The herald., 1915-02-18
ART AND LOVE
BY FRANK FILSON.

ton especially to hear his gifted
daughter.
Herr Jaeger shrugged his shoulders.
who knows?" he asked. "Interpre-
tation is the spiritual perception Of
the musical values. Sometimes that
comes-sometimes it never comes"
But Dorothy is so young. She is
only twenty" pleaded John Ransome.
Age makes no difference" an
swered Herr Jaeger, Struggling his ex-
pressive shoulders once again.
John Ransome was the big man of
Crossways, Mass. He was a self
made man and occupied magnificent
mansion in the somewhat squalid lit
tie manufacturing town. He had not
forgotten his old friends when riches
came to him. The Richard and the
Ransomes were always good friends,
even after Richards failed in business
and was reduced to very modest
means. His son Tom, and Dorothy
had been the best Of friends, and,
of late, sweethearts.
That was where John Ransome set
| his foot down.
II do not want you to marry Tom
Richards" he said to Dorothy. And,
indulgent though he vas, to the point
of excess. toward each Of his daugh-
ter's inclinations, on this point he
was adamantine.
That was a couple of months be-
fore, when Dorothy and he were on
their way back to America. She had
just completed her education at the
Conservatoire of Paris, and had won
every medal for which she was elig-
ible.
Now failure and not success had
crowned John Ransome's efforts And
Dorothy knew. There had always
been complete frankness between ia
Their and daughter. John told her,
and noted, with something Of bitter.
ness, that Dorothy did not seem to
care.
1T seems useless to go on" he said
Il have no wish to see you famous as
a second-rate pianist. There is no
need for you to earn your bread.
do not care II you never touch the
pianoforte again"
Dorothy came behind his chair and
put her arms about his neck. ia;
ther," she whispered, now will you
consent to my thinking of Tom"
John Ransome sighed. He knew
that the young man had been wretch.
ed since Dorothy told him, with tears,
but firmly, that he could not come to
the house for the present. She had
not left him without hope, but to
youth five years seems an endless
period.
Eyes, my DEAR" said her father.
bracing himself to meet the situation
manfully.
He was more than repaid during
the following weeks by seeing the old
light of gladness creep into his daugh.
ter's eyes. And her cheeks were red,
and her air gay. Tom was certainly
a very fortunate young man.
One day Ransome was surprised
by visit from his old acquaintance,
Herr Jaeger. In fact the old man had
made trip Of a hundred miles to
see him. After dinner he explained
the purpose Of his visit.
Once, many years ago." he said, "I
made harsh judgment and spoiled
a promising career Since then, when
ever / give an opinion, l think about
1t afterward. I do not want my mis-.
take to be repeated. Perhaps I was
feeling out of sorts on the nilht when
1 heard Miss Dorothy play. have
come to ask her to play again, so that
l may perhaps revise my Judgment"
Dorothy went indifferently over to
the piano, selected the piece which
had been the chief item at her con.
cert, the Hungarian Rhapsody" of
List, and began to play.
When she had finished Herr Jaeger
was standing at her side, as If SPELL
bound.
MY dear. I made a mistake" he
said. You are a genius. Your in
depreciation Of the master is as won
derful as your technique But you
did not play like that at the concert"
The door opened and the butler
announced Tom Richards. And Doro-
thy, forgetful of the visitor, ran to
meet him and was clasped in his
arms.
1t was quite a minute later when
she found herself standing in confu-
sion before Herr Jaeger. The old
mans mouth was smiling, but his
eyes were moist.
Mr.. Ransome, that is what I re-
ferred to when l said that the gift
might come" he said. Love Is the
divine interpreter not only Of music.
but OF every art; for art itself is moth.
Ing but the upwelling OF all that is
noblest and most self-forgetful into in.
depreciation by the brain and hand
and ear and eye. Your daughter will
become the greatest pianist in Eu-
rope"
John Ransome shook his head sad.
ly. He knew that IL was now too
late to change Dorothy's plans.
Herr Jaeger put on his hat.
"A great genius is lost to the world,
Mr.. Ransome," he said. But for nv
part I would not have It otherwise.
Good-by."