ire was blazing on the hearth and throwing flickering lights and
shadows about the cosey room. The piano stood invitingly open, and on
the rack were some waltzes of Strauss she remembered having heard the
cavalry band play a night or two previous. Seating herself, she began to
try them, and speedily became interested. Her back being to the door,
she did not notice that another visitor was soon ushered in,--a man. She
continued slowly "picking out" the melody, for the light was growing dim
and it was with difficulty that she could distinguish the notes. Twice
she essayed a somewhat complicated passage, became entangled, bent down
and closely scanned the music, began again, once more became involved,
exclaimed impatiently, "How absurd!" and whirled about on the
piano-stool, to find herself facing Mr. Hayne.

Now that the bandage was removed from his eyes it was no such easy
matter to meet him. Her sweet face flushed instantly as he bent low and
spoke her name.

"I had no idea any one was here. It quite startled me," she said, as she
withdrew from his the hand she had mechanically extended to him.

"It was my hope not to interrupt you," he answered, in the low, gentle
voice she had marked before. "You helped me when my music was all adrift
the other night: may I not help you find some of this?"

"I wish you _would_ play, Mr. Hayne."

"I will play for you gladly, Miss Travers, but waltz-music is not my
forte. Let me see what else there is here." And he began turning over
the sheets on the stand.

"Are your eyes well enough to read music,--especially in such a dim
light?" she asked, with evident sympathy.

"My eyes are doing very well,--better than my fingers, in fact,--and, as
I rarely play by note after I once learn a piece, the eyes make no
difference. What music do you like? I merely looked at this collection
thinking you might see something that pleased you."

"Mrs. Ray told me you played Rubinstein so well,--that melody in F, for
one."

"Did Mrs. Ray speak of that?"--his face brightening. "I'm glad they
found anything to enjoy in my music."

"'They' found a great deal, Mr. Hayne, and there are a number who are
envious of their good fortune,--I, for one," she answered, blithely.
"Now play for me. Mrs. Waldron will be here in a minute."

And when Mrs. Waldron came in, a little later, Miss Travers, seated in
an easy-chair and looking intently into the blaze, was listening as
intently to the soft, rich melodie