South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-07

fierce a struggle 10 keep the hungry
wolf from her shabby door. Once
or twice when hunger goaded her
on she had looked at the valuable
instrument so carefully nestled in
her trunk, and tried 70 make up her
mind to sell IT, But ghosts OF her
forefathers and Antonio Stradivari
and the entire Amati family in that
ancient city o. CremOna seemed
ever TO rise and haunt her into
closing her trunk again.
So Joan had fought off hunger
until she now eked out a more or
less sufficient existence She sold
occasional short stories and did a
good deal OF tipping for other
struggling authors.
"Why-oh why. should he not
have my Stradivarius ," she asked
herself. lit Is positively wicked TO
have il lying unused I'm my trunk
when il could bring back the happi-
ness OF living 10 that poor hoy"
Joan jumped up from her couch
so hur e@ly that her great black
cat tumblel from her lap 20 look in-
dignantly after her He watched
her oper her trunk and gaze idly
within il.
For the first time in her life. on
| the few occasions when she had con-
templated getting rid OF the violin
a sense of being thrust back hv
those ghosts failed TO brighten he
/ Instead ii would seem 10 her sens
/ tive mind that the heart of the
satiny old violin leapt up gladly into
/ her arms Nor did her grand
/ fathers ghost seem auRht hut smi'-
I ing and she felt that Antonio Strad-
/ ivarius himself was egging her 10
I her deed OF generosity. The violin
itself was undoubtedly sending forth
soft. silvery tones 10 make Joan
/ heart glad.
II am going to take YOU 90 some
one who has the heart to love sou
more than he will love anything iu
the world. she told the instrumen-
/ tenderly. and the big black cat won
: dered why his mistress spoke ro
\ ANYONE but himself Generally she
/ addressed herself solely 10 him.
When Joan stood face 10 face WITH
the young musician with her offer
ing I'm her arms she knew she was
doing a noble thing vet she WAS
curiously detached from the dead
She was so overcome hv flr
/ trembling 10Y that shook young
\ Elsmere when his fingers t0uche
the Stradivarius that she foreo. her
/ SELF entirely new life seemed
| surging through the musician
body. His pale. drawn face had
/ flushed, and his eyes grew warm
with unspoken thanks He had
made no attempt 10 refuse the gin
81 could not fail 20 keep this dear
Stradivarius II wanted 10. he a.f
simply. unable 20 take his eyes from
the treasure 1T Is the heart or he
20 me"
Then his eyes looked up and into
Joan's. il was as II he ava keuef
suddenly 10 the tremendous eift
she had brought. and wanted 90 see
into the soul OF so great a being
He put both slim hands out and
grasped hers ard held them while
under his arm the beloved Stradi-
varius seemed waiting soft strains
into their hearts
have no greater gift 90 offer
you than nv Victoria Cross De-
told her simply 81 won % with The
British forces and I want YOU o
have IT,"
Joan smiled radiantly.
"A StradIvarius for Victoria
cross she said. i hardly think two
greater gifts could De exchanged.
Except a heart for heart the
violin seemed 10 be humming and
the Victoria Cross which Elsmere
pinned on the plain little Lapel o.
Joans coat seemed 20 agree with
the Stra divarius.
EIsmere's trembling fingers and
loans musk rose color seemed GO
prophesy that this exchange would
come true.
Tru NEWc- TIMES Won4 Ado