Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-03-26

had not been as successful as his other
self-exiled from the city. The circum-
stance served to make the organist
of st. Adams much more interesting
than she otherwise would have been
to a good many people not habitual
churchgoers, and her power over the
great cathedral organ, coupled with
her pale, ethereal beauty, set her apart
In the minds of others, even as John
Trenton had set her In his heart long
ago, She was invariably gentle, In
varlably kind, but invariably cold.
The truth was that John Trenton,
using his energies unsparlngly day and
night in a foreign city, was happier
than his wife in the solitude of her
splendid home and her long and pain
full reveries. For woman is being
who cannot keep her heart cold for a
lifetime. In spite of her determine
ton, there will struggle to 1t the yearn-
ing to lavish itself upon fellow
being, and that yearnlng had come to
Mrs. Trenton. But there was no one,
not even her unloved husband, for her
to lavish 1t upon.
Meanwhile, the beauty Of the or
ganist of st. Adams was growing
noticeably more and more ethereal.
There were rumors that she was going
into decline, and whatever the cause,
there could be small doubt of the
truth of the reports. Her duties at the
cathedral presently became too great
u drain upon her strength, and the
church was forced reluctantly to &C.
cept her resignation. Then came the
apparently fruitless effort to replace
her.
Mrs. Trenton herself, who had not
altogether given up her attendance at
the cathedral, was perhaps the great
est sufferer from the deficiencies of her
successors. To her music was a need
of life, yet, even In her own home, she
played but rarely. 1t had grown to be
an effort, and, when able to rouse her
self, the emotion exhausted and weak
ened her. But she was hungry for it
for music which could reach her soul.
One Sunday morning the first swell
ing chords that foated down from the
organ loft caused an unusual flutter
among the apathetic worshlpers, arous-
ing an expectancy which communicated
itself to Mrs. Trenton, who turned her
face upward toward the invisible
player. In moment the music was
pouring into her SOUL and she and the
entire congregation sat in rapt atten-
ton. Chord upon chord, swelling har-
monies, daring improvisatlons, grand,
reverent tones came rolling down in
cadence-never before had the people
of st. Adams listened to such music.
And the former organlst, faint, trem-
bling with appreciation, was the first
to know 1t.
When the service was over, many of
the more curious fingered to catch
glimpse of the marvellous performer,
and were surprised that the descent Of
the new organlst from the loft was not
accompanied by the sound Of swishing
skirts, and that they beheld a man.
But not so Mrs. Trenton. It was not
anthems, as the others thought, to
which she had been listening, but to
an appeal-an appeal from one man
to one woman. And she had recog-
nized 1t. Under the thrilling, vibrating
harmony of sound she had heard that
old, despairing, longing cry, Love me;
love me; love me-"
She was ready to give him her hand
calmly when he reached her, but dur
ing the short drive home she found
It impossible to look at him What
was It that was so gripping her heart
strings? She could not answer. When
they had entered the house, they faced
each other alone.
"Was it indeed your she asked
breathlessly.
at was indeed l." he said. He
folded his arms Strengthening him
self
She was looking at him-her heart
growing tumultuOus- wondering what
she ought to say--what he expected
her to say. She tried to think only of
his playing-tO tell him how much
greater his genius was than hers-how
she acknowledged his musical su-
premacy. She thought she was going
to say 1t calmly.
81 shall have to bow TO you now"
she began, but his face told her how
futile and inadequate were the words.
She read what he wanted her to say.
Could she?
He stood with folded arms, motion
less, silent, his face set and white.
She understood. He would not say
to her now, "Love me-; she must
say It.
At last she found her voice, faint
and trembling. Forgive me-" she
said; forgive me, and-and--love me
as you did"
He reached his arms out passionate
ly, and, for the first time in his life,
tnok q wifa into than