The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-04-20
LITERARY MAGAZINE

his mind and left him stranded high and dry gazing
panicstrjcken into the eyes ridiculous catastro-
Ihe Nor was it himself alone he considered The
woman. Alva his dearly beloved Ava, whom he
Worshlpped with all the warmth of his great Jewish
heart.
A loud burst of impatient noise assaulted his
ears He could announce her indisposition. She
was so very, very we'll. With a SILVER his own
teme4ity he put his head within her dressing room
door and called Come, play for them-and-Cod
bless YOU
CONSCIOUS of her own power of attraction. she
gllded swiftly upon the stage to perfect
storm OF applause. knowing her inadequacy to per-
form what she regarded sacred rite her hus-
band yet martyr-wise determined to play she paused
moment before taking up the first bars of Alvas
laughing song with which he always opened his pro-
gram, so that the full extent of her charm and
beauty might sing in upon them and hold them
till the uncompeted number. Her tall 1.-THE body
swayed graciousy from side to side in acknowledge
ment OF the salvos of applause. Her small, queen
ly head with it's of lusrous blue black hair
bent as the lily to the kiss of the breeze A mos-
ture covered her eyes and made their depths more
radiant than ever. while the worshipful feeling of
the priest at the sacred shrine paed her cheek
Wondrous colorng, as she lifted the bow and touched
the strings in joyous sacrifice; immolatng herself
on the altar OF Alvas devotion to his other love
Guido's violin.
Toneless, tuneless, squeakng. raspng, she played
through the number. Possak writhed in anguish
and the audience gazed blankly at each other and
froWned. Her technique perfection her finger
ing marvellous but oh, the laughing song that Ava
played was full of smiles, mods, hirtations mirth
AVA IIppleu, cHucRleQ rOareQ through the little
piece. Men doubled up when Alva played but this
AT last she had finished and stood pale and de-
liant, with lips compressed, looking sternly down
at the audience A hush on the house Every
one stared straight ahead into space, trying vanly
to avoid the gaze of the solitary figure stage
The baby whmpered, and the mother cried in
frantic tones, "Peace Alva Peace my little one,
All is we'll. Peace my Alva!"
The crippled figure in the stage box struggled
vainly with him. but at last great dry sob came
chokingly from the depths of his anguish-laden soul
Morton rose from his seat sneering smile curry
ing his lips, and fumbled for his hat
A rustic in the gallery-a rusle-then hiss
Dan Morarty half in his seat, rage nothing
his face, and leaning backward, grasped the fat
brokers arm in viselike grip. "Sit down. he
Numbered, "Sit down.!
When, 10. through the house pealed a laundering
sound. sound as of the rushing of many waters
commanding, terrifying in it's majesty
With eyes large and luminous, and lips halfpart-
ed. though in with an alien
world. Madame Alva had been looking out over the
footights into the depths of the house and-bc.
yond.
With mighty sweep of bow cross the vibrant
strings, she brought the brawng pair to their
With fearladen eyes they gaZed at her, then
tried to look away, but held fascinated by the
threatening tones.
Clear. commanding, compelling, with never
touch OF docility the majestic sweep of the strains
drove all the dominance from them and left them