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discouraged long ago of anybody's ever making it out。〃
〃Make it outmake it out！〃 cried John Holly excitedly； 〃I should say I
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could！ It's a name known the world over。 It's the name of one of the
greatest violinists that ever lived。〃
〃But howwhathow came he in my barn？〃 demanded Simeon Holly。
〃Easily guessed； from the letter； and from what the world knows；〃
returned John； his voice still shaking with excitement。 〃He was always a
queer chap； they say； and full of his notions。 Six or eight years ago his
wife died。 They say he worshiped her； and for weeks refused even to touch
his violin。 Then； very suddenly； he； with his four…year…old son；
disappeareddropped quite out of sight。 Some people guessed the reason。
I knew a man who was well acquainted with him； and at the time of the
disappearance he told me quite a lot about him。 He said he was n't a bit
surprised at what had happened。 That already half a dozen relatives were
interfering with the way he wanted to bring the boy up； and that David
was in a fair way to be spoiled； even then； with so much attention and
flattery。 The father had determined to make a wonderful artist of his son；
and he was known to have said that he believedas do so many others
that the first dozen years of a child's life are the making of the man； and
that if he could have the boy to himself that long he would risk the rest。 So
it seems he carried out his notion until he was taken sick； and had to quit
poor chap！〃
〃But why didn't he tell us plainly in that note who he was； then？〃
fumed Simeon Holly； in manifest irritation。
〃He did； he thought；〃 laughed the other。 〃He signed his name； and he
supposed that was so well known that just to mention it would be enough。
That's why he kept it so secret while he was living on the mountain； you
see； and that's why even David himself didn't know it。 Of course； if
anybody found out who he was； that ended his scheme； and he knew it。 So
he supposed all he had to do at the last was to sign his name to that note；
and everybody would know who he was； and David would at once be sent
to his own people。 （There's an aunt and some cousins； I believe。） You see
he didn't reckon on nobody's being able to READ his name！ Besides；
being so ill； he probably wasn't quite sane； anyway。〃
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〃I see； I see；〃 nodded Simeon Holly； frowning a little。 〃And of course
if we had made it out； some of us here would have known it； probably。
Now that you call it to mind I think I have heard it myself in days gone
bythough such names mean little to me。 But doubtless somebody would
have known。 However； that is all past and gone now。〃
〃Oh； yes； and no harm done。 He fell into good hands； luckily。 You'll
soon see the last of him now； of course。〃
〃Last of him？ Oh； no； I shall keep David；〃 said Simeon Holly； with
decision。
〃Keep him！ Why； father； you forget who he is！ There are friends；
relatives； an adoring public； and a mint of money awaiting that boy。 You
can't keep him。 You could never have kept him this long if this little town
of yours hadn't been buried in this forgotten valley up among these hills。
You'll have the whole world at your doors the minute they find out he is
herehills or no hills！ Besides； there are his people； they have some
claim。〃
There was no answer。 With a suddenly old； drawn look on his face； the
elder man had turned away。
Half an hour later Simeon Holly climbed the stairs to David's room；
and as gently and plainly as he could told the boy of this great； good thing
that had come to him。
David was amazed； but overjoyed。 That he was found to be the son of
a famous man affected him not at all； only so far as it seemed to set his
father right in other eyesin David's own； the man had always been
supreme。 But the going awaythe marvelous going awayfilled him with
excited wonder。
〃You mean； I shall go away and studypracticelearn more of my
violin？〃
〃Yes； David。〃
〃And hear beautiful music like the organ in church； only morebigger…
…better？〃
〃I suppose so。〃。
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〃And know peopledear peoplewho will understand what I say when
I play？〃
Simeon Holly's face paled a little； still； he knew David had not meant
to make it so hard。
〃Yes。〃
〃Why； it's my 'start'just what I was going to have with the gold…
pieces；〃 cried David joyously。 Then； uttering a sharp cry of consternation；
he clapped his fingers to his lips。
〃Yourwhat？〃 asked the man。
〃Nnothing； really； Mr。 Holly；Uncle Simeon；nnothing。〃
Something； either the boy's agitation； or the luckless mention of the
gold…pieces sent a sudden dismayed suspicion into Simeon Holly's eyes。
〃Your 'start'？the 'gold…pieces'？ David； what do you mean？〃
David shook his head。 He did not intend to tell。 But gently； persistently；
Simeon Holly questioned until the whole piteous little tale lay bare before
him： the hopes； the house of dreams； the sacrifice。
David saw then what it means when a strong man is shaken by an
emotion that has mastered him； and the sight awed and frightened the boy。
〃Mr。 Holly； is it because I'mgoingthat you careso much？ I never
thoughtor supposedyou'dCARE；〃 he faltered。
There was no answer。 Simeon Holly's eyes were turned quite away。
〃Uncle SimeonPLEASE！ II think I don't want to go； anyway。 II'm
sure I don't want to goand leave YOU！〃
Simeon Holly turned then； and spoke。
〃Go？ Of course you'll go； David。 Do you think I'd tie you here to me
NOW？〃 he choked。 〃What don't I owe to youhome； son； happiness！ Go？…
…of course you'll go。 I wonder if you really think I'd let you stay！ Come；
we'll go down to mother and tell her。 I suspect she'll want to start in to…
night to get your socks all mended up！〃 And with head erect and a
determined step； Simeon Holly faced the mighty sacrifice in his turn； and
led the way
downstairs。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
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。 。
The friends； the relatives； the
adoring public； the mint of moneythey are all David's now。 But once
each year； man grown though he is； he picks up his violin and journeys to
a little village far up among the hills。 There in a quiet kitchen he plays to
an old man and an old woman； and always to himself he says that he is
practicing against the time when； his violin at his chin and the bow drawn
across the strings； he shall go to meet his father in the far…away land； and
tell him of the beautiful world he has left。
End of the Project Gutenberg Etext of 〃Just David〃
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