The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1918-06-13

II The old man pondered hour upor
hour as to the Identity Of the girl
whose voice gave to his listening earl
those wonderful notes.
In his own lifetime he had COM
posed songs that would live and live
and re-live, and now he was weary.
he had drained his own cup Of In
spIratlon to the dregs. and now this
girl In the room above had flung into
his soul snatches Of melody that 1t
were a crime to have lost.
He wondered from whom she had
Inherited that gift of original herding
of notes.
There has been music somewhere.
everywhere about her. and yet hardly
think she is conscious that she has
composed score or more Of wonder
full sonu."
And because David Ward was ro-
mantle old man, with soul filled to
the brIm with fantasy. he pondered on
a picturesque way In which to ac-
quaint the girl with her own gift. He
had the songs for the voice bound In
one dainty volume, and those for the
violin In another.
! And while the old man pondered
Mildred, too. was worrying her brain
and becoming wistful-eyed and tron-
bled.
II just can't stand II any longer"
she told herself. tearfully. II must
make some money. Everyone else Is
helping the soldiers. and l don't even
have five dollars extra q month to
help with"
That evening her song was sad; SO
sad that David Ward swept moisture
from his eyes as the notes stopped
abruptly In the room above.
Something told him that sobs had
choked the songbirds notes.
An hour later. when the sad little
melody was down on paper. David's
door was flung open and his big
nephew bounded in, wonderful smile
on his face and his shoulders erect
He was wearing khaki
The old man gasped, turned bit
white. then. like the soldier that he
90 was at heart. he clasped the great
10Y In his arms.
got my commission to-day" an
bounced the boy proudly. and then for
second was silent. Finally he said
With catch In his voice: MY violin,
Incle. / want you to keep II for me.
couldn't trust 1t to anyone else"
"Ill treasure It. my boy" David told
i'm softly. you're giving up a great
areer-the world is beginning to lis
en- to your fiddle" He put his arm
cross the khaki shoulders. But you
ave taken up greater career. brave
older"
Young David laughed off the mo-
lent OF emotion that threatened his
ecently acquired manhood, and picked
p his violin. David had but lately
assed twenty-one.
He played something rollicking and
Apply to sweep away the tears. and
hen his uncle was smiling he smiled.
"My boy" said the old composer.
Just run over those gems In that gray
ook. l want you to hear them"
The young soldier picked up the
Dok and glanced quickly through 1t.
hey were the snatches Of melody cap
lred from the throat of the songbird
pstairs.
David breathed heavily while he
rev his bow over those quaint notes. =
nd his cheeks became flushed and his
yes brilliant. He was the tempera-
entail musical genius while he played. :
is soul was fluttering among the =
,ets. breathing their breath, gripping II
cir emotions. Yet his body was
othed In khaki. :,
"Unclel" he demanded breathlessly, y
where did they come from7 Are they
'ur own? They're gems-gems pol
he'd by spirit breath. l have never %
aged anything more human. more
vine" He was lingering the pages -
vingly while he spoke, =. -
At that moment Mildred rose from =
e bed on which she had thrown her '"
II In misery. She shook back her v,
oulders and held herself In scorn -
r having given way to so slight =,
lief. There were big things being -.
ne In the world. and she was :.