The dressing-room door stood partly open, and as the full, sweet notes of the violin were carried to her ears, Eleanor gave a cry of rapture.

“Who is playing?” she cried.  “I 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 it had not reached the amount earned by the seniors.