The Washington herald., 1906-12-27

Award clambered Up through the trap
leading from the MUSHROOM with the
same intoIerable feeling OF disgust that
always filled his soul when It came time
to take his place beside the leader Of the
Odeon Orchestra.
He hated it all. the endless procession
OF sidewalk comedians, serio-comics
sketch artists, trained dogs, and all the
other component parts Of the vaudeville
show
He had come 10 America fresh from the
conservatory. with visions of a concert
tournee that should make him famous
They told him that America was a land
Of money; that there people sat up nights
for an opportunity TO hear some great
artist.
Instead. he had discovered that only
those heralded by a skiHful promoter
stood any chance. He was glad TO get
an occasional engagement for some small
concerts, and even these grew less and
less frequent as the season waned.
Then had come that awful time. when
penniless and hungry. he faced the real
zation that he could never hope for sue
failure, and he thankfully accepted an
opening in a concert hail. where he. a
pianist, and a cornet player comprised the
orchestra"
Benson had found him there one night,
when he dropped IN TO see the proprietor
Benson had played violin there himself
before be became a bandmaster with
blue-and-gold band at a summer resort.
and he dropped in at intervals for old
times sake.
He called Award over TO his table and
offered him a place in his orchestra in
the fall, when the season opened. So
ever since September Award had sat be-
side Benson, playing first violin. He
loathed 1t all, but it was better than the
concert hall, and he was grateful
But this afternoon he was gloomy. A
great artist, one with whom he had
studied was giving a matinee, and some
one had told him how the people were
thronging to the hall. Their master had
declared Award to be the better, yet Her
man drew the crowds.
Monday was always a bad day. The
music sheets, some OF them yellow with
age and filthy with dirt, were hard TO
read. Rehearsal had been more or less
of a farce. and he scarcely noticed the
performance. Then suddenly a voice
broke on his ears, and he looked up in
wonder.
A mere girl stood in the CLEAN of the
spot light. She could not be more than
sixteen or seventeen, but from her throat
there poured tones Of crystal purity. The
voice was unplaced and unschooled, but
she had a natural gift for singing. and
her tones had not yet become hardened
through OveTwoTk.
The music thrilled him through and
through. and once OF twice he broke in
his accompaniment. Long after she left
the stage she still occupied his thoughts,
and as he started to leave the theater
after the matinee. she confronted him at
the top of the stairs.
What did you crab my act for?" she
demanded.
II am sorry, Elademoiselle," he said,
with humility But such a voIce-in
vaudeville. The surprise was too great
faItered."
1T looked like you were scared" she
agreed Modified at the compliment. But
don't you do 1t again.
4 protest that I shall offend no more. d"
he assured, and she turned to the elderly
woman who lowered In the background.
Come on, ma she called. He didn't
do it a-purpose. knocked i'm of his
pins. that's all. Come or"
She passed out of the stage door. and
Award followed slowly. Into his life
Love had come. He could forgive the I'M
couth speech for the sake OF the voice,
and Gertie Clayton, phenomenal (she in
variabIy nisspelled the world soprano
had become a goddess to him.
All that week he drank in the fiutelike
tones as a drunkard imbibes his tipple
Saturday night when the engagement
closed. he left single rose, perfect In its
loneliness, with the doorkeeper. to be
given her as she left
She was gone when the show was over