Books › The Red Book 1907-01: Vol 8 Iss 3, 1907 › scan 39
Scan 39
The Red Book 1907-01: Vol 8 Iss 3, 1907
44 lines. Read by computer on 14 September 2026. Printed page 328. See the scan on archive.org.
1yet more beautiful had gone out of his life forever.
3"'Archer, Wilson & Archer, dry goods merchants,'" he said aloud, resting his cheek against the polished wood of the instrument, as his fingers instinctively closed upon the bow.
5In the other room the silence deepened. The electric light from the street shone in the window upon the old man and the girl, as they sat listening with strained intentness. They heard the door close, and the movement of the chair into which he flung himself, and then for a long time they heard no more.
7At last, very slowly, Archer drew the bow across the strings of the violin.
9"It's genius," said Professor Gastrow, in a triumphant whisper. "I was right. It's genius."
11But the girl was on her feet, pale and trembling.
13"It's the brook," she whispered excitedly, "our brook. Listen. Don't you hear it ripple? Don't you see the water dancing in the sunshine? It's singing to us, and we're there, together—both of us."
15She advanced a step uncertainly.
17"It's running over pebbles," she continued, breathlessly, "little round white pebbles, don't you see them? Now it's in the deep, shady places underneath the ferns; now it's dashing against the rocks. It's rippling again, don't you hear it? And we're there, we're there."
19The melody was hushed to a whisper, then rose again, passionate, throbbing, sorrowful. She hid her face in her hands.
21"He's alone," she said brokenly, "and he does n't understand. He—does n't—understand. He's hurt and angry. It's the brook again, but not our brook. It's saying things. Do you hear them?"
23She paused, and Professor Gastrow for the first time concentrated a surprised attention upon his daughter, his glasses pushed back on his forehead and his hands planted firmly upon his knees. She turned and faced him with quivering lips.
25"He's lonely," she said, "very, very lonely. He wants me—and I'm going to him."
27The violin spoke again in passionate appeal; a long sorrowful note ending in an unmistakable throb of anguish, and she sprang hastily forward.
29"I'm coming, dear, I'm coming," she called as she opened the door.
31Professor Gastrow thrust his fingers fretfully through his hair until it stood rampantly erect.
33"A woman spoils everything," he ejaculated, as the music ceased abruptly.
35Cagler's Clean Record
36BY ELLIOTT FLOWER
37Author of "Policeman Flynn," etc
39Alderman Cagler was worried, greatly worried. He stood between the devil of rum and the deep sea of reform, and there was trouble for him on either side. A Sunday-closing ordinance had been introduced in the council. At another time this might not have been so serious, but a great moral wave was sweeping over the city, and Alderman Cagler's ward was deeply moved by the agitation. On the other hand, the alderman could not afford to antagonize the saloon interests. His was not what is known as a saloon ward, but the brewers are powerful in some branches of municipal politics and the brewers were decidedly aggressive in this matter.
41"If I vote against this ordinance," mused Alderman Cagler, "this is my last term in the council. If I vote for the ordinance, I make powerful enemies where I now have friends."
43Alderman Cagler's personal interests and inclinations lay with the brewers and their allies. He did not believe in a Sunday-closing law. Furthermore, certain local leaders, whose friendship was of the utmost political importance to him, were violently opposed to it. The brewers are large contributors to campaign funds.
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