The Lambertville record., 1908-03-25


MOZART HALL
THURSDAY EVENING, FEB. 2
Under the patronage of the Countess of
Carchester. Mrs Peter Wolff-De Peyster.
Mrs. Roger Standbilt, Mrs Porter Os-
bourne Smith.
Tickets. 50. 50 and 81.
Marshall glanced from the billboard
to his watch and then signaled for
cab. He had meant TO walk in leisurely
fashion to his hotel, but matters had
suddenly turned urgent. His room en-
gagged, he turned toward the flower
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 We're too deep in tone. They
would clash with the delicate tint of
her cheeks. He finally settled on lilies
of the valley and California vlolets.
Then he hurried over to the stand
where theater tickets were sold. No,
they never carried tickets for Mozart
hall. but they would send messenger
for one.
BY 7:30 Marshall was fumlng over
his toilet. That lavender tie looked too
loud by electric light. and the white
had turned queer yellowlsh 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 stringed 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 favorite violin
iste. And then she came out through
the narrow white and gold door, and
he forgot the audience, forgot every
thing but her-her ellnging white gown
frosted with pearls, her slender white
throat
She was looking thinner than when
she left MeKeesport, and her face had
Il wlstful expression where once II had
been tri1e imperious.
SO much music had done for her,
Like Undne, 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 appiauding,, and ushers We're hur-
ryIng down the aisle with monstrous
floral offerings. American Beauties,
with stems three and four feet long,
overtopped by golden chrysanthe-
NUNS.
Victor Marshall leaned back grimly
In his chair. What was $40 worth of
lilies and violcts In New York?
The piece de resistance of the con-
cert was over, a concerto in which the
vlolinste had outshone the popular
string sextet
Marshall reached for his hat. Part
of the audience was making for the
entrance, exclaiming the personalities
of regular concert goers. Another group,
II smaller one, was making its way In
timately toward the door leading TO
the dressing ROOM obviously TO con-
gratulate the star.
to follow the smaller group, then stop
ped, with grim smile on 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
10 MI tubt ha 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. OF course Nc
Keesport had not dreamed that she
had advanced so far in her profession
The Countess of Carchester. Mrs
Roger Standbilt! They were names to
conjure with.
And he had thought that because he
had won the d. X. 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
ut uHt DuuSHl NltilOut even WTltlDS u
her.
lie 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 6t 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 electroiers 1t seemed to ra-
diate that vague artistic atmosphere
Of which Victor Marshal; had read
mGeb
Maude was glad to see him. unreIgn-
edly, 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
the 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
ting generallties. Maude steadily and
persistently led the conversation back
to McKeesport, old friends end what
Marshall felt was the danger zone for
himself He would not tell her of the
D. II. and Fort G.. case, because she
might guess that behind this triumph
lay his hearts secret, the years OF
work for her. Oh, no. He would be
game and as coolly worldly as herself.
The chimes In a nearby church tow
er rang 6, and he rose abruptly.
I'm going back tomorrow" he be-
gan.
Tomorrow Her voice was q bit
faint and toneless. She was burying