Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-04-24

MARSHALL RlHncou LEOu TIC UAlDotaAu
to his watch and then signaled for a
cab. He had meant to walk In lelsurely
fashion to his hotel, but matters had
suddenly turned urgent. His room en-
gagged, he turned toward the flower
shop at the far end of the electrically
lighted corridor. Nothing In the whole
shop seemed worthy of the Maude he
had known. The orchids dropped even
In the refrigerator. The stems of the
American Beauties were too short. The
pink roses were too deep In tone. They
would clash with the delicate tint Of
her cheeks. He finally settled ON lilies
OF the valley and California violets.
Then he hurried over to the stand
where theater tickets were sold. No,
hall. but they would send messenger
for one.
BY 1880 Marshall was Tuning over
his toilet. That lavender tie looked too
loud by electric light, and the white
had turned a queer yellowish tint. He
would wear black. That was always
safe.
He arrived fifteen minutes too soon
and watched nervously the slow gath
ering of the well gowned audience.
When the strlnged sextet started the
overture the house was half empty.
Marshall wondered what allied the
music loving public of New York that
1t would take chances on missing the
opening number by Its favorlte violin
Is.A. eI,A HrVsn IfRv IA
the narrow white and gold door. and
he forgot the audience, forgot every
thing but her-her cllnging white gown
frosted with pearls, her slender white
throat.
She was looking thinner than when
she left McKeesport and her face had
wlstful expression where once 1t had
been Il tribe imperlous.
So much music had done for her!
Like Undlne, she had found her soul,
but somehow Victor Marshall caught
himself wondering under the spell Of
her playing, why the kiss of music and
not OF love had awakened that soul.
He woke with start. The audience
was applaudlng, and ushers were hur.
rylng down the aisle with monstrous
floral offerings, American Beauties.
with stems three and four feet long,
overtopped by golden chrysnnthe-
NUNS.
Victor Marshall leaned back grlmly
In his chair. What was $40 worth OF
lilies and vlolets In New York?
The piece de resistance of the con-
a annaartn In which fhA
vIoliniste had outshone the popular
string sextet.
Marshall reached for his hat. Part
OF the audience was making for tho
entrance, exclaiming the personalities
Of regular concert goers. Another group,
u smaller one. was making Its way In
tlmately toward the door leading to
the dressing room, obviously to con
graduate the star.
Impulslyely Victor Marshall started
to follow the smaller group then stop
ped, with grim smile OH his lips.
Every one Of these men wore evening
clothes. He'd look well In his plain
business suit offering congratulations
along with countesses and society lead
ers.
SO he went back to the hotel-but not
to sleep All night he fought 1t out
with himself. Sometimes he paced the
floor. Sometimes he stood gazing over
the twinkllng lights OF the city. And
by morning he had found himself.
He would drop In to call upon his
old sweetheart, but In the most cor
rect and casual way or course Nc
Keesport had not dreamed that she
had advanced 50 far In her profession.
The Countess of Chichester! Mrs.
cOnJure with.
And he had thought that because he
had won the ID. Il. and Fort G.. suit he
had the world at his feet and Maude
Mowry would be glad to come back
and reign over the Queen Anne cottage
he had bought without even writing to
her.
He did not dare to think of the new
bay window he had designed for the
south room, nor the rugs he had select
ed at the mechanical exposition, nor
the Marshall mahogany he had bought
from the rest Of the heirs
1t was In the afternoon when, re-
freshed by Turkish bath and thick
beefsteak, he felt fit to present him
self at the studio Of Miss Maude
Mowry, Violiniste." Under the very
eyes Of very towering studio building
and In the dim light Of fading day and
shaded electroliers 1t seemed to ra-
diate that vague artistic atmosphere
of which Victor Marshall had read
much.
Maude was glad to see him. unfeign-
eddy, frankly glad, and Marshall ar
gued that It was the proper attitude
OF the great and the successful toward
old time friends. He leaned back In
tae carved French chair where he
could keep the masses Of fragrant floral
offerings IN full view to temper his
speech. They were warning against
personalities and "reminiscences.
But try as he would to talk glitter
Ing generalitles. Maude steadily and
perslstently led the conversation back
FINE FARM For gAT.E