The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-11

any of the horses could play as well as
you do
Toni listened TO this, and was pleased.
He had no notion OF learning 70 play
the violin. but he had learned 10 like
coming to Hermann's lodging and talk
ing about all sorts of things, particularly
as he had no one else whom he could
talk to-
Meanwhile Nine Marcel was delighted
when she found that Toni after a while,
grew to make no objections TO going to
take his music lesson. He learned so
little. however, that Hermann. who was
an honest ftllow. began to have conscien-
tious scruples about taking Nine. Mar
cells money for Ttoni's lessons.
AT the end of six months Hermann
went TO Nine. Marcel and told her frank
ly that Toni could never become a Sar-
asate or an Ysaye. and made the same
comparison about teaching a horse TO
play the fiddle as easily as he could
teach Toni. Nine. Marcel looked at him
with wondering eyes. Toni professed TO
be so anxious TO learn. That young per-
son had discovered that spending an
hour each day doing nothing. with Her
mann's big. kindly face 10 look into. and
being able TO tell things 10 some one who
could understand as Paul Verney did,
was really great scheme. Then he
would always spend another hour going
the half mile TO Hermann's house. and
and hour coming back. and he could al
ways invent plausible excuse for taxi
ing so long; and he had no mind in the
world TO give Up his once-dreaded music
lessons.
But he is so fond of his musici" plead
ed Nine Marcel. He loves TO take his
lesson"
"oh, Cod" cried Hermann. THAT boy
is fooling you Nine. Marcel. lie fooled
me for little while. but he is not learn
ing anything-he does not mean 10 learn
anything"
He likes you so muchl" walled Nine.
Marcel.
And like him-the idle little rascal
replied Hermann good-humoredly. He
is the queerest little chap. and like to
talk 10 him. You are paying your good
sfl0iC9 lUA AiidAs liltt- AAdlCNA-ite - libi
learning to play the violin-he never will
learn
Nine. Marcel sighed. and a great gloon
fell on her. She thought she had solved
the problem OF Toni's future. and here
1t was rising up before her. even more
complex and more appalling than be-
| fore.
tsr1o 49,, .bt,t, q, ,,,,,,td n 49,, -..,5 .
she asked anXiously. "if ! were to WHY
Toni7'
mot bit, madame. replied Hermann
Perhaps II you let me thrash him"
This was the second proposal OF the
kind which Nine. Marcel had received
the other one being that offer OF sergt
Duyars to become a father 10 Toni, and
to give him all the thrashlngs he richly
deserved. Some idea OF the same sorf
| flashed into her head. and at the same
moment II came into Hermann's mind
He had grown so unreasonably fond OIL
the little rascal, and what pity II wa,
! that the boy should not be made 10 learr
and TO behave himself, So he said senti
mentally 10 Nine. Marcel, with almost tho
same words and exactly the same mean
ing which Sergt. Duval had:
Madame. you ought 20 marry In ordel
/ that Toni may have mans strong hand
to control him. II I could aspire"-fol
Hermann was as poor az poverty, anS
Mime. Marcel. with her candy shop, wa.
comfortably of for q widow with on,
child. Nine Marcel shook her head
/ - 4
her than this big. hulking. blond violinist
but not even the dashlng sergeant coult
win her on his promise TO give Toni hli
| deserts.
| No. monsieur" said Nine. Marcel
| lingering her apron as girllsh blushei
came into her face, Il am not thinking
Of changing my condition Ny life shall
be devoted TO Toni. and as firmly be
lieve that he has great talent for music
and really tries TO learn. IL you will con
tInue TO let him go to you. shall b
delighted, and consider Il favor from
your
Very well. madame" replied Her
mann, in a tone OF resignation. III yol
wish 10 throw your money away, yol
may pay It to me, for God knows I nee
IT, But I assure you. might just a
well undertake TO teach the town punt
TO play the violin as your Toni. and Ton
has no more notion Of learning 20 pla,
than the town pump has. Good morn
/ ing. madame"
Toni, In this affair. scored a brillian
victory over his mother and Hermann
Fer two whole years more he kept vi
this delightful farce OF learning to pla,
the violin, and In that time he learne,
one little air-"Sur le Pont d'Avignon'-
which he played In q most excruciatinI
manner. tiatting his notes terrihcally
and playing with a reckless disregard o
time. which almost broke poor Hermann
heart. When Toni played this air 10
the first time before his mother. on
summer afternoon. the good soul begai
to doubt for the first time, whethe
Toni could be made great musician
Sergt. Duval. happening 10 be az HON
on his annual leave, heard these strang
sounds proceeding from Nine. Marcel
kitchen behind the shop, and came owe
in great alarm, explaining that he hear
weird noises and feared that Nine Mar
eel had perhaps fallen into a fit Nine
Marcel was highly offended at this notion
Of TOMS performance. and directed Ton
to play ''Sur lie Pont d'Avignon" for tn
sergeant. who listened gravely to Toni
scraping and caterwauling, his only com
ment on 1t being:
I have known a man to be shot 70
less than that"
TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW.
Ma