Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1920-09-23

away. From where he stood he had
an almost unohstructed view into the
east room. the girls ROOM. and before
ne realized it his eyes had strayed
past the curtains. Amusement held
them there a moment in spite of him.
Inc room, in striking contrast TO what
ne mad seen of the rest of the house.
was almost bare of furniture-a car
petless floor; the rudest Of beds: a
broken chair, and little else.
lie heard her walking across the
moor and turned away half guiltily.
she had her hand upon the curtained
entrance of the west room, and he no
tced thai it was carpeted, and was
otherWlSe furnished quite in keeping
with the room in which he stood. GER
talnly in very decided contrast to the
room upon the east.
But he had no time to reflect on all
these things, for the girl reappeared
IN Il moment carrying a cello, which
She placed between the old mans
knees. She put the bow in his right
hand and lifted his left to the strings.
lie laid his cheek down upon the in
strument: grew quiet. The falterinc
DO" tried to wake the strings. but in
vain. The old mans body seemed to
SHRINK together. His chin dropped
down upon his breast. But the next
instant he sat upright and rigid; his
VIDE eyes, cropping around. found the
IeSrlnlntn or and hn Sfo rtnI tp rirD
grappled up, strained up, as if by a
power outside himself.
The girl caught the falling bow from
his hand: drew the cello to her and
de1tly twisted the strings in tune.
Ihe Pearlhunter stood amazed at
what followed. The tones of the cell
10 seemed to reach out into the quiet
evening, purple With the clos" of day,
II gather up the drOwSy sounds of
WOOD II stream. and bring them in
hrG StreW them down like falling rose
leaV"S-th" fall of a distant oar: the
lap of water upon cool rocks: the
pulse of q current that rose and fell;
the Groom OF contented trees under a
serene sunset. He did not know that
what h" heard was Beethovrn's incom-
p%arNh)v Wi'ching Moonlight Sonata.
Ihr old mans bead had dropped for
ward. his eyes were closed, his face
mutfl"d in HIS rlnmplcd beard unon his
breast. Leaning the cello against the
chair, the girl picked up Il limp arm.
lald it about her neck. and led him
away. like Il droWsy child, through the
curtaincd entrances Of the west room.
With the departure of the Girl the
picture dissolved: the evening world
became Il vast emptiness. am emptiness
the silence poured in to fill. 1t caught
the Irarlhuntcr in its flood; it held
him: overwhelmed him; found out lit
tie hooks and cranNIcS Of his nature
that h" never know We're there.
The curtains parted. y soft step
crossed the carpet. The worlA came
back. \ deep breath swrlicd the chest
of the Pcarlhunter-Geep as if ii had
been the only breath he had taken
since the song began.
Next to the thrush song. that. was
the most wonderful thing | ever
hcard.'
The girl looked up from rearranglng
the cushions in the Old mans chair.
Daddy taught me-. He. said it was
my Gift. He had the deepest. soft
voice. She went III, more to herself
than TO him. Like the low tones of
the cello. though it always made him
sad to sing. Long ago, when I was a
Child, he used to hold me in his arms
and sing TO me. He WAS Il wonderful
cclliSt before"
She bowed her head over The chair
and the Pearlhuntrr fAmcied lie saw
tears, But her face was soon up
again, brave and cheerful.
You could sing"
Me" 1t WAS about the NEST start,
ling thing size could have said. The