Show THE T H E EBY LETTER P P BY J. BY-J. J J J. ABECKET T. T Copyright 1302 by the rho S. S S. S McClure Company Young Yowling Mr Carlisle Partridge possessed possessed possess pos pos- sess d an ample Income and an extraordinary extraordinary extraordinary ex ex- ex- ex talent for the piano plana His ambition to be a celebrated performer occupied much of his thought and time Unfortunately just as he reached the point where he felt warranted in appearing appearing appearing ap ap- ap- ap as a professor his health b began be b gan to show signs of failing falling His physician physician phy phy- advised change of air and less arduous practice Partridge sought out a beautiful country town whose air was ing He engaged a large front room and the use of a rear one on one which was wasa a sort of country back parlor In the former he had a grand piano plana installed and restricted his use of it to three hours a da day practicing only the numbers numbers numbers num num- bers for his The small community was much Impressed impressed impressed im Im- im- im pressed by this exhibition of at opulence and energy So was the daughter of his landlady a girl of 18 Hetty Humphreys was a bright and exceedIngly exceedingly exceedingly exceed exceed- pretty girl who had already made her mark in the little village world by her standing at the academy Her mother planned for tor her a higher flight at Holyoke college After a few days the girls girl's Interest Inthe Inthe inthe In In- the handsome young o mg musician deepened deep deep- ened She would spend nearly all of the evening hour for practice in the bay window which looked out on the large garden A honeysuckle vine clambered thickly around this window whose ledge was only a few feet from the ground Off a little at one side was wasa a arbor Do you mind if it I sit in the window of of the back parlor and hear you play she asked You do play so beautifully and of course we get so little music of ol an any kind here that Its It's a real treat and I Ian an education for me Im I'm too busy the rest of the day to give It attention I Air Mr Partridge had assented with the proviso that she should not speak to him until the hour was over Hetty promised ed and wren en the thing was tried he found that she was as goof good goodas as her word In fact when he had made some remark to her the first night she had not replied He Ho was so nearsighted that he could not see w well ll Into the dark opening of the window It was not until he had closed the piano and made another remark that he received any response Tired No indeed but it makes me feel so dreamy I dont don't want to say saya a word This was as good as as could be So the rehearsals went on through the lovely summer evenings the musician feeling feeling- a a. sort of stimulus stimulus' from his un un- un- un wearying wearying- but hut silent auditor Then came a ripple in the placid current of his rustic experience One morning after he had finished his practice Mrs Hum requested a moment of s 6 h him He assented won- won l d o jt she could want She was df f prose and country respectability of the narrow but In Insistent Insistent insistent In- In sort Ive got to say something to you Mr Partridge It isn't very nice to have to mention it But though Hetty Is smart she's only a girl and only used to Country ways She used to like to visit with friends nights but now she dont don't show no disposition to do so It may be the music and that's allBut all But she's changed since you came She's moody at times and then again kind of giddy and excited Ive I've watched vou you and I lean Ican can see that you dont don't take more more than ordinary notice Of nt Het lIet But when I 1 found this in her room yesterday It made me do something and I made mad up my mind it was time to speak peak to you Look at that She unfolded a a white cloth and showed a square of deep yellow silk with several bars of music embroidered embroidered embroidered ered in each corner In the middle a large arge P uP was outlined In the same black silk Mr Partridge too took the square examined examined ex ex- the musical bars and nodded his his- ils head Then he looked at Mrs Humphreys with a mildly Inquisitive ve air You seem eem to know them musical figures said she severely Have they got any meaning Why yes This Is from a Scotch ballad Could You Come Back to Me Douglas Douglas He sang the words Carmen softly This is from He sang again Si tu to Esca- Esca millo Then this is from The Bedouins Bedouin's Bedouins Bedouin's Bedouins Bedouin's Bed Bed- Love Song The last is a passage passage passage pas pas- sage from A Pastoral Symphony I practice The Ingenuous young man reddened under the sustained gaze of or Hetty's mother Its uIt's not just fancy In me she de- de de de- That poor childs child's in love Well Nell that isn't Such a dreadful thing Mrs Humphreys is it Miss Hetty Is about 18 or 19 11 19 and aDd girls usuAlly usually usually ally do fall In love lo-e about that time Im not blaming you But you dont don't mean to say that you have any serious feelings for my daughter do you ou Mr Ur Partridge She spoke with a red face but fierce determination Good heavens no no exclaimed the musician with an explosive emphasis that carried conviction what What what have I to do with ith It it She put her forefinger on the large funereal P P stands for lor Partridge dont don't it He flushed with annoyance but there was no DO gainsaying that It did It must all be a mistake he pro pro- tested I never see her alone except when she is around when I play evenings evenIngs evenIngs even- even Ings and I dont don't see her then She likes to listen QuI quietly and then go away I am perfectly innocent Her ner expression bad had softened though she still looked worried I 1 dont don't blame you OU Mr Partridge but you can see I that it must be stopped He ne did some quick thinking I can cango cango cango go away I 1 meant to stay two weeks longer but I 1 can get off in a day or two 1 Three days later Hefty e drove him to the station Her mother could not oppose oppose oppose op op- op- op pose this last devotion She saw him himon on the train I am ever so much obliged for those lovely evenings of or music she said cheerfully and he could not but admire her bravery I He lie hesitated a moment ment and then said I r would really like to have the sofa pillow Miss She looked at him open eyed then asked quickly How did you know anything about it Oh I saw it one dray day he replied evasively I know all 1311 the airs of course but I 1 shouldn't have guessed It was for me only for ithe ithe P Po She burst into a try me fit of 01 laugh laugh- ter Did mother sh show w that to you Upon my word that wasn't for tor you And she laughed again n. Oh pardon me me But the train pulled up and he w wis ws off It had not disappeared when a young fellow came out c elf cd f th the waiting room and the two drove briskly briskly away George she f said id that Princeton pillow I made tot too for you rou mother and Mr Ir Partridge thought I had made for him Well theres there's no harm in that he laughed back If he had only known what a good blind his playing was for those evenings In the arbor he wouldn't have any suspicions like that But Dut weve we've got to hurry to get to the theother theother theother other station The minister Is expectIng expecting expect expect- ing us in New Haven H.-aven Oh George mother will be surprised surprised sur BUr Do you suppose your father will forgive us If he doesn't I 1 can stand It Heiry dear |