The Irish standard., 1910-09-10

platform. land go ahead"
Heberger had carried his point!
JACKIE stepped lightly to the place
Assigned him. Taking his stand in
front of the bandmaster's rack, and
facing the pier with its beautiful ocean
view, he lifted his violin to his Shout
der Dropping his chin upon its pol
ished surface, he swept his bow sew
eral times lightly back and forth over
the strings.
you know he plays only by ear"
whispered Heberger. HE is learning
to read. but this piece he knows only
as he has heard your men play it,
The glass Enclosure of the concert
room did not hide from view the flood
of people crowding the promenade
stretch, idly walking back and forth in
full enjoyment of the balmy air anu
sweet scent of the ocean. But Jacko
took no note of them. His gaze was
reaching out beyond through vista
created by his thoughts. His chin was
uplifted. his lips parted.
He took the refrain up softly at
first, increasing it in volume and ex-
preston until. as he went on the in
strument was throbbing with the story
OF his ambitions. his dreams, his
hopes: then of sudden it trailed off
in the SOFT sweet. yet wailing cadence
OF voice that trembled with the sor-
row of loss. His heart was crying
out its passions, its joys. its griefs.
The little figure swayed lightly from
side to side. Once he closed his eyes.
He had forgotten the whole world,
forgotten even his adored leader.
Heberger gripped his hands together
In an ecstasy of Joy. The bandmaster
sat silent and Indifferent, giving no
sign as to whether the boys playing
pleased him or not.
AS Jacko neared the finish of the
piece Van Wetzel and his companion
came in from the pier The bandmas.
ter saw them as they entered He
noted the girls sweet face, her fluff OF
gold-red hair. Van Wetzel turned his
head In his direction Their eyes met,
but no look of recognition passed be.
tween them. The leader was waiting
for the organist. while Van Wetzel,
with every faculty arrested by the
genius of the boys playing. did not for
the moment recognize him.
This piqued the bandmaster beyond
dignation. What would Van Wetzel
think of him, anyway? He, LAMBERT
one Of the great band leaders of the
country. taking the trouble to listen
to the playing of an Italian bootblack.
Even old Heberger's shabby clothes
became sudden and personal NORTH.
cation to him.
MILO Dio!" he exclaimed. "why do
you bother me with such trash! Och.
was fool for my palms."
Heberger put up silencing hand
SSH" he pleaded, but the bandmas.
ter was not to be hushed.
Stop the little bestia!" he shrieked.
"Such bowling! Such tempo!-Stop
him, say, stop him!"
Heberger did not move He stood q
stolid figure OF Indifference to Lam
berti's temper.
With his usually pale face glowing
scarlet. the bandmaster dashed over
to the platform. Stop" he command.
ed. What right have you to go on
when | tell you to stop"
All during the music Van Wetzel's
companion had been excitedly whis.
pering something to the organist. and
at Lamberti's outbreak she hurried
him over to where Jacko stood, his
frightened gaze riveted upon the ex.
cited leader.
Hello, Lamberti!" exclaimed Van
Wetzel cordially. He extended his
hand in greeting. Apparently he had
not noticed the leaders, display of tenn
per. Il congratulate you. Where did
you find him." He indicated Jacko az
he spoke.
The color faded from the bandmas.
ter's cheeks. He shook Van Wetzers
hand, but made no answer. He was
conscious that Van Wetzel's compan.
! ion was speaking to the boy. Surely
she had called him "Jacko," but before
he could realize what it all meant,
Jacko had dropped his violin and the
Shi uou lCl ulM anu was
kissing him.
"Oh, knew you would-a come back
some day. the boy was sobbing. oh,
how | study-how I practice! Old He.
berger he very good-a to me-"
They beckoned the music master ia
join the group. Then, while the great
organist praised him, JACKIE told the
girl how the bandmaster had said may.
be he might let him play at one of the
| Sunday concerts.
She thanked LAMBERT for his kind.
ness to her little protege." 1T was
beautiful" she said. that he was ia
be given this opportunity for the PEG.
/ pie to hear him. But"-she put a pro.
| tecting arm about Jacko as she spoke
-"after next Sunday. Mr. LAMBERT
you can't have him again for a Ions
time. because, you know, it was l who
really discovered him. I shall take him
back to Boston with us. He must have
the very best instructors we can 80
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