splendid instrument; you don't
know how l love it. Last night
played Bonnie Dundee" and the "An-
VII Polka" and the ''Blue Danube" and
lots Of pieces. You must surely have
heard me playing a little, didn't you,
dad? 1 didn't like to play loud when
you was so sick
"'Well. WE'LL says Uncle Cal, may
be I did. Maybe I did and forgot
about 1t. My head is little cranky at
times. I heard the man in the store
play it fine. I'm mighty glad you like
1t, Marilla. Yes, / believe could go to
sleep awhile If you'll stay right beside
me till do
There was where Marilla had me
guessing. Much as she thought Of that
old man she wouldn't strike a note on
that piano that he'd bought her. l
couldn't imagine why she told him
she'd been playing it, for the wagon
sheet hadn't ever been off of it since
she put 1t back on the same day it
come. l knew she could play a little
anyhow, for I'd once heard her snatch
some pretty fair dance music out of an
old piano at the Charco Largo ranch.
"Well. in about q week the pneu-
monia got the best of Uncle Cal. They
had the funeral over at Birdstail, and
all of us went over. brought Marilla