The Washington herald., 1921-05-08

his gathering interest. "Ah, you will
starve for while, my young friend
But you will merge to fame. never fear.
Courage, monsieur! It Is the greatest of
all faculties to possess. Take the word
Of one who knows. But you are not GO
ing! Have touched a too sensitive
nerye?"
Earleigh had indeed turned toward the
door, but only to hide his amusement
u must leave. monsieur" he contrived
to say soberly. 81 have the misfortune.
1 see, to take you back over the memo
ries of your own youth"
( 'Ah. my, boy! What delicacy! You
have feeling-imagination" The old man
thrust Earleigh back into his chair again.
There! Be seated One can talk to you.
j see. You are an artist yourself. You
know something OF building. CREATING"
Open mouthed. EarIeigh listened to this
portrait of himself.
You have come indeed fortunately,
monsieur. At FIRST, / was prepared to be
annoyed. 1t was because 1 did not know
yqp. Now II Is delightful to have you
here. You must know. my friend. this
day is the very pinnacle OF my career"
Earleigh sat more and more astonished.
So this was the man OF the great ex-
pectations!
His carserr / hear you say" the old
man was running on. 1T is your face.
You are ready to laugh. But that is be-
cause you know nothing of my art. My
art? A-ah. a glorious art! Monsieur
you would pardon my enthusiasm II you
understood. Wait! I see you are worthy.
On second thought 1 will treat you to a
sensation"
Leaving Earleigh TO puzzle him
as he pleased, the old gentleman van
ished into his workroom. For a moment
there was silence. Then there foated out
to Earleigh the sound of a violin. ex-
quisitely played and of ravishing
sweetness. Marveiing now in more
spectful fashion. Earleigh sank back and
submitted himself to the spell. Not
Ysaye himself could have drawn a more
poetic bow as the old gentleman, having
forgotten himself. played on and on. 1t
cost Earleigh a pang to>have the music
cease and when Savarac reappeared and
stood in the door for an instant. ridAc Guile
was gone from his heart.
Monsieur" said Savarac with dignity.
"our acquaintance has been brief. But
people of our sort reach an understand
ing quickly. l have reason to believe
you can appreciate what you have heard.
Would you think me mad. monsieur"-he
paused-"if | told you l aspire to be
Stradivarius the second? Do not smile.
Wait till you have heard me out. That
golden voice came from one fmy own
instruments-not a da Salo no Amati. but
a, de Savarac. And was il good. think you?
All monsieur"-the old man kissed his
fingers to the ceilng-"you know II was
good! But hark!" he broke off abruptly.
Did 1 her footsteps on the stairs? I
am expecting my daughter, monsieur"
He listened for a moment. So also did
Earleigh listen! In great while she
was to be expected! 'r'"'
81 was mistaken" Savarac resumed
his pace and his harangue. though it now
cost Earleigh an effort to hear him.
Monsieur. Stradivarius is accounted the
greatest OF makers. But he has had an
able. assistant-Time, Time. Yet l have
done as well. How? All. that is the Sc
cret of my forty years of toll. As carly
my twentieth year. monsieur. 1 said
to myself. why wait for time: l said.
For the perfect violin two elements are
necessary-art and age Why? Here is
the answer" From a pocket the cheva-
lier drew a tuning-fork. 81 snap this,
and it sings. There is none of that in
new wood. 1t is too full of saps and
resins. But age evaporates those and
leaves the ibres dry and brittle. mon
sieur, like tuning fork-vibrant, sing
ing at the lightest touch of the bow.
Give wood that is already old true Strad-
you not have? So. monsieur, l bought
old wood, old maple and deal. from some
of the oldest houses in Italy-three hun
dred years old Time had done its work
already. Next for Stradivarius."
YES" said Eareigh, Il was thinking
Of Stradivarius"
81 am coming to that" Savarac went
on, needless of the note of skepticism.
at took me years. but in the end I have
D.
shop 7 mended for years the finest in
struments in Europe. More than one old
jewel I tore open to discover its soul.
l dissolved the varnish from three old
broken marvels. to learn the forgotten
formula. The result is monsieur, 1 know
the violin as-as Pasteur knew the hu-
man body. I now had the very hand OF
Stradivarius himself himself. Ten years
till / could copy his varnish, But mon-
sieur l have copied it-bettered it! Wait!
You shall see."
Again the chevalier scuttled into his
work ROOM and again Earleigh's face
relaxed in a smile of wonderment One
ear cooked as il was on the door listen
ing for mademoiselle, 1t was impossible
for him not to be swept up into the
glow of this enthusiast.
IN a twinkling the old man had re-
turned. bearing a violin swathed in silk
en- wrappages as mother handles a
babe.
Monsieur" he laid the instrument on
table beside Earleigh. "see" He turn
ed his handiwork under his eager eyes.
Perfect, perfect! You little know how
perfect it is. This top. it is the seventh
have made for this violin alone. The
back is the third. Glance at the model
ing-more luscious, more flowing than
any Strad. with your own ears you
have heard the fruits of my labors.
What think you. helm? And this is per-