按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
we？''
‘‘Never！'' he said solemnly。
He had placed his violin case on the table in the room。 She went to it
and tapped the top playfully； then suddenly said： ‘‘I am going to look at
your violin； Angelo；'' and before he could interfere； she had taken the
silken coverlet off and was examining the instrument closely。 ‘‘Sure
enough； it has five strings； the middle one stands higher than the rest and
is of glossy blackness。 Uncle Sanders was right； it is a woman's hair！
‘‘Why is that string made of hair？'' she asked； controlling her emotion。
‘‘Only a fancy；'' he said； feigning indifference。
‘‘Though you would not remove it at my wish this afternoon； Angelo；
49
… Page 50…
The Fifth String
I know you will not refuse to play on it for me now。''
He raised his hands in supplication。 ‘‘Mildred！ Mildred！ Stop！ do not
ask it！''
‘‘You refuse after I have come repentant； and confessing my doubts
and fears？ Uncle Sanders said you would not play upon it for me； he told
me it was wrapped with a woman's hair； the hair of the woman you love。''
‘‘I swear to you； Mildred； that I love but you！''
‘‘Love me？ Bah！ And another woman's tresses sacred to you？ Another
woman's pledge sacred to you？ I asked you to remove the string； you
refused。 I ask you now to play upon it； you re… fuse；'' and she paced the
room like a caged tigress。
‘‘I will watch to…night when you play；'' she flashed。 ‘‘If you do not use
that string we part forever。''
He stood before her and attempted to take her hand； she repulsed him
savagely。
Sadly then he asked： ‘‘And if I do play upon it？''
‘‘I am yours foreveryours through lifethrough eternity；'' she cried
passionately。
The call…boy announced Diotti's turn； the violinist led Mildred to a seat
at the entrance of the stage。 His appearance was the signal for prolonged
and enthusiastic greeting from the enormous audience present。 He clearly
was the idol of the metropolis。
The lights were lowered； a single calcium playing with its soft and
silvery rays upon his face and shoulders。 The expectant audience scarcely
breathed as he began his theme。 It was pitypity molded into a concord of
beautiful sounds； and when he began the second movement it was but a
continuation of the first； his fingers sought but one string； that of pity。
Again he played； and once more pity stole from the violin。
When he left the stage Mildred rushed So him。 ‘‘You did not touch
that string； you refuse my wish？'' and the sounds of mighty applause
without drowned his pleading voice。
‘‘I told you if you refused me I was lost to you forever！ Do you
understand？''
Diotti returned slowly to the center of the stage and remained
50
… Page 51…
The Fifth String
motionless until the audience subsided。 Facing Mildred； whose color was
heightened by the in… tensity of her emotion； he began softly to play。 His
fingers sought the string of Death。 The audience listened with breathless
interest。 The composition was weirdly and strangely fascinating。
The player told with wondrous power of despair；of hope； of faith；
sunshine crept into the hearts of all as he pictured the promise of an eternal
day； higher and higher； softer and softer grew the theme until it echoed as
if it were afar in the realms of light and floating o'er the waves of a golden
sea。
Suddenly the audience was startled by the snapping of a string； the
violin and bow dropped from the nerveless hands of the player。 He fell
helpless to the stage。
Mildred rushed to him； crying； ‘‘Angelo； Angelo； what is it？ What has
happened？'' Bending over him she gently raised his head and showered un…
restrained kisses upon his lips； oblivious of all save her lover。
‘‘Speak！ Speak！'' she implored。
A faint smile illumined his face； he gazed with ineffable tenderness
into her weeping eyes； then slowly closed his own as if in slumber。
51
… Page 52…
The Fifth String
The Conspirators
Arriving opposite the Franklin house； Tom Foley took position in a
near…by alley； where he could keep close watch on the front gate。 After
hours of nervous waiting； little Lillian Franklin came out； and Tom's heart
gave a jump。 She was alone； and began to roll a hoop； which her friend
Sandy had given her that morning。 Down the street she tripped； all smiles
and happiness。
Tom watched her until she had turned a corner； then he rushed up the
alley to intercept her。 When he emerged into the street； he saw her resting
on a rustic bench； and hastened to join her。 As he came up； he was greeted
with：
‘‘Why； Tom； I thought you went fishing with Gil； and papa； and Sandy；
and the rest。''
‘‘No； Lily。 I felt so bad 'bout my dad being arrested yest'day I couldn't
git up no courage to go；'' answered the boy with simulated contrition。
What d'yer say？ let's s'prise Gil； and go down to the landin' an' meet him
when he comes in from fishin'；'' suggested Foley； knowing the intense love
she had for her brother。
‘‘That'll be lovely； won't it？ And Gil will be so glad if I come。''
Lillian whipped the hoop rapidly； and Tom kept pace with her。
‘‘Gil will be surprised； sure enough； when he sees me coming； won't
he？''
‘‘Yes； he'll be s'prised； you bet！'' said the boy； taking a firmer hold of
her hand。
The night was fast approaching and Foley was leading the child
through unfrequented alleys and streets。
‘‘But maybe Gil won't come back this way； and it's getting awful
dark。''
‘‘Oh； he'll come back this way； all right。''
They were now on the shore of the river； dark and desolate in its
winter dress。 The restless splash of the water sent icy sprays over the child；
and； clinging still closer to her treacherous companion； she stopped him
for a second and begged him to return。
52
… Page 53…
The Fifth String
‘‘Don't be afear'd； nuthin's goin' ter happen to yer；'' he said； jerking her
savagely； and almos