Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-27
A BLIGHTED ROMANCE.
With Which There IL This Moral.
Don't Fall in Love With .
Pretty VO1ce.

Pretty Voice.
Billie. as he was known at the mill.
trudged YEARLY homeward, the frosty
pavements creaked, the arc lights on the
corner cracked and hummed. Passersby
hurrytnS to their homes paid no heed to the
detected young fellow. He felt himself
alone in the world. who cares for your
he asked himself bitterly.
The frosty pavement seemed to tai up
the refrain. Nobody; no one" He growled
out an oath and stepped out into the as
phalted street.
aB1ialidiee was experiencing the truth: Man
which sufficed for his simple. daily needs.
but as day after day passed and no person
look the slightest interest in him, aside
from that excited in his landlady by his 81
per week. he felt more and more lonely:
ELLIE shfvered and endeavored to turn his
cellar a little higher. Just as he was pass
ing a gloomy, old building a clear, sweet
soprano voice rang out in song. 1t was SO
near at hand it made him fairly jump. He
stopped and listened open mouthed to the
music. Passersby elbowed and jostled him.
put ne did not heed them. The next even
station and to his great pleasure the same
song-a sentimental love sons-was repeat
ed and then a second and third. This even
ing he walked home on air. SO great was
the effect of the music on the lonely young
fellow.
Evening after evening he listened for the
music, and rarely was he disappointed. The
unseen singers repertory seemed limited
to a half dozen sentimental songs of the
made heroic efforts to whistle the one
which had the most impressed him. max
ing. however, a dismal failure.
The effect upon him now began to b
he would plunge his head and hands into a
bucket Of ice.cold water in the effort 20
work. This took a trifie of his time. SO
that. in order to be punctually at his post.
he was compelled to run up the long hill.
he could best hear and listen in rapture
to the beautiful voice of the singer. He
began wearing his best clothes to and from
unbearable. he was ashamed Of its un-
c~outhness and discarded it for a dainty
blue-and-white dinnerbasket, such as school
children carry lunches in. 1t was too small
to contain enough food to satisfy his ap-
petite and he always went hungry to his
afternoon work.
He now neglected his mother and sisters
in the little country town from whence he
came; he had always sent them his earn
ings after his living expenses were paid.
Seeing a gaudy green and red-barred tie.
he bought it and wore it daily.
About this time he awoke to a realiZa-
ton Of what was impelling him to this
course. He loved this unknown singer
with the beautiful voice. He had never
made inquiry about the occupants of the
house where the wonderful creature lived.
but he now reasoned about the matter.
1iAO PSo1 vi SlC "oAlu llO 1lSC III LILLE
miserable old house where the shutters
were never opened. II poor he might win
her. She was beautiful and good. or she
could never have such a voice.
He had become negligent in his duties at
the mill and had been reprimanded for abb
sent mindedness, repeated the same blum
der and was incontinently discharged by
the foreman. Nothing seemed to matter SO
long as his divinity did not fail him.
Billie hurried to his accustomed place as
the 6 o'clock whistles blew and listened
anxiously. Five minutes passed, then ten:
his former mates from the factory came
trooping past. With his heart heavy as
lead, he hurried across the street to see IL
the beam of light shone forth as usual.
Just as he reached the opposite curb the
Tell Her That You Love Her"
the blinds were open. No lamp was lighted
but Billie held his breath at his nearness
to his enshrined divinity.
Express Company. both corporations agree
The song ceased. Then came a voice. the
singers voice, saving: Bring me a lamp.
Nv dropped my last match"
The light filled the room from a doorway
but the singer was apparently on the floor
searching for the dropped match. Was the
long wished. oft prayed for time to come?
Should he at last see her? His heart near
ly stopped beating-rose in his throat and
he swallowed 1t again with a gulp-
Then the singer, arose from the floor.
It was a coal black negro. dressed in .
plaid suit and loud pink shirt.
For q moment Billie stood staring. Then
with a deep sob he reeled away and the
darkness swallowed him..
IRA G.. HARRIS.