Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-11-01

me for your soprano. And as 1 have bee,
the only one to object to the longer. trim
you planned ] withdraw my objections to
that also. Under your management
feel sure we shall be successful. Gin.
cerely, ALICIA E FAIRALL.
When she had heard the closing %
the outer door she gave the note TO the
butler and took from him the envelope
Bob had left. With ii In her hand She
vent slowly upstairs and sat down be.
fore her crate fire. She felt her anger
melting away. and by the ache in her
throat knew that tears were not far
OF. She tore open the envelope, hon
ing to find some stimulus TO her indig-
nation, but at the gentleness of the
words and the sight of the key to the
home she and Bob had SO eagerly, care
fully planned the tears came with a
rush, and, burylng her face in the arm
of her easy chair. she cried herself to
sleep.
Press notices Of "a concert to be
given in the neal future by the hest
mateur talent the city afforded" be
gan to be frequent during the next few
weeks. Then came the programme and
pictures Of the principals. Alicia was
oftenest mentioned, and one Sunday
paper contained her picture, a theat-
really posed, full length affair. with
her head over one shoulder and her
lips as II speaking. Bob's heart sank
and turned sick. She did mean ii,
then.
As the time drew hear he thought he
would 90 to the concert, and when the
night finally came he dressed early
and ndgeted miserably till time to
start. Then. suddenly changing his
mind, he had himself driven to the door
Of the little new home he and Alicia
had planned together. Bob let himself
into the house with his key, which he
always carried. and walked through
the empty, desolate rooms, which by
now should have been furnished and
ready for the brides home coming. He
roamed clear through the house. draw.
ing the shades and lighting all the
chandeliers till every room was blaz-
Ing with light. Then he turned them
all out and lii a blazing FIRE In the din
Ing room CRATE, end, sitting down on
the high settee built into the niche BY
the fireplace, he closed his eyes and de
nberately conjured up the presence OF
Alicia.
He was almost asleep when he heard
the front door open and close and the
click of high heele6 slippers on the bare
floors, accompanied by the unmistakable
swish Of a woman's silken skirts. Then
he heard a match scratched and an i'm
patient exclamation as something was
dropped. Then, with his heart pound
Ing violently, he laid his head back
against the settee and feigned sleep.
He heard the steps come to the din
ing room door. heard Alicia's voice say
"Oh.' In frightened, breathless sur
prise, felt his heart beat almost to suf-
location, and then he heard the steps
recede with a rush to the hall and the
front door open. He was about to call
to her when he heard her say to some
one on the porch:
TELL Mr.. Courtenay / an sick or
dead or buried-anything you like only
that l shall not sing tonight" Then the
door closed again and Bob Immediately
went to sleep. 1t seemed to be a very
sound sleep, for he did not open his
eyes. though Alicia coughed three
times. But when she could stand it no
longer and shook his shoulder he woke
up with a most excellent look of sur
prise on his face.
els 1t too later" she asked breath
lessly.
Looking at her as If dazed. he pulled
out his watch.
"Oh, l don't mean for the concert! l
mean but Alicia could get no fur
Their. and, dropping to her knees beside
the settee. she leaned her head against
his arm and cried.
81 guess il isn't too late for a we'd
ding" said Bob, but ~ell have to
hurry"