the fifth string-第6节
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shouldand talk to you longer than
they shouldand go away looking self…
satisfied！'' she replied brokenly； much
as a little girl tells of the theft of her
doll。
‘‘Nonsense；'' he said； smiling； ‘‘that
is all part of my profession； it is not
me they care for； it is the music I
give that makes them happy。 If； in my
playing； I achieve results out of the
common； they admire me！'' and he kissed
away the unwelcome tears。
‘‘I know；'' she continued； ‘‘but
lately； since we have loved each other；
I can not bear to see a woman near
you。 In my dreams again and again
an indefinable shadow mockingly comes；
and cries to me； ‘he is not to be yours；
he is to be mine。' ''
Diotti flushed and drew her to him
‘‘Darling；'' his voice carrying conviction；
‘‘I am yours； you are mine； all in
all； in life here and beyond！'' And as
she sat dreaming after he had gone； she
murmured petulantly； ‘‘I wish there
were no other women in the world。''
Her father was expected from Europe
on the succeeding day's steamer。 Mr。
Wallace was a busy man。 The various
gigantic enterprises he served as president
or director occupied most of his
time。 He had been absent in Europe
for several months； and Mildred was
anxiously awaiting his return to tell him
of her love。
When Mr。 Wallace came to his residence
the next morning； his daughter
met him with a fond display of filial
affection； they walked into the drawing…
room； hand in hand； he saw a picture
of the violinist on the piano。 ‘‘Who's
the handsome young fellow？'' he asked；
looking at the portrait with the satisfaction
a man feels when he sees a splendid
type of his own sex。
‘‘That is Angelo Diotti； the famous
violinist；'' she said； but she could not
add another word。
As they strolled through the rooms
he noticed no less than three likenesses
of the Tuscan。 And as they passed her
room he saw still another on the chiffonnier。
‘‘Seems to me the house is running wild with
photographs of that fiddler；'' he said。
For the first time in her life she was
self…conscious： ‘‘I will wait for a more
opportune time to tell him；'' she thought。
In the scheme of Diotti's appearance
in New York there were to be two
more concerts。 One was to be given
that evening。 Mildred coaxed her
father to accompany her to hear the
violinist。 Mr。 Wallace was not fond
of music； ‘‘it had been knocked out of
him on the farm up in Vermont； when
he was a boy；'' he would apologetically
explain； and besides he had the old
puritanical abhorrence of stage people
putting them all in one classas puppets
who danced for played or talked for an
idle and unthinking public。
So it was with the thought of a
wasted evening that he accompanied
Mildred to the concert。
The entertainment was a repetition
of the others Diotti had given； and at
its end； Mildred said to her father：
‘‘Come； I want to congratulate Signor
Diotti in person。''
‘‘That is entirely unnecessary；'' he
replied。
‘‘It is my desire；'' and the girl led
the unwilling parent back of the scenes
and into Diotti's dressing…room。
Mildred introduced Diotti to her
father； who after a few commonplaces
lapsed into silence。 The daughter's
enthusiastic interest in Diotti's performance
and her tender solicitude for his
weariness after the efforts of the evening；
quickly attracted the attention of
Mr。 Wallace and irritated him exceedingly。
When father and daughter were
seated in their carriage and were hurriedly
driving home； he said： ‘‘Mildred；
I prefer that you have as little to say to
that man as possible。''
‘‘What do you object to in him？''
she asked。
‘‘Everything。 Of what use is a man
who dawdles away his time on a fiddle；
of what benefit is he to mankind？ Do
fiddlers build cities？ Do they delve into
the earth for precious metals？ Do they
sow the seed and harvest the grain？
No； no； they are dronesthe barnacles
of society。''
‘‘Father； how can you advance such
an argument？ Music's votaries offer no
apologies for their art。 The husbandman
places the grain within the breast
of Mother Earth for man's material
welfare； God places music in the heart of
man for his spiritual development。 In
man's spring time； his bridal day； music
means joy。 In man's winter time；
his burial day； music means comfort。
The heaven…born muse has added to the
happiness of the world。 Diotti is a
great genius。 His art brings rest and
tranquillity to the wearied and despairing；''
and she did not speak again until
they had reached the house。
The lights were turned low when
father and daughter went into the
drawing…room。 Mr。 Wallace felt that
he had failed to convince Mildred of the
utter worthlessness of fiddlers； big or
little； and as one dissatisfied with the
outcome of a contest； re…entered the
lists。
‘‘He has visited you？''
‘‘Yes； father。''
‘‘Often？''
‘‘Yes； father；'' spoken calmly。
‘‘Often？'' louder and more imperiously
repeated the father； as if there
must be some mistake。
‘‘Quite often；'' and she sat down；
knowing the catechizing would be likely
to continue for some minutes。
‘‘How many times； do you think？''
She rose； walked into the hallway；
took the card basket from the table；
returned and seated herself beside her
father； emptying its contents into her
lap。 She picked up a card。 It read
‘‘Angelo Diotti；'' and she called the
name aloud。 She took up another and
again her lips voiced the beloved name。
‘‘Angelo Diotti；'' she continued； repeating
at intervals for a minute。 Then
looking at her father： ‘‘He has called
thirty…two times； there are thirty…one
cards here and on one occasion he forgot
his card…case。''
‘‘Thirty…two！'' said the father； rising
angrily and pacing the floor。
‘‘Yes； thirty…two。 I remember all
of them distinctly。''
Her father came over to her； half
coaxingly； half seriously。 ‘‘Mildred； I
wish his visits to cease； people will
imagine there is a romantic attachment
between you。''
‘‘There is； father；'' out it came； ‘‘he
loves me and I love him。''
‘‘What！'' shouted Mr。 Wallace； and
then severely； ‘‘this must cease immediately。''
She rose quietly and led her father
over to the mantel。 Placing a hand on
each of his shoulders she said：
‘‘Father； I will obey you implicitly
if you can name a reasonable objection
to the man I love。 But you can not。
I love him with my whole soul。 I love
him for the nobility of his character；
and because there is none other in the
world for him； nor for me。''
IX
Old Sanders as boy and man
had been in the employ of the
banking and brokerage firm of Wallace
Brothers for two generations。 The firm
gradually had advanced his position until
now he was confidential adviser and
general manager； besides having an
interest in the profits of the business。
He enjoyed the friendship of Mr。
Wallace； and had been a constant visitor
at his house from the first days of
that gentleman's married life。 He himself
was alone in the world； a confirmed
bachelor。 He had seen Mildred creep
from babyhood into childhood； and bud
from girlhood to womanhood。 To Mildred
he was one of that numerous army
of brevet relations known as ‘‘gran…
pop；'' ‘‘pop；'' or ‘‘uncle。'' To her he
was Uncle Sanders。
If the old man had one touch of human
nature in him it was a solicitude
for Mildred's futurean authority arrogated
to himselfto see that she married
the right man； but even that was
directed to her material gain in this
world's goods； and not to any sentimental
consideration for her happiness。
He flattered himself that by timely
suggestion he had ‘‘stumped'' at least half
a dozen would…be candidates for Mildred's
hand。 He pooh…poohed love as a
necessity for marital felicity； and would
enforce his argument by quoting from
the bard：
‘‘All lovers swear more performance
than they are able； and yet reserve an
ability that they never perform； vowing
more than the perfection of ten； and
discharging less than the tenth part of one。''
‘‘You can get at a man's income；''
he would say； ‘‘but not at his heart。
Love without money won't travel as far
as money without love；'' and many
married people whose bills were overdue
wondered if the old fellow was
not right。
He was cold…blooded and generally
disliked by the men under him。 The
more evil…minded gossips in the bank
said he was in league with ‘‘Old
Nick。'' That； of course； was absurd；
for it does not necessarily follow；
because a man suggests a means looking
to an end； disreputable though it be；
that he has Mephistopheles for a silent
partner。 The conservative element
among the employees would not openly
venture so far； but rather thought if hi
