The Young Musician | Page 5

This, however, was not
the ground for Philip's dislike.
With all his unattractiveness, Nick might have possessed qualities
which would have rightly made him popular. So far from this, however,
he was naturally mean, selfish, and a bully, with very slight regard for
truth.
Will it be believed that, in spite of his homely face, Nick really thought
himself good-looking and aspired to be a beau? For this reason he had
often wished that he possessed Philip's accomplishment of being able to
play upon the violin.
His conversational powers were rather limited, and he felt at a loss
when he undertook to make himself fascinating to the young ladies in
the village. If he could only play on the violin like Philip he thought he
would be irresistible.
He had therefore conceived the design of buying Philip's instrument for
a trifle, judging that our hero would feel compelled to sell it.
The reader will now understand the object which led to Nick's call so
soon after the funeral of Mr. Gray. He was afraid some one else might
forestall him in gaining possession of the coveted instrument.
When Philip saw who his visitor was, he was not overjoyed. It was
with reluctance that he rose and gave admission to Nick.
"I thought I would call around and see you, Phil," said Nick, as he sat
down in the most comfortable chair in the room.
"Thank you," responded Phil coldly.
"The old man went off mighty sudden," continued Nicholas, with
characteristic delicacy.
"Do you mean my father?" inquired Philip.
"Of course I do. There ain't any one else dead, is there!"
"I had been expecting my poor father's death for some time," said
Philip gravely.
"Just so! He wa'n't very rugged. We've all got to come to it sooner or
later. I expect dad'll die of apoplexy some time-he's so awful fat,"
remarked Nicholas cheerfully. "If he does, it's lucky he's got me to run
the business. I'm only eighteen, but I can get along as well as anybody.
I'm kinder smart in business."

"I am glad you are smart in anything," thought Philip; for he knew that
Nick was a hopeless dunce in school duties.
"I hope your father'll live a good while," he said politely.
"Yes, of course," said Nick lightly. "I'd be sorry to have the old man
pop off; but then you never can tell about such a thing as that."
Philip did not relish the light way in which Nick referred to such a loss
as he was suffering from, and, by way of changing the subject, said:
"I believe you said you came on business, Nicholas?"
"Yes; that's what I wanted to come at. It's about your fiddle."
"My violin!" said Philip, rather surprised.
"Oh, well, fiddle or violin! what's the odds? I want to buy it."
"What for?"
"To play on, of course! What did you think I wanted it for?"
"But you can't play, can you?"
"Not yet; but I expect you could show me some--now, couldn't you?"
"What put it into your head to want to play on the violin?" asked Philip,
with some curiosity.
"Why, you see, the girls like it. It would be kind of nice when I go to a
party, or marm has company, to scrape off a tune or two-just like you
do. It makes a feller kinder pop'lar with the girls, don't you see?" said
Nick, with a knowing grin.
"And you want to be popular with the young ladies!" said Philip,
smiling, in spite of his bereavement, at the idea being entertained by
such a clumsy-looking caliban as Nick Holden.
"Of course I do!" answered Nick, with another grin. "You see I'm
gettin' along-I'll be nineteen next month, and I might want to get
married by the time I'm twenty-one, especially if the old man should
drop off sudden."
"I understand all that, Nicholas--"
"Call me Nick. I ain't stuck up if I am most a man. Call me pet names,
dearest."
And Nicholas laughed loudly at his witty quotation.
"Just as you prefer. Nick, then, I understand your object. But what
made you think I wanted to sell the violin?"
It was Nick's turn to be surprised.
"Ain't there goin' to be an auction of your father's things?" he said.
"Yes; but the violin is mine, and I am not going to sell it."

"You'll have to," said Nick.
"What do you mean by that, Nicholas Holden?" said Philip quickly.
"Because you'll have to sell everything to pay your father's debt. My
father said so this very morning."
"I think I know my own business best," said Philip coldly. "I shall keep
the violin."
"Maybe it ain't for you to say," returned Nick, apparently not aware of
his insolence. "Come, now, I'll tell you what I'll