Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-07-08
Zelda Cameron
BY
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
cspydshs, 1904. By The Bobb-M.r.in Co.
,HAPTER vIII.-(Continued.)
cs,,dsh.. 1904. b, rh. Bobb.-M.rrin Co

CHAPTER vIII.-(Continued.)
"There's Mr.. Baicoimz Over there"
Zelda remarked, casually. He sings
divinely, doesn't he? Don't you think
he sings divinely?" and she looked at
Morris suddenly, with a provoking air
Of gravity.
Pm sure he was a De Reszke in
some former incarnation" said Morris,
savagely.
THAT was just what 1 was thinking,
only I hadn't the words to express it,"
said Zelda, with a mockery of JOY at
finding they were in accord.
I'm glad, then. that we can agree
about something, sven when we're both
undoubtedly wrong
II don't like to hin that I can be
wrong said Zelda. And it isn't in
the least battering for you to suggest
such a thing. / shall have to speak to
my Uncle Rodney about you"
ANY interest you may take in me
will be appreciated"
Jack had crossed the room, giving
what he called the cheering jolly 20
several young women on the way, and
he nrned quickly:
"At your service, Miss Dameron'-
and he bowed impressively.
NJ Leighton is crazy about your
singing. He is just waiting for a
chance to congratulate YOU But he's
very unhappy tonight. Words fail
him. And she shook her head and
looked into Balcomb's %grinning face as
though this were a great grief between
them. ~
VIVA kin of a jolly is this? I say,
Morris, you look like first and second
graye-digger done into one. We're not
Al 49, ~ ~ ~, ~ Dee Exan ton
you. Miss Cameron. that when Brother
Leighton-he belongs to my frat, hence
the brotier-did Hamlet over at our
dear old alma mater. the gloom that
settled down on that township could
have been cut up into badges of
mourning enough to have supplied
Spain through her little affair with
these States. That's Walt Whitman
these States Do you know, I was
Ophelia to his Hamlet, and Ii I do say
It myself. ! was a sweet thing in Ophe-
las"
II don't doubt you were. Mr.. Bal
comb said Zelda.
There was just one thing lacking
in your representation declared
leighton; you ought to have been
drowned In the first scene Of the first
act to ave made 1t perfect"
No. violence, gentlemen. I beg of
you'll" And Zelda hurried across the
room to where Herr Schmidt was as
sembling the principals.
Say, TINT girl has got the art of
stringing down fine. She seems to
nave you going all right. You look like
twenty-nine cents at a thirty-cent bar
gain counter. But you take 1t too hard.
4 wish shed string me! They're nev
~ un,vnI Sn<o vautal ne ,r,Inn tnAxy <hro>xy
you On your face and give you the
merry ira Ia. I tell you I've had ex.
perience with the sex all right, and l
know!"
Yes ] remember your fiirtations
with the girls that waited on table at
the college boarding house. You had
q very cheering way with them"
Balcomb's eyes were running rest
lessly over theJgroups OF oun peo-
pie. III was appraising and fixing
them in his mind as he talked. His
10Y in being among them-these rep
resentative young people of the city,
whose anne he knew well from long
and diligent perusal OF the personal
and society column of the daily pa
persEamused Leighton; but the fell
lows self satisfaction irritated him,
too.
The chorus had been drilled apart.
and this was the first time Morris had
heard the principals sing. He had
Joined the chorus under protest, but
Mrs. Car had insisted. and when he
learned that Zelda was to be the star
Il bad not been dificult to comply.
She began now one OF her songs.
When the last notes died away, Bal
comb stepped out at the directors nod
and @hnUnn tho anavu0rfnA ~nn1 Ral-
comb usually amused Morris: but the
fellow struck upon him d~iscordantly.
Zelda vas laughing at Balcomb's an
ties as h began to sing with fesvor
and q real sense OF the dramatic re-
'Quirements. As he neared the end.
where Zelda and he sang together the
duet that ended the first half of the
opera, Zelda put up her hands, and he
took them. gazing into her eyes with
4 fine lover-like air. Their voices soar
ed into the climax without q break
while the director threw himself into
strange contortions as he struck the
last bars leading to the high tote
which they gained and held perfectly.
The dress rehearsal WA fixed for the
next night
at simply can't fall" declared Mrs.
Carr to Leighton. Miss Cameron
could carry Il alone if every one else
,shossId break down" III
.ssTh ~ altogether true aid Nor
ri1s Wa glaring at Balcomb. Whose
Joy In being = member OF the q was
1890 beaE
"Deceivers Ever was presented.
with no more delays anld slips than us-
- DN~, AeAAt%A-nNE SSA ~AADA~------ 49,