The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1913-10-16


own choice. though I'm very fond Of
Chopin, OF course"
Without another word, the girl
moved quietly over to the piano and
took her seat. For just a moment her
fingers wandered caressingly over the
keys, as IL they were old friends and
she were having an understanding
with them. then she began a Chopin
Nocturne. Her touch was firm and vel.
vety, and she brought out a bellJike
tone from the instrument that made
the little company OF women realize
that the player was mistress of her
art Her graceful fingers and lovely
head, with its simple ripples and
waves OF hair, were more noticeable
than ever as she sat there, controlling
the exquisite harmonies. Even Mrs.
Blackwell stopped tanning and looked
interested. Then she whispered to
Mrs. Bowman: "A very sweet Young
girl. That's pretty piece she's play
ing Mrs. Blackwell was sweet and
commonplace and old-fashioned.
Mrs. Parker Bowman sat up with n
pink glow In her cheeks and q light In
her eyes She began to plan how she
might keep this acquisition and ex-
plot her among her friends. 1t was
her delight to bring out new features
In her entertainments.
we shall simply keep you playing
until you drop from WEAKNESS" she
announced ecstatically, when the last
wailing, sobbing. soothing chord had
died away; and the other ladies MUIR
INJURED, How delightful" and whis-
pered their approval.
The girl smiled and rippled into a
CHOPIN Valse, under cover of which
those who cared to could talk in low
tones. Afterwards the musician dashed
into the brilliant movement of a Beet.
hoven Sonata.
IL was just as she was beginning Ru-
Dinsteln's exquisite tone portrait,
kamennoi-Ostrow, that the gentlemen
came in.
Tryon Durham had had his much de.
sired talk with the famous Judge. but
II had not been about law.
They had been drawn together by
mutual consent, each discovering that
the other was watching the young
stranger as she left the dining room.
She is charming" said the old man.
smiling into the face of the younger.
is she an intimate friend?"
Il hope So" stammered Durham.
That Is, l should like to have her
consider me So"
AMI" said the old man, looking deep
into the others eyes with a kindly
smile, as If he were recalling pleas
ant experiences of his own. you are
a fortunate fellow. I hope you may
succeed in making her think SO. Do
you Know, she interests me more than
most young women. and in some way
l cannot disconnect her with an oc-
currence which happened in my Office
this afternoon"
The young man showed q deep inter
est In the matter, and the judge told
the story again. this time more In de-
tail.
They drew a little apart from the
rest OF the men. The host, who had
been warned by his wife to give
young Durham an opportunity to talk
with the judge, saw that her plans
were succeeding admirably.
When the music began In the other
room the judge paused q moment to
listen, and then went on with his
story.
There Is a freight elevator Just CD
posite that left door OF my office and
somehow cannot but think Il had
something to do with the girls disap-
pearance, although the door was
closed and the elevator was down on
the cellar floor all the time, as nearly
as l can find out"
The young man asked eager ques-
tons. feeling in his heart that the
story might in some way explain the
mystery OF the young woman in the
other room.
Suppose you stop in the Office to
morrow" said the judge. Perhaps
you'll get a glimpse OF her, and then
bear me out in the statement that
she's like your friend. BY the way
who is making such exquisite music
suppose we go and investigate. Mr.
Bowman. will you excuse US II we fol
low the ladies'? We are anxious Ia
hear the music at closer range"
The other men rose and followed.
The girl did not pause or look VI
as they came in, but played on, while
the company listened with the most
rapt and wondering look She was
playing with an empressement which
could not fail to command attention.
TTyon Durham, standing just behinc
the Judge, vas transhxed with amaze
ment That this delicate girl coulC
bring forth such an enhancing volume
OF sound from the instrument was q
great surprise. That she was so ex
quisite an artist filed him with kline
of intoxicating elatlon-it was al
though she belonged TO him.
At last she played LISTS brilliant
hungarian Rhapsody, her slender
hands taking the tremendous chord,
and octave runs with a precision anC
rapidity that seemed inspired The
final crash came in a shower OF Louie
Jewels OF sound, and then she turned
70 look at him. her one friend I'm thai
company Of strangers.
He could see that she had been play