Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1907-05-24

ell diSappolntmentS preyed upon MIN
and he grew more and more gloomy.
Saturday night came all too soon, and
1t was with an aching heart that he
opened her music to play her accom-
paniment for the Inst time.
Gertle had put In new song to try
the last night. II was popular bal
lad, one that had Just come out, cheap
~ constructed, but with slow melodic
chorus. They had tried 1t over in the
music room before the performance,
and he had liked 1t then. Now the mel
ody seemed to I'LL his heart, and he
put all Of his artistic soul into the In
terpretation Of the chorus. The other
musicians. as If by common impulse,
lowered their Instruments, and the
wailng tones Of the Violin formed such
perfect accompaniment to the voice
that as the strains swelled out the
audience !. ddenly grow auiet. Twice
\ the cboS.is was tape0tetf. ana tire pa
thos of the words became pathos when
sung to the sobbing accompaniment OF
the violin. Now the chorus was ended.
and the singer looked up expectantly.
For n moment the audience sat silent
as IL In the presence of death. Then a
great outburst of applause swept down
from the gallery, to be met with
demonstration from the lower floor.
Three times Benson played over tho
"vamp"-the short symphony between
the yerses-before the house became
quiet again. Then Gertie began, and
the house was hushed. At the chorus
the other players settled back, and
once more the duet between violin and
voice thrilled the hearers. Again the
applause Numbered out. The singer
bowed repeatedly. but still the hand
clapplng continued, and she leaned
over the footlights. Get up and take
a bow" she shouted "Push him up,
Benson"
The leader guided Award to his feet
and he stood there, abashed by the
sensation he had created Three times
they repeated tho double chorus, and
even then the stage manager had to
ring up in tho next act and hold the
curtain up before the house would
quiet down.
Presently the call boy poked his head
through the trap and handed note to
Benson. He turned to Award. miss
Clayton wants to see you in her Dress
ing ROOM" he said. "Never mind this
net can get along"
Weak and trembling from the reac-
tlon Award slipped out Of the orches-
tra pit and presently presented himself
before the singer.
whats your name" she demanded
curiously.
"Pierre Award" he said hesitatingly.
sounds good for the bills" she said
critically. "Say, we'd make n great
team, something like the three Du-
monds stunt--street singers, you know.
I'll fix Benson all right VIII you
Gomez"
"Mademoiselle wishes my servicesW
he asked haltlngly, unwilling to believe
that such good fortune could be true.
"suIe thlngw she confirmed. I'VE
stopped the show. Wen be headliners.
Want to double up2"
Double upw he repeated wonder
ingly. "Mademolselle does me the hon
or OF proposing a matrimonial alli-
ancer
Gertie eyed him curiously To dou-
BILE up meant TO form a team. Then
an idea came to her. II guess So"
she answered carelessly. It'll keep
some other dame from getting her
hooks on you"
Benson summed up the situation lat
err over his nightcap.
ITS good thing for both of them"
he declared oracularly. Hell keep
her straight and do something with
her voice. He's too much In love with
her to realize what silly little fool
she is. BY the time she's really ready
to fall in love he'll be there to be fallen
I'm love with Here's luck to EN-"
And they nil drained their glasses