Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-02

existence-a part Of it as truly as the
strange lights forever lowering over the
pole. as surely as the countless stars that
never left the night skies. as surely as
the endless forests and the deep SHOWS!
Then had come the sudden change ano
the gloom, that brought with 1t the
shadow of death, fell like pail upon the
post, sitting its life, and bringing with
1t grief that those who lived there mad
never known before.
There came to them no word from Cum
minis now. He stood for a moment De
fore his lighted door and then went back.
and the word passed softly from one 10
another that the most beautiful thing IN
the world was still living her sweet life
in that little cabin at the end OF the clear
ing:
"Youihea the music in the slSies.now,
my Melisse?" whispered the man. kneel-
ing beside her again. 1T Is very pretty
tonight!
eft was not that" repeated the woman.
She attempted to stroke his face, but
Cummins saw nothing Of the effort, for
the hand lay all but motionless. He saw
nothing Of the fading softness that
glowed in the big, loving eyes. for his
own eyes were blinded by a hot film. And
the woman saw nothing of the hot MIN.
SO torture was saved them both. But
suddenly the woman auivered and cum
minis heard a thrilling sound.
1T is the music.'' she painted. john.
John. it is-the music-of-my-people
IL,
turned to the open door. He heard it
now! Was it the blessed angels coming
for his Melissa? He rose. a sobbing note
in his throat, and went, his arms stretch
ed out, to meet them. He had never
heard a sound like that-never in all his
life in this endless wilderness.
He went from the door out into the
night, and, step by step. through the
snow toward the black edge Of the spruce
forest. The sobs fell chokingly from his
line. III a,c<il fs,in N
to greet this messenger of the God Of his
beloved; for Cummins was a man or the
wild and mannerless ways of a savage
world, and he knew not what to make OF
this sweetness that came to them from
out Of the depths Of the black forest:
my Melissa! Ny Melisse!' he sobbed
A figure came from the shadows. and
with the figure came the music, sweet and
soft and low. John Cummins stopped
and turned his face straight up to the
sky. His heart died within him.
The music ceased and when he looked
again the figure was close to him, stag
gering as it walked, and q face white and
thin and starved came with it. 1t was a
boys face.
For the museek of the violon-some-
ting to eat!" he heard and the thin fig
ure swayed and fell almost into his arms
The voice came weak again. ''Thees is
Jan-Jan Thoreau-and his violon--'
The woman's bloodless face and heI
great staring dark eyes greeted them as
they entered the cabin. AS the man
knelt beside her again and lifted hel
head against his breast, she whispered
once more:
cit is ,the-music-of my people-the VIC
lin!"
John Cummins turned his head.
play" he breathed.
..Ah, the white angel is seek-ver' seek.
murmured Jan. and he drew his bow
gently across the strings of his violin.
From the instrument there came some
thing so soft and sweet that John Cum
minis closed his eyes as he held the WON
an against his breast and listened. Not
until he opened them again, and felt a
strange chill against his cheek, did he
know that his beloved's soul had gone
from him on the gentle music of jar
Thoreau's violin.