The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-02-13

Teacher Of Music Tells Pupil of
His Greatest Interests In
Life.
BY ELLA NJ. BANGS.


meet the intent gaze Of young girl,
animated, vivid as a tropical flower In
her dark beauty. She was leaning for
ward, with glowing cheeks, and red
lips parted, and from that moment the
young yiolinist was conscious Of no
one else in all the vast audience.
Who she was he knew not, and she
was lost to sight as the program ended.
Eagerly he looked forward to the next
concert, and yes-she was there. Again
he realized only that one presence and
through the following days the thought
Of her was the deep undercurrent be-
meath whatever else might occupy him
at the moment
Suddenly one evening as he sat
alone In his little room, something
seemed to say, What of the promise
to your father?"
The young man started up. Had the
words been spoken? Had he been
dreaming? That promise to his father
and all else had faded into insignifi-
canoe and his father, dying, had
begged from him the promise to de-
vote his life to the cause which had
taken them from Germany, their IA
therland, to England, and later to
America. Now, to bring back his in
terest, he took from his desk worn
paper, and spreading it out before him,
sat with elbows on the desk and
hands rufling his blond hair as he
read the long familiar story The facts
were that years ago the great-grand-
father, for some service rendered the
emperor, had been presented with a
violin made by the Incompatible
Stradivarius and inlaid in the wood
of Its back was his name, Ludwig Won
Hartmann. This priceless treasure
had In time passed to the son. another
Ludwig. who, being OF wild, adven-
turous nature, found himself at d Ger
tain time in such straits that he had
pawned the violin intending later to
redeem it. When that day came the
violin was not to be found.
Sobered, the son spent his life in
the vain search and, dying, besought
his son-Rudolph's father-to continue
the work. While Rudolph was q boy
something gave his father reason to
believe that the violin had been ear.
ried to London. Thither father and
son went, remaining until clew was
found leading them to New York.
Once more father and son had tax.
en- up life in strange country, but
within q year Of their arrival Hart.
man the elder had died, leaving Ru-
dolph to carry on the search alone.
Aside from the value OF the instru.
ment there was legend In the family
that success and good fortune would
come only with the return OF the VIC
lin to Its rightful owner.
Striving to shut out the newer in.
terest, Rudolph set about making in.
quiries. haunting music stores, pawn.
shops, dealers In antiques, and every
place where there seemed possible
ity OF finding trace Of the lost strad.
lvarius.
One evening as Rudolph sat alone
be heard knock at his door, and an
swering was confronted by a middle
: aged man with an air Of prosperity
who said questioningly:
This il Prof. Rudolph Hartman r
Il am Rudolph Hartman"
The stranger presented his card
giving the name Phineas West, and
q moment later made known his er
rand Il have come to ask II YOU
will take my daughter for a pupil On
the violin"
"A child-a beginner
Well" the man smiled slightly
7 suppose she Is a young LADY q
others. She is still child to me"
The matter was arranged, and 1
few days later Rudolph was makins
his way toward the home of his pros
pective pupil He knew Phinea.
West only as one of New York;
many minor millionaires, and he a,
far from finding fault with the fac
that he wished him to teach hi.
daughter
He had waited a few moments Ii
: the deliberately appointed music room
when the portieres parted and Jaque
line West entered.
Was he dreaming? For a momen
I the young teacher believed he mus
be. for she who was coming towar.
him was the girl who had lived in hi
thoughts from the day he had firs
seen her.
Going up to him, she gave him hel
hand. 4 want to thank you, PROBES
I sor Hartman, for consenting to tax
me for a pupil"
Rudolph pulled himself together :,
he returned. Perhaps ii is I VIII,
should express the thanks. You hav,
taken lessons-yes?"
3 "A few"
Let me hear you play"
The girl took up her violin. an
without notes began to play. she Nj,
not play well and her teache
watched her a moment in perplexity
He, with quick intuition, GUESSED
and rightly. that she had purposel,
not done her best, and immedlatsl'
{ master Of the situation. he sasl
graveiy:
nyyss. -. a. h.4x,- a.. ~ =