Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-14
AMONG hhe ROSES

crowds around him made him aware that the concert
was ended and pressing his hat closer his eyes,
he made his way down the stairs with the rest.
Emerging from the doors, he discovered himself sur
rounded by still greater numbers, all of them waiting
for a sight of the prima donna; and he, no less
eager than the Others pressed toward the stage en-
trance, whence presently she would appear.
The low roar that heraded her near approach gavs
way to wild shouts she passed close to where no
stood
''Idalial Idalal" The mad cry of the people
intoxicated his blood. Unaware of what he was doing.
he drew his hat off and waved it wildly in the air
"Idalia, my darling he caught himself saying,
when, in an instant, he found himself standing alone
in front of two great lights and before he could move
the wheels of her car had him down.
TT WAS at the hour of midnight that he awoke to
Il find himself in a hospital ward. For long he lay
thinking of the dream he had had of her who
was never out of his thoughts. he scene before hm
was not altogether unfamiliar for he had been i'll
abroad, and always he had dreamed OF ldaa; but
gradually the realization to him that in this in
stance it not all dream-that he had really seen
her. Then he remembered the concert and scene fol
lowing-the shouting and the wild enthusiasm, and
his accident! 1t all came back clearly he dwelt
those last moments when he, with the crowd waited
at the stage DOORS and at last she came in motor
car But he was almost certain she was not the only
occupant of the car; he thought he had seen man
there sitting beside her and when he was gong under
the wheels he believed she in her fright and tho
laid a restraining hand on her arm and forced
her back in her seat Yes, he all that hap
pened for her horror-strcken look haunted him now.
Who was the that rode in her cars He must
have to that question at any cost, for
though he may not hope to marry Idala her welfare
would always prove to be the most interesting thing
to him for long he in this world
He began to question the nurse with view to hnd-
ing out how long he would have to remain in the hos
pita; but she evaded all his questions by reminding
him of the hour, and bade him sleep
In the morning she willing enough to satisfy
his curiosity by describing his accdent-that in the
great crush outside the opera house the prma donna
chauffeur had not him in front of the ear in
time to prevent his being knocked down, and that the
singer had insisted the gentleman accompanying
her bringing him to the hospital in the very motor
that had done the damage.
That information gave him opening to ask tho
question that he had all the time been thinking Of
Who the gentleman that accompanied Idaliaf He
tried to steady his voice his lips framed the words
explaining that he had only recently arrived in Eng
land and therefore had heard little of the singer,
cept of her rapid rise to fame.
Then the answer he dreaded came.
He shut his eyes while the nurse related the ro
mantle story of the penniless girl who in her strug
Cling days. had met man who had seen promise in
her voice, and, binding her to pledge of matrimony
had placed her at the academy where she had worked
and studied to make herself what she was to-day
And the time coming when ldalia had to
pay for the who was in the motor car-who was
ever her shadow-was about to make her his wife All
England knew of the engagement, and had he cher
patient) been in town any length of time he must
have heard of it. She sat looking at the black lashes
that lay on the man s bronzed face, and wondered
whether he had heard her remarks or whether per
chance he had fallen asleep, he was quiet. But
presently he startled her with another question.
"The man S name9' he said. ''What is the name
of the man who is to marry Idalia9'
The smiled thinking how interested he was
in this romantic story of the singer.
"He is a millionaire, and his is Godfrey
Lauderdale -
Her patient bounded up in bed, his hands working,
his face CHASTITY only the next moment to fall back
For hours he lay as Dead but twice in
that long day the nurse, listening to his derious nut
terings caught the welknown that seemed never
off his lips.
AS the fever grew his rambling mind went
back to the old days. to the time when Idaia loved
him. He talked of the old schoohouse, of their vii
lage walks, of long evenings spent together,
of br;o fut,, offar dof