Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-09-10
An Old Song
By VICTOR REDcLIFFE

you nOticcd?"
, "Why do you ASK" inquired Ter Wis
itor, and her shrewd eyes scanned the
face Of the first speaker keenly.
Because he isn't the same as he
was before he went to visit the city.
He is restless, uneasy, given to long
lonely walks, and he's got Il new habit
of whistling under his breath In u
smiling, thoughtful way"
''That isn't bad sign, Mary. is III"
rallied Mrs. BARLEY. "AnythinS elsef'
"Why, yes. After he came back
from the city he wrote several letters
and mailed them
''They must cover business of some
kind"
well, maybe" sighed Mary Whar-
ton, "but II sort of worries me. Then,
too, the postman brought several rolls
that he never opened before us"
perhaps magazines or music" sug-
gested Lucy. Don't try and imagine n
mystery, dear. Brother Silas is
plain. steady-going man and isn't up
to any mischief that know"
The subject was dismissed, but
when she left the Wharton home Mrs.
Barley did some thinking. She did
not tell her sister-in-law, but she was
secretly aware of the fact that her
brother had been going every other
day to see Miss Jennie Thurston. The
latter was a very old maid. n music
teacher, prim, sedate, model of re-
spectability and u stickler for the pro-
prieties. Lucy was fOrccful, definite
little woman. and she set her lips res
olutely as she went to see Miss Thurs
ton on her way home.
"Jennie," she said in her abrupt,
clear headed way, has Silas been
coming here pretty often lately?"
For an hour twice week." was
the prompt response.
What for?"
"To learn tune"
You don't mean that Sllas has hcen
taking music lessons Of you" ex-
claimed the astoIishcd Lucy.
ION the piano. you mean" smiled
Miss Thurston. "Oh, dear. no-tO
whistle"
You are puzzling me-"
"You needn't be. It's his business,
and it's not mine to spread it, bur
your brother came to me three weeks
ago offering to pay me to play piece
he had, or rather several, but different
arrangements Of song. He wanted
to learn II. he said. but only to whistle
1t. 1t was sort or old-time piece
called Sally in Our Alley He got II
pretty fair, paid me for my time, and
that's ALL"
You mystify me mere than ever"
murmurcd Mrs BARLEY perplexetily
SIS Si!as getting musical in his old
nEe?"
mot ut all. and perhaps had bet
ter tell YOU more TO clear the situa-
tion," said Miss Thurston. "1e told
me that when in the city friend
took him TO n music hall. A famous
singer rendered some old-time songs.
and among them Sally You know
how We all take fancy to some spe-
cial tune and love to hear 1T over and
over again. Well. Silas told me that
the first time he met Mary, thirty
years ago, 1t was at concert where
Sally was sung. Somehow he asSo-
ciated this with his good fortune Of.
falling in love with her. Anyhow. it
stayed with him as the sweetest trill-
Ing music he had ever heard. and 1t is
pretty, too. When he heard it in the
city he couldn't keep from liking it
more than ever. When he got back
he wrote to half dozen music pub.
fishers to get copy of it. That's ALL
Lucy"
Lucy FASTENED to aprriZe Mary Of
these facts and the mind of the latter
was immensely relieved.
Arthur Wharton the next day told
his mother how he had passed Il lone
~ spot in the timber where his father
was whistling for dear life. and me-
lodiOusly, too, and the day following
Silas seemed to have decided that he
had now mastered his favorite song.
Half dozen times Mary caught the
echo of It's rendition and was pleased
TO listen to it. and more than ever be.
cause Il sort Of romantic sentimental
ism attached to ii.
After that every day the whistline
ability of Hiram was tested and
not found wanting in fresh ardOr and
volume, but toward the end of autumn
Silas caught severe cold had to take
to his bed and his musical exercises
were naturally hushed.
Mother" said Arthur one after
noon, "Milly Bland is coming over to-
night. You know we are engaged and
I haven't told father yet"
"IIe suspects it already, Arthur"
Eyes, bth he is always talking about
waiting year or two before ] think
Of marrying. waet him to see and
like Milly. And besides" added Ar
thur, II have n little surprise for him
that may also bring things about our
way"