The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-12

spoke to some one behind the screen
of green.
Presently there stole through the
room the sound of music. 1T Is the
| Spring Song" said Judah. why,
Jack. that is the touch of an artist.
] wonder who is playingi"
The little waiter beamed down on
them, brushing crumbs unnecessarily
from the polished surface of the table.
Its my wife," he said with a deep
note of pride In his voice. Before
she married me she was a great must
clan"
Then he went away and Judith
stared at Jack. "Ohl What an ew-
full thing" she said. Ito think of that
woman and her talent buried herei
| Think of q woman who can play
cooking oysters and drumming out
music for every customer that comes
into this place"
1T Is strange thing" Jack
agreed.
~ want TO SEQ her." Judith said.
II want to see IL she In young and
pretty. or II she Is old and ugly
he II such q commonplace little man
-she must be old and ugly"
But the woman behind the screen
was not old and ugly. for as Judith
rose and crossed the room. there was
| q glimpse of white and a little fig
ure stepped out, q little figure in q
snowy apron that covered her from
neck to hem.
In another moment she would have
been gone had not Judith stopped
ncr.-' heard you play said Jassith.
irnpulstvely. land l want TO hear you
again.
The little woman smiled radiantly.
There are things to do in the kitch-
en-" she said. but" and again she
smiled, II love to play" This time
haunting strains crept through the
room.
And yet she married waiter"
Judith murmured. Jack. ] am going
to ask her why she left her music for
marriage"
The coffee grew cold, and the wait
ef worried while -the-two- women
talked. and when Judith came back
her face was very white, but there
not seen before.
20 Jack" she said breathlessly. as
she sat down. 20 Jack"
But when the waiter had brought
hot coffee she told him the little
story. she used to play in Europe.
She Is q German and had wonderf ul
taoient. But she Is not very strong
and she grew so tired of the travel,
she grew 80 tired of the people who
admired her for her music, but who
never seemed to see the woman UNI
derneath. and this man. this waiter,
sang In tho same concerts In which
she played. They loved each other,
but she feared marriage. And then
one day he lost his voice. She beg
ged him TO marry her, saying that her
money would support them both. will
ing to sacrice herself now that he
was in trouble But he you'd have
none OF it. He would not let "A woman
support him. He came toAAmerica to
! find work. and after a while she came
| to play. She was never strong. the
| climate not agree with her and
she found health failing. but. still she
! played. And ona night after the con-
| cert she went with gay party to a
! fashionable restaurant and there she
found her former lover waiting on the
table.
Well, that was the beginning. She
gave him her address and made him
come TO her. Then she told him
that she was miserable. that there
was no happiness in the life she was
living. tnnt she wanted 10 be with
him and let him take care of her.
She wanted to be free from the de-
mands of the public. II she played,
| she wanted 10 play because she loved
I her art. And at last ne yielded, and
with the money that she had saved
they came here and set up this little
| place. And she cooks and plays and
she Is happy"
1t was such a simple little story.
and yet somehow II seemed to clutch
at their hearts.
1T Is something to have home,
Jack" she said.
He caught at the slight hope in that
change In her eyes and voice.
Judith" he said II cannot give
you the variety that your life offers
| now, and % lawyer with a good prac-
tice Is busy man. but l want to take
care OF you"
She had been deeply moved by the
story OF the other woman. When she
was telling me / seemed TO see myself
moving from place to place. never
satisfied, always wanting something.
| always wanting you, Jack
| 1t was the supreme moment. but ms
Jack laid his hand on hers the waiter
entered with a slip of paper. which
he handed to Jack. ITS the recipe
| for the oysters. sir" he said. II
thought your wife might like to cook
them"
| Jack gasped. will you cook
them, Judah" he asked suddenly.
twill my wife cook them. Judith 2"
| And Judith still with that wonder
f,,. Iirht In her ewes took the paper