The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-17

emily complacency rested upon his coun-
tenance. and his whole man gave ire
sistible demonstration that Miss Crumps
music made him feel good all over. I had
just turned from the contemplation of
Mr.. Jenkins's transports. to see whether
could extract from the performance
anything Ineligible when Miss Crump
made a fiy-eatchlng grab at half dozen
keys in a row and at the same instant
she fetched a long, dunghill-cock crow,
at the conclusion of which she grabbed as
many keys with the left This came
over Jenkins like a warm bath, and over
me like a rake of bamboo briers.
NV nerves had not recovered from this
shock before Miss Augusta repeated the
movement. and accompanied 1t with a
souau of a pinched cat. This threw me
into an ague fit; but, from respect to the
performer maintained my position. She
now made a third grasp with the right,
boxed the faces of SIX keys In row
with the left, and at the same time
raised one OF the most unearthly howls
that ever issued from the throat OF a
human being. This seemed the signal for
universal uproar and destruction. She
now threw away all reserve, and charged
the piano with her whole force. She boxed
II. she clawed It, she raked II. she
scraped it. Her neck-vein sTeiled, her
chin flew up. her face flushed, her eye
ziared. her bosom heaved; she screamed.
she howled, she yelled. cackled, and was
in the act of dwelling upon the note OF
a screech-ovl when I took the 81 Fitus
dance and rushed out Of the room.
Good Lord" said a by-stander. Il TINS
be her singing. what must her crying be-
AS reached the door 7 heard q voice ex-
claim, BY heavens. she's the most en-
chanting performer I ever heard in my
ufei" I turned to see who was the au-
thor of this ili-timed compliment. and
who should It be but Nick TUCK from
Lincoln. who seven years before was
dancing "Possum Up the G1n1rresF IN the
chimney-corner OF his fathers k5tcaen.
Nick had entered the counting room OF
a merchant in Charleston some I'VE or
six years before. had been sent OUT as
supercargo of a vessel TO Bordeaux, ana
while the vessel was delivering ore car
go and taking in another had contracted
a wonderful relish for French music.
AS for myself, went home IN con-
yulsions. took sixty drops Of la1canun
and fell asleep. l dreamed that ! was In
beautiful city, the streets OF which IN
tersected each other at right angles; fnat
the birds of the air and the beasts OF the
forest had gathered there for batne-the
former led on by a Frenchman. the lat
ter by an Italian; that I was looking on
their movements towards each other,
when | heard the cry of 'Hecate In COM
ingp' l turned my eye to the northeast
and saw a female flying through the air
towards the city and distinctly recognized
In her the features of Miss Crump. / took
the alarm and was making my escape
when she gave command for the beasts
and birds to fall on me. They did so, and
with all the Qoises of the animal world
were in the act of tearing me to pieces
when 1 was walked by the stepping OF
Hall. my roommate, into bed.
'Oh, my dear sir" exclaimed 1. you
have walked me from q horrible dream.
What O'Clock Is it?''
"Ten minutes after twelve" said he.
And where have you been to this late
hour?"
II have just returned from the party.
And what kept you so later
why, disiked to retire while Miss
crunp Yves playing"
IN nnercy's name!' said I, sis she play
\ ing yet?''
yes" said he; II had to leave her
playing at last"
and where was Jenkins?"
He was there, still in ecstasies and
urging her to play on"
and @here was Truck"
He was asleep"
And what was she playing?'
An Italian"
Here swooned, and heard no more.
BALDWIN