must see at once." She ran out of the
room and into the wing, where she could command a full view of the
stage, and looked upon her father for the first time.

She stood, statue like, until the last note died away. Her eyes were
full of tears, which she made no attempt to hide. Then she turned to
Anne, who had slipped quietly up and now stood beside her:

"Anne," she said almost reverently, "he is a master. His music
overwhelms me. I felt when he played as though--he were trying to give
me some message, as though he were speaking to me alone. I suppose every
one in the audience felt the same. It is because he is a genius. Who is
he, Anne, and where did he come from?"

"Eleanor," replied Anne, her voice trembling a little, "you must prepare
yourself for the greatest surprise of your life. He was speaking to you
when he played, and it was solely on your account that he played. He
came here with your aunt to-night."

Eleanor paled a little.

"Anne, what does all this mean?" she said. "You and Grace have acted
queerly all evening. What has this violinist to do with me!"

"That I cannot answer now," replied Anne, "but you will know within the
next hour. Your aunt wishes you to get your wraps and meet her at once.
She is outside in the carriage and he is with her."

"Are you and Grace coming with us?" questioned Eleanor.

"Not to-night," answered Anne, with a little smile. "You don't need
either of us. Here's Grace," she added, as the latter hurried toward
them.

"Eleanor," said Grace, "here is your cloak and your violin. Now, kiss
both of us good night and trot along, for there's a big surprise waiting
for you just around the corner, and it is the earnest wish of both Anne
and I that it may prove a happy one."

CHAPTER XXIV

THE PARTING OF THE WAYS

With the passing of the Easter holidays unbroken quiet settled down over
Oakdale High School.

The boys went back to college and the girls to High School to finish the
little that remained to them of their senior year.

The proceeds of the concert had amounted to four hundred and seventy
dollars, and with a contribution of five hundred dollars more from Mrs.
Gray, the members of the senior class were the proud possessors of a
fund of nineteen hundred and eighty dollars, which was to be presented
to Miss Thompson on graduation night as their contribution toward the
gymnasium.

The three lower classes had also raised considerable money, but
collectively