The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-30
CHAPTER OUT OF PAST

From the Musical Courier.
TIME daughter of the famous novel;
list ThackeRay has given to the
\ world II chapters from some un-
written memoirs, published in book form
by Harper & Bros. about 20 years ago.
Anne Thackeray Ritchie herself calls
these memoirs chapters out of the past,
for most of them refer to events that
happened during her girlhood and while
her father was still in the early prime of
manhood. The second chapter is called
MY Musician" and it begins with an ac-
count of prolonged visit to Paris, where
the English grandparents of the author
ess then resided.
II remember three Scotch ladies'" says
Anne Thackeray Ritchie FOR whom my
grandmother had a great regard, who
were not part of our community, but
who used to pass through Paris, and al
ways made a certain stay. | was very
much afraid of them though interested at
the same time, girls are, in unknown
quantities. They We're well connected and
had estates and grand relations in the
distance, though they seemed to live as
simply as we did One winter it was an
nounced that they had taken an apart
ment for a few weeks, and next morning
was sent with note TO one of them
by my grandmother. Theyw were TALL thin
ladies, two were widows, one was
spinster of the three, the unmarried one
frightened me most. On this OCCASION
after reading the note, one of the widow
ladies said to the spinster, Miss X. who
had her bonnet on. Why, you were just
going to call on the childs grandmother
back with you in the carriage? 4 must
first go and see how he is this morning,
said Miss x, somewhat anxiously and
then | will take her home. of course.
had not the presence Of mind to run
away as | longed to do, and somehow in
a few minutes | found myself sitting in a
little open carriage with the Scotch lady,
and a basket on the opposite scat. |
thought her, If possible, more terrible
than eyerA-she seemed grave. pre-occu-
pied. She spoke to me, ! believe. but my
heart was in my mouth; ! hardly dared
even listen to what she said We drove
along the Champs Elysees toward the
Arc and then turned into a side street.
and presently came to house. at the door
of which the carriage stopped The lady
got out, carefully carrying her heavy
basket, and we began to climb the shiny
stairs. Then we rang at bell and the
door was almost instantly opened by a
slight, delicate looking man with long
hair, bright eyes and a thin, hooked nose.
when Miss X. saw him, she hastily put
down her basket upon the floor. caught
both his hands in hers. began to shake
them gently, and to scold him in an af-
fectionate reproving way for having come
to the door He laughed, said he had
guessed who it was, and motioned TO her
to enter and | followed at her sign with
room, with no furniture in it whatever
but an upright piano against the wall
and a few straw chairs standing on the
wooden shiny floor. He made us sit down
with some courtesy, and in reply to her
questions said me was pretty well, Had
he slept? He shook his head. Had he
eaten? He shrugged his shoulders and
then pointed to the piano. He had been
composing something-I remember that
he spoke in an abrupt, light sort of way
would Miss x. like to hear it? She
would like to hear it., she answered. of
course, she would dearly like to hear 1t;
but it would tire him to play; it could
not be good for him.
..He smiled again. shook back his long
hair, and sat down Immediately; and
then the music began and the room was
flied with continuous sound, he looking
over his shoulder now and then to see
! if we were liking it, The lady sat abb
sorbed and listening, and as | looked at
her l saw tears in her eyes, great clear
tears rolling down her cheeks, while the
music poured on and en-. When he STOP
ped at last and looked round. the lady
started up.
:" You mustn't play any more she
said; no more. no lmore-its too beau