The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-04-20
By EDW BLISS


the slip of paper before her and
fumbled the pen absenty from finger
to finger Some streak of latent hui
mainly, evidently quite unnatural
compelled the boy grimy &
finger eXplanatorily the card.
Your name! His name! Business!
What yer want t see i'm bout?'' and
relapsed into embarrassed silence.
She laughed nervously. My bust
ness l do not know! de-
scribe. All! You will help me, will
you not? My name? Madame Alva la ~
WA Madam sS tva,-va ga7vanie could 20
not have been conducive to
tion-"Alvas wife,"
Yes. Did you know him?" She x
eagerly inquired.
Me! Me know him. Why me an
him wuz pals. we wuz! Course you 40
don't need t send no card--come ~
right in"
Madam paused at the gate How
did you know him."
HE use t stop right where you
and talk to whenever he in.
Then he got to goin down and play
in to kid brother. He's cripple, M
We know, can't walk Use ter play ~
piece the kid and never fin
shed it. He'd stop right in the mid
die an then he an the kid 'ud cry e
an'-an'-I cried too" He finished
defantly.
Eyes, yes, go on" she eagerly
grasped his hand Il hear" IL
That's ALL he lamely concluded;
"he finished the piece. Say,
lady. m sorry. Honest We're all sorry 49,
a
hers sympathetically, and the boy
vanished to reappear in moment with
the announcement made in his gruffest, professional
manner. He's in
short, stout man of decidedly Jewish cast OF
feature doomed largely behind him, and warmly
srasped her hand
sternly to the grinning boy: why did you keep
Madame waiting?
She eagerly interrupted, "Oh. do scold We
speaking of Alva. He his friend
"Alva was every ones friend, the manager
smiled sadly.
MY dear madam" he began once they were seat
ed in his office Il presume you have come to hear
about your financial state?'
She drew back in alright. "oh no. no. please,
Monsieur Possak. That is in your hands altogether.
Alva said. Leave everything to Possak He is my
friend "
The manager openly daubed handkerchief at
his eyes He said it? HOW can hear him say it!
Always, when l speak to him of moneys. I leave
that to you Possak, you my friend All, We
all Alvas friends!
lis it a favor ask? do not know she resumed,
after pause. But Alva said, Go to Possak. Tell
him you wish to the Academy for one night. Tell
him invite the poor. the lame. the sick, the halt.
the blind Fill the theater with them. But in the
boxes and in small part of the orchestra. let
the rich come. and permit them that they pay for
should be, good Monsieur Possak! Then play, Ma
re! play my unfinished number and will be there
to help YOU.
did not know you played, madame Alva never
told me of that. Gladly may have the Acad,
envy. No. it is no favor. When do you wish it?'
zone week from tomorrow night.
Impossible! l have company playing then.
But no. break the run! You may have tho
theatre"
lone minute. madame" she was leaving the
ROOM '1his uncompleted NUMBER tell me of that.
know only uncompleed number OF Alva's-
and that never be published.
"Nor this monsieur, no one has ever been able
to play it, or read it, No could play it on
aught save my husbands instrument-the one
Guardo gave him. You know of his uncompleted
number by which he was to lift mankind to perfec
tion?'
Possak nodded his head gravely, "And you. mad
ame can execute this number-he taught you to
play that which he could not?"
A sad light darkened the womans eyes Il can
not play monsieur. l know the Symbols markings
and the bowling. | play only that which is before
execution and Technique is perfection. yet