The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1908-04-03
THE OLD LADIES'
AZ DELLA THOMPSON LUTEs
(Copyright.)

ITS just dear Of you to 80, Miss
Radford, and you, too, Miss Lock
wood" Miss Fansesca Vancouver. In
the private parlor Of Miss Alicia Rad
ford, violinist, soloist and vaudeville
star, Hotel du Nord, rose from the
satin-tapestried chair and drew her
slipping furs up over her shoulders.
1.-THE poor old creatures have SO few
treats, you know" Miss Radford and
Miss Lockwood, pianist and accom-
panist O g also, and looked their
sympathy.
Il think it's good Of you, Miss Van
couver, to go to so much trouble In
preparing a treat for them. And
what shall we play?" asked Miss Rad
ford, moving toward the door with
their guest.
"Oh, something good, you know.
Something classical and-er-reli-
gious, l suppose. That's the kind Of
music old ladies generally like, isn't
It? They're all real old, you know,
and i'll. some Of them, and they've
really seen better days. poor things,
and will appreciate good music.
"Then I'll say you'll come directly
the afternoons performance Is over
she said. ITS SO good of you; ! hard
ly dared dream you'd come. Two such
famous performers"
TITS not SO long since We were In.
famous performers" laughed Miss
Lockwood. land, anyway, we're al
ways glad to do anything Of the sort
You'll let them know"
It'll go straight there now. 1t will
be their dinner hour and I'll tell them
TO- assemble in the parlor ats 1t
four o'clock"
THAT will do nicely"
II sha'n't be able to be there myself
1t that hour, and I'm awfully sorry,
for I'd love to hear you, but I've an
engagement q week old for four. You
won't mind? The matron will take
care Of you"
Four o'clock found half a dozen old
ladies'. out Of a membership of so,
gathered in the big parlor Of the
home.
Where's Mrs. Brainerd?" asked
one. She's generally the first down
whe4 a~nything's going on"
she said" volunteered another
quavering voice. that she wasn't
coming. She said they always sang
and played the same old things. and
she's tired Of them"
Apother. leaning upon q crutch,
paused in the doorway and looked in.
n had half a mind" she said, mot to
Gene down the stairs for it. / thought,
though, beings they're from the stage
maybe they'd play something q little
different"
The matron passed along an upper
hall and. noting the many occupants
Of rooms who were not taking advan-
tage q the invitation, asked the req
son.
Well hear oil We want up here"
q informed her. ITS sure to be
'high-class' music. such a. Miss Van
couver considers good for the com.
fort and elevation Of our old souls,
and l. for one, can hear all l want
from here Others voiced the same
opinion In different manners, and
when, punctual to the minute, the
Misses Radford and Lockwood ap-
peared with music roll and violin box,
but few more than the original half.
dozen met them.
The Angels Serenade," most soul
fully and exquisiteiy executed by Miss
Alicia Radford. opened the program,
and while upstairs one old head nod
ded to another a. II to say. Il told you
co. and here and there q door was
closed, not too quietly, the parlor au.
dience greeted the finale with polite
II mild enthusiasm. The holy City"
and Jerusalem" followed. and their
conclusion found three out Of eight
asleep.
The Miserere from II Trovatore
awoke the slumberers. and the pierre
ING sweetness Of its wall drew tears
from eyes whose brilliancy had long
since been washed away. Poor old
Anna flaming. weak OF intellect and
semitic Of heart, crept to q stool In the
20
hall and At wiping 14r eyes with her
apron and sobbing softly.
Profound silence greeted the end
lng. There was = depression OF at |
1osphsre that communicated itself
even to the hearts OF the performers
T1by glanced about ct the quiet old
fAceo. furrowed and scanned with
yoars and sadness.
For heavens sake. let's play some
thing more hvely," whispered Miss
Radford to her accompanied, and
broke into : say little maxurka which.
70 her relief. had the effect Of dispel |
llnk. to some extent. the gloom, and
moved old Anna Fanning to hitch her
stool . step nearer the door.
II there anything in particular
ycufd Nike n to play?" asked Miss
BEDFORD, gently, when the masurka
- finished. For I few moments no
pne spoke. md then one, more rotund
e bo4y and brighter Of eye than the
oGhqF4 ventured her desire.
1870 NMa-A~ w>S 80 -