The Redwood gazette., 1910-08-10

to her: Did yUu look st yonr instru-
menf. honey7 And do you lihe itY
"'Its lovely. dad says she. leaning
down by his pillow. ! never saw one
so pretty. How dear and good It was
OF you TO buy II for me.
I haven't heard you play on Il any
yet says Uncle Cal. and I've been
listening. My side don't hurt quite
90 bad now. Won't you play piece.
lIarillay
.But. no: she puts Uncle Cal on and
soothes him down like you've seen
women do with kid.
when Doc Simpson comes over be
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.
ION 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.
"T'd have made wonderful success
in anything connected with music
says Uncle Cal. I got the finest in
strument for the money in San An
tone Amt that piano all right in ev-
cry respect, Marilla?'
"'It's just perfect. dad says she.
It's got the finest tone ever heard.
But don't you think you could sleep a
little while now. dady
"sNo. / don't. says Uncle Cal. 7
want to hear that piano. / don't be-
ieve you've even tried it yet. ! 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 little
bit for dad. Marillag
"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 tune or two
with the soft pedal on?' / asks Marilla.
Uncle Cal has begged you SO often. 1t
would please him good deal to hear
you touch up the piano he's bought
FOR you. Don't you think you mightY
"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 CaPs
4 neck and hugs him tight.
"'Why. last night. dad we heard
! her say, I played ever SO much. Hon
est. have been playing it. And it's
such a splendid instrument; you don't
know how love 1t. Last night !
played Bonnie Dundee and the sAn-
! vii Polka" and the blue Danube" and
lots of pieces. You must surely have
heard me playing little, didn't you
dad? didn't like to play loud when
you was so sick
"sWell. WE'LL says Uncle Cal. may.
be l did. Maybe did and forgot
about it. NY head is little cranky al
times. heard the man in the store
play it fine. I'm mighty glad you like
/ it. Marilia. Yes, believe / could go te
sleep awhile if you'll stay right beside
me till do
There was where Marilla had me
guessing. MUch as she thought of thar
old man she wouldn't strike note on
that piano that he'd bought her.
couldn't imagine why she fold hin
she'd been playing it. for the wagon
sheet hadn't ever been off of it since
she put it back on the same day II
come. knew she could play 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 week the pneu.
monia got the best of Uncle Cal. They
had the funeral over at Birdstail, and
/ all of us went over. ] brought Marills