among　the　employees　would　not　openly
  venture　so　far；　but　rather　thought　if　his
  satanic　majesty　and　old　Sanders　ran　a
  race；　the　former　would　come　in　a　bad
  second；　if　he　were　not　distanced　altogether。
  The　old　man　always　reached　the　office
  at　nine。　Mr。　Wallace　usually　arrived　a
  half　hour　later；　seldom　earlier；　which　was
  so　well　understood　by　Sanders　that　he
  was　greatly　surprised　when　he　walked
  into　the　president's　office；　the　morning
  after　that　gentleman　had　attended
  Diotti's　concert；　to　find　the　head　of　the
  firm　already　there　and　apparently　waiting　for　him。
  ‘‘Sanders；''　said　the　banker；　‘‘I
  want　your　advice　on　a　matter　of　great
  importance　and　concern　to　me。''
  Sanders　came　across　the　room　and
  stood　beside　the　desk。
  ‘‘Briefly　as　possible；　I　am　much
  exercised　about　my　daughter。''
  The　old　man　moved　up　a　chair　and
  buried　himself　in　it。　Pressing　his　elbows
  tightly　against　his　sides；　he　drew
  his　neck　in；　and　with　the　tips　of　his
  right　hand　fingers　consorted　and
  coquetted　with　their　like　on　the　opposite
  hand；　then　he　simply　asked；　‘‘Who　is
  the　man？''
  ‘‘He　is　the　violinist　who　has　created
  such　a　sensation　here；　Angelo　Diotti。''
  ‘‘Yes；　I've　seen　the　name　in　print；''
  returned　the　old　man。
  ‘‘He　has　bewitched　Mildred。　I　never
  have　seen　her　show　the　least　interest　in
  a　man　before。　She　never　has　appeared
  to　me　as　an　impressionable　girl　or　one
  that　could　easily　be　won。''
  ‘‘That　is　very　true；''　ejaculated
  Sanders；　‘‘she　always　seemed　tractable　and
  open　to　reason　in　all　questions　of　love
  and　courting。　I　can　recall　several
  instances　where　I　have　set　her　right　by
  my　estimation　of　men；　and　invariably
  she　has　accepted　my　views。''
  ‘‘And　mine　until　now；''　said　the
  father；　and　then　he　recounted　his
  experience　of　the　night　before。　‘‘I　had
  hoped　she　would　not　fall　in　love；　but
  be　a　prop　and　comfort　to　me　now　that
  I　am　alone。　I　am　dismayed　at　the
  prospect　before　me。''
  Then　the　old　man　mused：　‘‘In　the
  chrysalis　state　of　girlhood；　a　parent
  arranges　all　the　details　of　his　daughter's
  future；　when　and　whom　she　shall　marry。
  ‘I　shall　not　allow　her　to　fall　in　love
  until　she　is　twenty…three；'　says　the　fond
  parent。　‘I　shall　not　allow　her　to　marry
  until　she　is　twenty…six；'　says　the　fond
  parent。　‘The　man　she　marries　will　be
  the　one　I　approve　of；　and　then　she　will
  live　happy　ever　after；'　concludes　the
  fond　parent。''
  Deluded　parent！　false　prophet！　The
  anarchist；　Love；　steps　in　and　disdains
  all　laws；　rules　and　regulations。　When
  finally　the　father　confronts　the　defying
  daughter；　she　calmly　says；　‘‘Well；
  what　are　you　going　to　do　about　it？''
  And　then　tears；　forgiveness；　complete
  capitulation；　and；　sometimes；　she　and
  her　husband　live　happily　ever　afterwards。
  ‘‘We　must　find　some　means　to　end
  this　attachment。　A　union　between　a
  musician　and　my　daughter　would　be
  most　mortifying　to　me。　Some　plan
  must　be　devised　to　separate　them；　but
  she　must　not　know　of　it；　for　she　is
  impatient　of　restraint　and　will　not　brook
  opposition。''
  ‘‘Are　you　confident　she　really　loves
  this　violinist？''
  ‘‘She　confessed　as　much　to　me；''
  said　the　perturbed　banker。
  Old　Sanders　tapped　with　both　hands
  on　his　shining　cranium　and　asked；
  ‘‘Are　you　confident　he　loves　her？''
  ‘‘No。　Even　if　he　does　not；　he　no　doubt
  makes　the　pretense；　and　she　believes
  him。　A　man　who　fiddles　for　money
  is　not　likely　to　ignore　an　opportunity　to
  angle　for　the　same　commodity；''　and
  the　banker；　with　a　look　of　scorn　on　his
  face；　threw　himself　back　into　the　chair。
  ‘‘Does　she　know　that　you　do　not
  approve　of　this　man？''
  ‘‘I　told　her　that　I　desired　the
  musician's　visits　to　cease。''
  ‘‘And　her　answer？''
  ‘‘She　said　she　would　obey　me　if　I
  could　name　one　reasonable　objection　to
  the　man；　and　then；　with　an　air　of　absolute
  confidence　in　the　impossibility　of
  such　a　contingency；　added；　‘But　you
  can　not。'　''
  ‘‘Yes；　but　you　must；''　said　Sanders。
  ‘‘Mildred　is　strangely　constituted。　If
  she　loves　this　man；　her　love　can　be
  more　deadly　to　the　choice　of　her　heart
  than　her　hate　to　one　she　abhors。　The
  impatience　of　restraint　you　speak　of　and
  her　very　inability　to　brook　opposition
  can　be　turned　to　good　account　now。''
  And　old　Sanders　again　tapped　in　the
  rhythm　of　a　dirge　on　his　parchment…
  bound　cranium。
  ‘‘Your　plan？''　eagerly　asked　the
  father；　whose　confidence　in　his　secretary
  was　absolute。
  ‘‘I　would　like　to　study　them　together。
  Your　position　will　be　stronger　with
  Mildred　if　you　show　no　open　opposition
  to　the　man　or　his　aspirations；　bring　us
  together　at　your　house　some　evening；
  and　if　I　can　not　enter　a　wedge　of
  discontent；　then　they　are　not　as　others。''
  ***
  Mildred　was　delighted　when　her
  father　told　her　on　his　return　in　the
  evening　that　he　was　anxious　to　meet
  Signor　Diotti；　and　suggested　a　dinner
  party　within　a　few　days。　He　said　he
  would　invite　Mr。　Sanders；　as　that
  gentleman；　no　doubt；　would　consider　it　a
  great　privilege　to　meet　the　famous
  musician。　Mildred　immediately　sent　an
  invitation　to　Diotti；　adding　a　request
  that　he　bring　his　violin　and　play　for
  Uncle　Sanders；　as　the　latter　had　found
  it　impossible　to　attend　his　concerts　during
  the　season；　yet　was　fond　of　music；
  especially　violin　music。
  X
  The　little　dinner　party　passed　off
  pleasantly；　and　as　old　Sanders
  lighted　his　cigar　he　confided　to　Diotti；
  with　a　braggart's　assurance；　that　when
  he　was　a　youngster　he　was　the　best　fiddler
  for　twenty　miles　around。　‘‘I　tell
  you　there　is　nothing　like　a　fiddler　to
  catch　a　petticoat；''　he　said；　with　a　sharp
  nudge　of　his　elbow　into　Diotti's　ribs。
  ‘‘When　I　played　the　Devil's　Dream
  there　wasn't　a　girl　in　the　country　could
  keep　from　dancing；　and　‘Rosalie；　the
  Prairie　Flower；'　brought　them　on　their
  knees　to　me　every　time；''　then　after　a
  pause；　‘‘I　don't　believe　people　fiddle　as
  well　nowadays　as　they　did　in　the　good
  old　times；''　and　he　actually　sighed　in
  remembrance。
  Mildred　smiled　and　whispered　to
  Diotti。　He　took　his　violin　from　the　case
  and　began　playing。　It　seemed　to　her
  as　if　from　above　showers　of　silvery
  merriment　were　falling　to　earth。　The　old
  man　watched　intently；　and　as　the　player
  changed　from　joy　to　pity；　from　love
  back　to　happiness；　Sanders　never　withdrew
  his　gaze。　His　bead…like　eyes　followed
  the　artist；　he　saw　each　individual
  finger　rise　and　fall；　and　the　bow　bound
  over　the　finger…board；　always　avoiding；
  never　coming　in　contact　with　the　middle
  string。　Suddenly　the　old　man　beat　a
  tattoo　on　his　cranium　and　closed　his
  eyes；　apparently　deep　in　thought。
  As　Diotti　ceased　playing；　Sanders
  applauded　vociferously；　and　moving
  toward　the　violinist；　said：　‘‘Magnificent！
  I　never　have　heard　better　playing！
  What　is　the　make　of　your　violin？''
  Diotti；　startled　at　this　question；
  hurriedly　put　the　instrument　in　its　case；
  ‘‘Oh；　it　is　a　famous　make；''　he　drawled。
  ‘‘Will　you　let　me　examine　it？''　said
  the　elder；　placing　his　hand　on　the　case。
  ‘‘I　never　allow　any　one　to　touch　my
  violin；''　replied　Diotti；　closing　the　cover
  quickly。
  ‘‘Why；　is　there　a　magic　charm　about
  it；　that　you　fear　other　hands　may
  discover？''　queried　the　old　man。
  ‘‘I　prefer　that　no　one　handle　it；''
  said　the　virtuoso　commandingly。
  ‘‘Very　well；''　sighed　the　old　man
  resignedly；　‘‘there　are　violins　and　violins；
  and　no　doubt　yours　comes　within　that
  category；''　this　half　sneeringly。
  ‘‘Uncle；''　interposed　Mildred　tactfully；
  ‘‘you　must　not　be　so　persistent。　Signor
  Diotti　prizes　his　violin　highly　and　will
  not　allow　any　one　to　play　upon　it　but
  himself；''　and　the　look　of　relief　on
  Diotti's　face　amply　repaid　her。
  Mr。　Wallace　came　in　at　that　moment；
  and　with　perfunctory　interest　in　his
  guest；　invited　him　to　examine　the　splendid
  collection　of　revolutionary　relics　in
  his　study。
  ‘‘I　value　them　highly；''　said　the
  banker；　‘‘both　for　patriotic　and　ancestral
  reasons。　The　Wallaces　fought　and
  died　for　their　country；　and　helped　to
  make　this　land　what　it　is。''
  The　father　and　the　violinist　went　to
  the　study；　leaving　the　daughter　and　old
  Sanders　in　the　drawing…room。　The
  old　man；　seating　himself　in　a　large　armchair；
  said：　‘‘Mildred；　my　dear；　I　do
  not　wonder　at　the　enormous　success　of
  this　Diotti。''
  ‘‘He　is　a　wonderful　artist；''　replied
  Mildred；　‘‘critics　and　public　alike　place
  him　among　the　greatest　of　his　profession。''
  ‘‘He　is　a　good…looking　young　fellow；
  too；''　said　the　old　man。
  ‘‘I　think　he　is　the　handsomest　man　I
  ever　have　seen；''　replied　the　girl。
  ‘‘Where　does　he　come　from？''
  continued　Sanders。
  ‘‘St。　Casciano；　a　small　town　in　Tuscany。''
  ‘‘Has　he　a　family？''
  ‘‘Only　a　sister；　whom　he　loves
  dearly；''　good…naturedly　answered　the
  girl。
  ‘‘And　no　one　else？''　continued　the
  s