The Second Violin

about, and flung out his arms in despair. "Oh, this crowd is hopeless!" he groaned. "Never mind any other instrument, providin

upon the red-cheeked,

hat's the use of my playing like a midsummer zephyr whe

le group. "Let's try it again," she suggested,

the rest of the strings wouldn't fight to drown you out. Charlotte pla

nd chin, raised her bow and waited, her eyes on th

ion. "Celia tunes between practice; Charlotte takes it for g

g the process as much as possible. The 'cello did the same--the 'cello always stood by the se

-bass viol gripped his bow with his stubby twelve-year-old fingers, and hardly breathed as he strove to keep his notes subdued. The 'cello murmured a gentle undertone; the f

umbly on. The Pilgrims approached--crescendo; drew near--forte; passed--fortissimo; marched aw

e second violin. His children always smiled when Mr. Roderick Birch came in. I

d. "She's rather tired to-night. And after the

ed into a chair by the fire. "Play your best," she warned the others, in a whisper. But th

ic ceased, the leader, turning to the second violin, met her reluctant eyes with a softening in his own keen ones. The hint of a laugh curved

ed upon the arm of his chair, her scarlet flannel arm under his head. The youngest boy, Justin, threw himself flat on the hearth-rug, chin propped on elbow, watching the fire; sixteen-year-old Je

rious--a consultation of the whole.

come down to hear you play, but I wouldn't let her. And indee

here are moments when the furnace pipes con

houghtfully into the fi

Celia--has mother seemed qu

isn't she? She--had that illness last winter, and was a lo

in had swung about upon his elbows and was regardi

spend the coming winter in this climate. Don't be alarmed; I don't want to frighten you, but I want you to apprec

the matter with mother? Why, she was the central sun about which their little

ged Celia's soft voice. She w

tte's counterpart in colouring and looks--rested anxiously on the second violin's curly mop of hair, tie

ords. "Yes, tell us plainl

because if we carry out the doctor's prescription it means much sacrifice for every one. I had no doubt that you would make it, but I think it is better for you

ng's ruddy colour suddenly faded. Charlotte buried her head in her fat

it hard to face the anxious eyes which searched his, and would have liked, like his eighteen-year-old daugh

ew Mexico air is water and blanket--a whole fire department, if need be. The doctor assures me that with mother's good constitution, and the absence of any hereditary predisposition to this sort of thing, we've only to give her the ten or twelve months of rest and re?nforcement--the

nto the upturned, eager faces of Jeff and Justin, "are getting to be

that, and gravely laid a muscu

by you, si

f's thick black lashes went down for a moment; Celia shook two bright drops from brimming eyes and patted Just's sturdy

ll us our part we'll take hold. I think I know what it m

ny extras by the way. She has kept up bravely, but this unusual exhaustion after one day in town shows me how careful I must be of her on the long journey. Then,

at Jeff, and Jeff at both of them. Charlotte sat up suddenly,

of their control, and the father's income, that of attorney-at-law in a large suburban town, had since become the only source of supp

t one another with startled questioning. Lansing was about to begin his senior year at a great university; Celi

s old, captain of the high-school football team, six feet tall, and able to give his brother Lansing a hard battle for physical supremacy, his dearest dream was a great military school. Even Justin--

ell him of surprise, disappointment and bewilderment; and of the succee

e said, thoughtfully. "Or I--no--merely working my way thr

began Celia,

our flashed back into her cheeks. In the

f college, I can, too,"

oposed, "I ought to be able to earn enough to--well,

an Charlotte, eagerly. "I c

h quite broke the solemnity of the occ

in washing?"

orders for f

s in languages? Come! Fiddl

s she disliked most and could do least well. Yet they were hardly farther afield tha

f eminently fitted for, Mr. Lansing Bi

one thing I can think of--to go into the locomotive shops. Mechanics' wage

ness, and his face, although it surmounted a strongly proportioned and well developed body, suggested the mental characteristics not only of his father, bu

go to fill my own hungry mouth. Now at the shops--you needn't look so top-lofty! Dozens of fellows who are taking engineering courses put on the overalls, shoulder a lunch-pail and go to work every morning during vacation at seven o'clock

e," he said, "if you go into one of the loc

e rest of us do," she said, "Jeff

as good as another in a boiler-shop. You don't catch me swallowing algebra and Ge

iss Delia, and do the housework myself, and Lanse finds some suitable position, can't we get on? Char

on't draw any hair-raising salary the first year. He could probably get clerical work at one of the b

s ideals at all times, and his disgust at the thought of su

spoke in the hearty tone to which they wer

he foresaw the instant the plan was formed--so much sacrifice on the part of her children. Yet she agreed with me that the experience might not be who

ed--since at this point it became necessary to mollify his son Jefferson--that a fellow with a will might find any number of remunerative odd jobs out of school and study hours. He co

ra. The hand that can design wall-papers can learn to relieve the mistress of the house of some of her cares.

denly wriggled out from under the caressing hand, and in half a dozen quick movements was out of th

d Celia. "She thinks

"The year may do her good, as you say, father--a

s the rest of us are perfect noodles at. When she gets to earning more money in a day

d Lanse. Then he turned to his father. "Y

to sleep, for her children were ready to become her devoted slaves. Justin followed Jeff out of the room, and Jeff broke

e and Celia look

rl--" began L

!" breat

ar up, dear. It's tough to

ed the girl, and buried

ers and walked away to the fire, stood staring down into it for a minut

o to help her get well," he said, slowly. "And