Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1900-09-21

when she asked me n I wore that sort
Of tight trousers that looked as II they
gruwed ont"
She laughed heartily a second.
"And then l went to the old orchard.
Paul. It was just such a night as that
one-the night you told me not 70 for
get. I'm afraid the forgetfulness Is
yours, after all, Paul. Foolish, IN
worthy OF answering though they may
hive been. those letters came right
from my heart. pshaw. That laugh
ter made my eyes dim for q moment.
But you tired OF them after a year.
I'm afraid the professor was digap-
pointed In me for awlllc. SGT | had
my arr. and art leaves 30 room for
love. That's the Lesson ycu told me
not to learn. Yet for seven long years,
day after day, il has been q ra:t Of my
daily food. Yet IS years IS almost
thrice sevcn. paul. and lshit IS strong.
! wonder where you are"
In brcHthless darkcrcd silence the
vast Audience waited for the opening
aria, to lie sung rs this unhnown sing
eT, whose fame, rUInor lad whispered.
NNANHAA kfAkAlA "a n % ANAEH A ~ AnkO
the living silerce came q voice 80
d~aintlly gwcet and soft It seemed horn
Of the air. Slowly 1t rose higher and
stronger. like u blrd that gathers
strength in is upward Digit, till, when
It seemed almost too heavenly sweet for
an earthly voice. iato the sight Of the
breathi,sa audience came the singer.
A moment of absolute. dumb silence,
then The very roof sent back It's echo
to swell the triumphant ovation. Bui
a. the singer bowed rigat ard left her
eyes fell and liascred IA TIE tear stain
cd, happy face Of the woman Ia thc
front seat.
Only Q men in the prosecution box
sat icoiiolleHs In MI tie c~Xcitercnt.
SO this was Bertha. this beautiful wo-
man who moved these thousands ut
her pleasure. This was TIE Bertha
who had stood In the old church. tie
sunlight p2Td:rlng the dusky hair
with gchi as Il s;roamcd in Tie chan
eel window while she sang Gene
Unto ME-" Her voice was glorious
now. Rut cefllng down through the
silence &C eight years the voice Of his
memory sounded infinitely swceter.
with the dream CT a sunlight shining
Ike opals through the trees, sparkling
like : ,-cls IN the dusty hair. With the
pure scout Of Gods own air and the
nnuttclable peace Of nature, the glare
of light. the glinmer Of rcnl opals and
Jewels, The hot perfumed air, the cease
less rustic u SILKS, seemed a sickening
substitute.
They wcrcNa!l here TO see her. All
had an equal right to look at and listen
TO hcr--lior who 10y rights should be
his alone Wen, she had learned her
lesson we'll. Rising like n mocking
whisper abova the din Of sound ho
could hrGr the voice, 81 shall never for
get, Paul
At The end Of the third net, an act OF
triumph for the little unknown country
girl, a note was handed her. She tore
1t ncrV0usiy open. "You looked long
at me more than once tonight. l knew
then memory was Whispering to you.
Was II 'aithful, | wonder? DID II tell
you all? Did It tell You where and
when we last met? Did il repeat the
words that were spoken them There
was no signature.
1t seemed ages 10 Paul before the
boy returned with an answer. He
opened 1t slowly, yet with quick fin
gers. Memory has been whispering
eight long years, Paul. Can | then for
get? Ah, It's you who forgot; all my
foolish little letters unanswered. YOU
were cruel, Paul. Didn't you hear me
tell yen my hcartache in that last
song? ! was singing to you-not my
fierce Italian lover. I'm alone after
the opera in Hly dressing room" Like
a fash lie saw all; heard the profess
or's voice saying, you can't love,
child; art has no room for love" And
the seven long years of silence grew
shorter.
Paul knocked at the door the stage
hand pointed out to him. He had evil
IDENTIFY been expected.
"WhoY" said a voice inside, answer
ing his knock. Paul" And the door
slowly opened.-Chicago News.