The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1909-05-20

|
month-Arthur Loringston.'
Yes: go on" chorused the listeners.
We'll. I had met him by the merest
chance. | was struck at once by MS
! dreamy, remote air. | learned that ne
was a musician a violinist who had
| studied under excellent masters, had
come to Chicago to get some COMPOSE
tions published, had failed and was
stranded here without a cent of money
| OF course, he didn't blurt this all out
as l 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 Tor
| him to lunch with me and discuss mat
| tiers of business. He came and played
for me-divinely! | knew he was IN
| deed an artist the moment he drew hls
| 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
mehts, an incalculable expenditure OF
| diplomacy and a 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 lie
doubted if he would not be debasing
| his calling to so much as consider the
project. And all. the time there he
was starving!"
That by the way, was why you got
up that subscription, wasn't it, Mrs.
Bond?" interrupted young man at
her right.
Yes" admitted she. q simply
couldn't see him perish with that
genius of his. And l knew be 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
| ". Oh, such trouble as | had getting
those appointments. But you know it
takes time to arrange these little mat
ters: In the midst of the negotiations
lust 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?
I'm ten DAYS he returned-with a
wife, If 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 awfuliy APP
| pealing about Arthur Loringston. His
wife was a sweet little thing, too,
though | had hard work to forgive her
for running his career by marrying him
lust at that time.
so | set valiantly to work once
more arthur had decided that he
must study in Paris. He really seemed
to have an idea about it. ! agreed with
him meekly that vaudeville was but a
poor excuse for art and hardly worth
a 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 broken
engagements, WEAKNESS of the flesh
and self-sacrifice no one knows!"
Poor Mrs Bond" murmured lis
tener.
Finally the day arrived which was
to make my artistic friends fortune,
to assure him of his chance to study in
comfort and dignity. Six of the most
important people of musical sym
pathies in the city had consented to
hear him play. knew the victory was
already won.
We'll. we met and we waited.
knew they We're fidgeting and, as for
me, | was shaking with fright. Forty
minutes we waited in dreary pre-
tense of sociability, and finally we
parted. Arthur Loringston had broken
that appointment, | was sick with
modification, but | was also alarmed.
| MY poor IlleHu' thought w Hdl
terrible accident has prevented his
coming?
The next day ! met him on the
street. He came up to me coolly, smil
ing. appealing as ever, cheerful, yet
with his little air of dreaminess.
Dear Mrs Bond he said i was
sorry to disappoint you yesterday, but
it was unavoidable. My wife had q
little attack of inconsistencies, so natur
ally l was compelled to deny myself
the pleasure or meeting your TTIenus.
And that" said Mrs. Bond, lis why
have renounced the artistic tempera
ment and all It's works"