Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1909-05-20


month-Arthur Loringston."
Yes; go on" chorused the listeners.
well, i had met him by the merest
chance. | was struck at once by his
dreamy, remote air | learned that he
was a musician, violinist who had
studied under excellent masters, had
come to Chicago to get some compost
lions published, had failed and was
stranded here without cent of money
OF course, he didn't blurt this all out
as / am doing"
Exactly" said the others.
We'll, | went home and couldn't get
that poor man out of my head. He had
given me his address, so / sent for
him to lunch with me and discuss mat
tiers of business. He came and played
for me-diyinely! | knew he was in
deed an artist the moment he drew his
bow across the strings of that violin.
But you have heard him yourselves.
Then ] catechized him. The upshot Of
the matter was that | persuaded him,
after numerous interviews, long argu-
ments, an incalculable expenditure of
diplomacy and patience not native to
my soul, to let me introduce him to
some of the vaudeville managers in
town"
Base woman! Corrupter of genius.'
were the protests,
well, you may imagine the trouble
had to get even a hearing for those
unfortunate vaudeville managers with
my artist of the temperament He
doubted II he would not be debasing
his calling to so much as consider the
project. And all the time there he
was, starvingl"
That, by the way, was why you got
up that subscription, wasn't 1t, Mrs
Bond?" interrupted young man at
her right.
yes" admitted she. Il simply
couldn't see him perish with that
genius of his. And | knew he must get
hungry between my lunches and teas
He didn't mind the subscription at ALL
How did he come out with the au-
tocrats of the drama?" inquired her
host.
Beautifully, They listened hopeful
ly Oh. such trouble as | had getting
those appointments. But you know 1t
takes time to arrange these little mat.
ters: In the midst of the negotiations
just when everything looked rosiest
my friend OF the temperament disap
peared. Simply dropped out of sight
leaving no word OF explanation for
me-"
What had happened?"
''In ten days he returned-with a
wifel II you will believe me. that in
sane youth had gone and married a
little country girl, as inexperienced
and helpless and altogether impossible
as himself-on his prospects,
Then | had them both on my hands
| couldn't let them die in the street
And there was something awfully ap
pealing about Arthur Loringston. His
wife was sweet little thing, too
though had hard work to forgive her
for running his career by marrying him
just at that time.
so set valiahtly to work once
more. Arthur had decided that he
must study in Paris. He really seemed
to have an Idea about 1t. | agreed witt
him meekly that vaudeville was but 8
poor excuse for art and hardly worth
mans best efforts. Then after weeks
OF scheming and planning and wire
pulling was ready for my coup detat
What those weeks cost me In broker
engagements, WEAKNESS of the fiesf
and selfsacrifce no one knowsi"
Poor Mrs Bond" murmured a lis
tener.
Finally the day arrived which wal
to make my artistic friends fortune
to assure him of his chance to study il
comfort and dignity Six OF the mos
important people of musical sym
pathies in the city had consented t.
give an hour of their time to meet ant
hear him play | knew the victory wal
already won.
We'll, we met, and we waited
knew they were fidgeting and, as TO
me, ! was shaking with fright. Fort.
minutes we waited in a dreary pre-
tense Of sociability, and finally VI
parted. Arthur Lsringston had broker
that appointment ] was sick will
modification. but | was also alarmed
My poor friend ! thought. Wha
terrible accident has prevented hi
coming?'
The next day / met him on <th
street. He came up to me coolly. smil
ing, appealing as ever, cheerful, We
with his little air of dreaminess.
Dear Mrs. Bond he said, 1 wa
sorry to disappoint you yesterday, bu
II was unavoidable. My wife had
little attack of inconsistencies, so natul
ally was compelled to deny mysel
the pleasure OF meeting your friendsl
And that" said Mrs. Bond. lis VIII
have renounced the artistic temperf