The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-30
WON BY A VIOLIN
By tnea N. snrrsnE.


 leading from the music room with the same intolerable feeling of dlgust that always filled his soul when 1t came time to take his place beside the leader of the odeon orchestra. 3Ys@
 He hated 1t ai1 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 to America fresh from l the Conservatory, with visions of 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.
 1 Instead, he had discovered that only those heralded by a sfiiiful promoter stood any chance. He was glad to get an occasional engagement for some small concerts. and even these grew less and less freauent as the season waned. ~
 Then had come that awful time .when, penniiess and hungry, ne faced the ire-' alizatfon that be could never hope for l success. He lwaa too proud to gos back home failure. and he thankfully ac- cepted an opening in a concert hall, where he. pianist and cornet player comprised the orchestra"
 l Benson had found him there one night when he dropped in to see the proprie- tor. Benson had played violin there himself before he had become a band master with blue and gold band at 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 Fali when the season opened. So | ever since September Award had sat be- side Benson playing first. violin. He loathed # alh but 1t wasf better than the concert hall, and he was grateful. But this afternoon he was gloomy. A | great artist, one with whom Ne had studied, was giving matinee. arti some one had told him how the peOpA' were thronging to the hall. Their Snaster had declared Award to be the better, yet Herman drew the crowds Monday was always q bad day. The music sheets. some of them yellow with age and filthy with dirt. were hard to tread. Rehearsal had been more or less of 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 gleam of the l spot light. She could not be more than 1 16 or 17, but from her throat there poured tones of crystai purity. The voice was unplaced ana ndnsehooled. but she had a natural gift TOT singing, Hand her tones had not yet become hardened through overwork. 1ai 91tss1 pf Wesa The music thrilled him through and through, and once or twice he broke in his accompaniment Long after gshe left the stage she still occupied his | thoughts, and as he started to leave the | theater after the matinee, she con- fronted him at the top of the stairs.
 What did you crab my act forT' | she demanded. ..
 T am sorry, mademoiselle." he said. with humility. But such voice-in vaudeville. The surprise was too great. l faltered."
 Tt looked like you were sacred" she agreed. modified at the compliment. But don't you do it again" T protest that l shall offend no more" he assured, and she turned to the elderly woman who hovered in the background. f'9
 Come on, ma," sne called "He didn't do 1t a-purpose, knocked him off his pins, that's all. Come on."
 She passed out of the stagedooF, and Award followed slowly. Into his life Love had come. He could forgive the uncouth speech for the sake of thb voice, and Gertie Clayton. phenominal (she invariably misspeiled the word) soprano, had become a goddess to him.
 All that week he drank in the flute like tones as a drunkard imbibes his tipple. Saturday night, when the en- gagement closed, he left a single rose, perfect in its loveliness, with the door keeper. to be given her as she left.
 She was gone when the show was over and he hurried to the door-keeper for his report.
 What did mademofse11e sayT" he de- manded eagerly. F-
 "'Stingy,'" grinned the unsympa- thetic soul, and Award slowly passed out 5-rtt
 But the slight was forgotten the next day, and only the memory of that per- feet voice remained. From the press agent he begged one or her photo graphs, and when he came home at night, tired and disheArtened, he looked upon her youthful face and seemed to hear again the liquid sweetness of her singing. ,-
 It was several months before she came again. Award feared that perhaps the hard work, the singing in smoke filled music halls. had spoiled her tones, but she did not strain for high notes, and her voice retained it's clarity and freshness. -
 It seemed an interminable time after he took his place before she came on, and again, after her appearance. the moments dragged woeruily but they were to be endured for the sake of those momentary uplifts to paradise, and he was content. .--.,
 Several times, when the sketches were on, he left his place and prowled about the stage in the hope or gaining speech with her. but she always was dressed and out before the sketch brought him an internnisslon from his iabors.
 As the week progressed those repeat. cd disappointments pFsyed upon him, and he grew more and more gloomy. Saturday night came all too soon, and it was with an aching heart that he opened .her music to pray her accom- painment for the last time,
 ths last night 1t was e papulAF he1sA