The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-01-07
"Good.by, dearest!


For the twentieth time Mark Jermyn
uttered the words of farewell, and for
the twentieth time the girl responded,
but, realizing that the parting was not
an ordinary one, they were 10th to part
even then. Years hence they might
meet again; perhaps never!
"And, dearest, you'll remember II
the recoilection of me ever stands in
Pour light, you're to forget l existed.
Promise me that!"
The girl looked into the earnest face
bending over her, into the depths OF
the grave, brown eyes.
81 cannot" she said softly. More
ever, is it necessary? Is it what you
would do were you in my placer"
Her logic was unanswerable, and he
sighed.
"If you were the only child OF some
body next door to a millionaire" she
went On. "and your father forbade you
to marry anyone who was not wealthy
while you really loved one poor as
church mouse, would you give up with
out struggle? OF course you wouldn't,
Mark. You'd wait, end wait, and
hope!"
"But waiting doesn't always bring
wealth." broke in Jermyn, especially
in the musical profession. Why did
my father ever destine me for his own
career?" he added, bitterly.
Because it's what you're most ft-
ted for" Elsie Renton replied. Mark,
dear, you're going to be great man"
He waived away her words with a
smile and another kiss.
you flatter me, sweetheart" he
said, although it's true my father
was far from being a mediocrity. He
changed his name on marriage, and
died when was only FIVE years old.
But his existence really ended, so far
as the world was concerned, when he
torsook his old name, for he never
composed a single thing after
"How strange!" remarked the girl,
.wonderingly. "And what a terrible ex-
ample to you. dearest"
"You may think so. OF course,
was too young to know much then,
and never heard how it all happened,
for my mother soon followed my
father"
"And his name before was--?"
'Wegar-Mark Wegar-one Of the
foremost composers of his time!"
.. -.
"A couple Of years later Mark Jer'
myn was in London. 1t seemed much
longer since he had parted from Elsie
Renton in Paris. where they had been
fellow students at the Conservatoire
she, for the sake Of finishing musical
education, he because he had his flu
ture living to consider.
In Paris the girl had been free from
the hidebound conventionalities oi
home, and her doting parents would
doubtless have been Mortified had they
known she had dared to regard some
one with affection. The two had part
ed; he to work for a name and she te
enter society.
And now he was in London, his fame
having preceded him, and Mark Jer
myn, the celebrated pianist, was an
most critical audience in the world
Success had not spoilt him, and HI
remained the same modest man tha
had held Elsie's hand in his two year.
since: deeply. madly. in love with he
still. Several times she had writer
TO him, and with her last letter in hi
pocket as q talisman, he faced thu
eager crowd that evening.
The performance was success
Mark Jermyn's reputation was NOR,
than upheld and he quickly becam
the lion Of the hour Invitations iron
the highest in the land literally show
cred upon him, so numerous, that the
would have taken years to respond I
all, one of the earliest coming fror
the Rentons offering a princely fee TO
q short recital at forthcoming "A
Home" To this Jermyn stifiiy replie
that he only accepted social engage
ments. An answer soon came alter
ing the tone of the invitation, and
day or two later, he found himsel
about to meet his loved one once morl
The place was already thronged wit
guests when he arrived, but Elsie wa
the first TO greet him. and as he too
her hand. he would have knelt dow
there and then and kissed It. had nc
decorum forbade. She Welcomed hiI
sayly. and be felt al ct once ths hsl