Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-04-04
A PUPIL OF
SIAHLnANN
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Good luck, Luella!" SHOW them
what you can dol" wen be there
tonight, George and l. Look for us in
the front row." Bring us the papers
when you come back, and tell us all
they say about you"
The girl to whom all this was adj
dressed leaned back comfortably in
her seat as the train began to move.
She was large girl Of about
eighteen. Her eyes were dark.
Her hair, dark also, was much curled
and hung loosely about her face. She
was dressed in shades of red which
did not match, and her ungloyed
hands held roll of music.
Perhaps her hands were the only
thing about her that would have at
tracted second glance. They were
long and pointed, with slender fingers,
the hands Of the artist. Her express
sion as she looked out at the flying
landscape was confident and self-sat-
fsded. The confusion of voices and
farewells rang pleasantly in her. ears,
and she smiled.
They had all come to see her OF;
friends and neighbors, boys and girls
from the high school, the members
Of the little orchestra with which she
played. Even the editor of Town
Briefs was there; he would have a
personal in the evening edition about
"our distinguished townswomaa, Miss
Luella Morgan Wright, who left town
this afternoon to give concert in the,
city this evening"
They believe in her, these people
They had always believed in her ever
since, as q little girl in white ruffles
and pink bows, she had climbed up
on the piano-stool at church socials
and played Monastery Bells" Her
friends. her family, most of all her.
self, considered her musical genius
Now all the years of practice and
study, all the drudgery of teaching,
the struggle of ambition with poverty,
were to have their fruition.
Out of the confusion of voices still
ringing In her ears. one required to
her with strange distinctaess. It was
her mothers voice.
DO your very best tonight, Luella,
and make mother proud of you. But
remember first Of all, whatever hap
pens to do what is right"
1t was. the old exhortation. 1t had
followed her every time she set foot
from home. A picture rose before her
eyes, the bent form of a faded woman
standing on the station platform. The
girls face softened. How much she
meant to do for her mother in tho
years to come-and for the rest OF
them!
She unfastened her music-ron and
took from it printed poster. Her
name In large letters stared up at ner,
Luella Morgan Wright. She looked
at it lovingly. and then, although she
knew every word on 1t and had seen
It for weeks in and out of her dreams,
she read it over again, letter by let
ter. AS she read, the frow1 came
back to her face and grew deeper.
PIANO RECITAL.
Tuesday evening April 10th by
LUELLA MORGAN WRIGHT
(Pupil of Stahlmann).
Holland Hall. 8 o'clock.
Admission s1oo. Soc, Csc.
Pupil of stahlmann." That was
where her eyes fingered.
Mother wouldn't think that was
right, l suppose" she thought, I'M
willingly. But what was / to do?
The man at the booking Office said it
was no use to try concert unless
you had the name Of some big man
like that back of you. He said it was
just legitimate advertising. Anyway
shall be pupil of Stahlmann just
as soon as can get little success
and money. He said l didn't need to
worry, even IL Stahlmanl is in Ameri-
ca. His tremendous success in New
York is sure to keep him there. The
use Of his name now, when every one
ia talking about him, means such n
lot to me. Mother doesn't klow-
they don't a2y of them know, they
live such little narrow lives. You
have to fight so even for foothold
when you get out into the world. It's
business-the man said SO. He said
all business men did these things
People have to push themselves along.
Mother doesn't understand, that's
ALL"
She fastened her music-roll with a
snap and rose to her feet, for the
train was pulling into the city. Her
face was flushed but determined
The city sights and sounds distract
ed her thoughts and, as always, ex-
cited and stimulated her. This was
the life she understood and loved.
Soon she would be a part of it.
By the time she had reached the
hotel where, by the advice of the
booking agent, she was to spend the
night, che had forgotten doubt and
hesitation. She entered the great lob
by with assured step meeting UNI
abashed the stares of the Office loung-
.srs. Her heart quickened Its beat to
keep pace with the music of the or
chestra waited from the dining room.
She belonged here; this was her
world.
She crossed over to the desk, and
the clerk pushed the register toward
her. AS she dipped the pen into the
ink her eyes Travelled over the array
of posters on the opposite wall. Yes,
there 1t was-"Piano Recital by Luel-
la Morgan Wright, pupil of stahl-
mann"
Her cheeks grew red. her eyes
shone. The name she was about to
write In the register was not entirely
obscure and unknown. The bell-boy
perhaps would recognize it; the clerk,
too, and he would tell the man stand
ing next HMM fancy she could see
them whisper and smile.
She took up the pen eagerly. Then
her hand stopped in mid-air, her face
grew very white. For the name just
above hers on the register was Au.