Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-09-21

Il
thing about him, too, that explainel
how queer many people might thin6
him; but he did not seem queer" to
Mary Vertrees; he seemed the most
quantity natural person she had ever
met.
He waited, and became coherent
You say something now" he said. II
don't even belong in the chorus, and
here 1 am, trying to sing the funny
mans solo! You"
No she interrupted sd rather
play your accompaniment"
'I'l stop and listen to 1t, them
Perhaps" she began, but after
pausing thoughtfully she made a ges-
ture with her muff, indicating a large
brick church which they were ap-
preaching. do you see that church,
Mr.. Sheridan?"
Il suppose could" he answered Ii
simple truthfulness, looking at her.
But l don't want to. 1 have q feel
ing it's where you're going, and where
I'll be sent back"
She shook her head in CHEEKY mega
ton Not unless you want to be.
Would you like TO come with me?'
"Why-why-yes," he said. ANY
Where!' And again 1t was apparent
that he spoke in simple truthfulness.
Then come|if you care for organ
music. The organist is an old friend
Of mine, and sometimes he plays for
me. He's a dear old man. That's he,
waiting in the doorway. He looks
like Beethoven, doesn't he? l think he
knows that, perhaps, and enjoys it
little. hope so.'
YES" said Bibbs, as they reached
the church steps. Il think Beethoven
would like 1t, too. 1t must be pleasant
to look like other people"
81 haven't kept your" Mary said to
the organist. This is Mr.. Sheridan,
Doctor Kraft. He has come to listen
with me-"
The organist looked bluntly sur
prised. "Iss that SOL" he exclaimed.
He ISIS musician himself, OF course"
''No," said Bibbs, as the three en-
tered the church together. II played
the-I tried to play" Fortunately he
checked himself; he lad been about TO
offer the information that he had failed
to master the jews harp in his boy
hood. mo, I'm not musician" he
contented himself with saying.
"What?" Doctor Krafts surprise in
creased. Young man, you are fortu-
nate! 1 play for Miss Vertrees; she
comes always alone. You are the first
You are the first one ever!'
They had reached the head Of the
central aisle, and as the organlst fin
ished speaking Bibbs stopped short.
turning to look at Mary Vertrees In a
daZed way that was not of her perceiv-
ing; for, though she stopped as he did,
her gaze followed the organist, who
was walking away from them toward
the front Of the church, shaking his
white Beethovian name roguishly.
Its false pretenses on my part"
Bibbs said. "You mean to be kind tor
the sick, but I'm not an invalid any
more. I'm so well I'm going back to-
work in a few days. I'd better leave
before he begins to play, hadn't I?'
NO" said Mary, beginning to walk
forward. mot unless you don't like
great music"
He followed her to a seat about half
way up the aisle while Doctor Kraft
assembled to the organ. This after
noon some Handelr' he turned to-
shout
Mary nodded. "Will you like that?'
she asked Bibbs.
81 don't know. l never heard any
except Largo l don't know anything
about music. 1 don't even know how
TO pretend I do. If 1 knew enough to
pretend, I would
NO" said Mary, looking at him and
smiling family, you wouldn't"
She turned away as a great sound
began to swim and tremble In the air;
the huge empty space Of the church
filed with 1t, and the two people lis
tening filed with it; the universe
seemed to fill and thrill with it. The
two sat intensely still, the great sound
all round about them, while the church
rev dusky, and only the organists
lamp made a tiny star of light. His
white head moved from side to side be-
meath it rhythmically, or lunged and
recovered with the fierceness Of a duel
ist thrusting, but he was magnificent
ly the master Of his giant, and 1t sang
"a his mario os he .-sd0 II
Bibbs was swept away upon that
mighty singing. Such a thing was
wholly unknown to him; there had
been no music in his meager life. I'm
like the tale, it was the Princess Be-
drulbudour who had brought him to
tho enchanted cave and that-for
Bibbs-was what made its magic daz-
ing. 1t seemed to him a long, long
time since he had been walking home
drearily from Doctor Gurney's Office;
it seemed to him that he had set out.
upon a happy journey since then, and
that he had reached another planet,
where Mary Vertrees and he sat alone
together, listening to vast chOiring OF
invisible soldiers and holy angels.
There were armies of voices about
them, singing praise and thanksgivings
and yet they were alone. 1t was in
credible that the walls Of the church
were not fhe boundaries Of the mil